Photo by Casey Evan Media. Pictured left to right; Tawny Szumlas, owner, Rico’s Public House, and Mallory Nash, executive director, Downtown Pullman Association

Seattle, WA — Rico’s Public House was honored with the Legacy on Main Award for its longtime role as an economic and cultural anchor in downtown Pullman at the Washington State Main Street Program’s annual awards ceremony this month.

Operated by the nonprofit Washington Trust for Historic Preservation in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the Washington State Main Street Program helps communities across the state revitalize the economy, appearance, and image of their downtown districts. Today, the Washington State Main Street Program encompasses a network of more than 70 towns and cities across Washington, including Vancouver.

Every year, as a cornerstone event of the annual RevitalizeWA conference, the Washington State Main Street Program hosts the Excellence on Main awards ceremony, honoring projects and individuals whose hard work and innovative efforts are making a difference in their communities and beyond. This year’s 2023 Excellence on Main award winners were announced on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Providence Academy ballroom, during the RevitalizeWA conference held Oct. 4-6 in Vancouver.

The Legacy on Main Award is an annual award recognizing a small business that has stood the test of time and impacted generations of community members. Rico’s Public House in Pullman is the 2023 recipient of the award not only because of its longevity but also its unique place in the downtown community.

Originally opened in 1909, Rico’s Public House is the oldest retail business in Pullman and has been a consistent presence downtown amidst ownership changes and the varying local and national societal landscape during its 114 year history. 

“Receiving the Legacy on Main Award has been an incredibly meaningful experience for me,” said Tawny Szumlas, current Rico’s Public House owner. “It’s truly wonderful to be recognized, and it holds even greater weight knowing that my children can take pride in our family’s rich heritage. Lastly, thank you to the Pullman community for letting me be a part of their lives all these years.”

What started as a men’s-only club survived Prohibition and the Great Depression by selling milkshakes by the thousands before ultimately securing Pullman’s first beer and wine license in the 1930s. In 1947, Tony Talerico—whose regulars called him “Rico”— bought the club with a vision to turn it into a true public house. He added a women’s restroom and hired international graduate students’ wives to his staff, hoping to encourage the transition to an establishment that welcomed the whole community.

In 1980, Roger Johnson acquired the pub and changed the name to “Rico’s” to honor Tony. Roger continued to evolve the business in several ways, serving the first microbrews in Pullman and lobbying the city to allow outdoor seating in the early 2000s. Roger later brought his daughter, Szumlas, into the business and the pair have embraced the entrepreneurial ethic of change and adaptation. They have also used the establishment to reinforce the friendliness of Pullman and its unique college town atmosphere.

“I think of Rico’s Public House as the ‘Cheers’ of the Palouse,” said Breanne Durha,  Washington Main Street director at the Excellence on Main ceremony. “There is no limit to how long you can hang out at Rico’s. Professors, graduate students, families, and children — everyone gathers here.” 

Durham personally presented the Legacy on Main Award to Szumlas, who attended the ceremony with Downtown Pullman Association Executive Director Mallory Nash.

The Washington State Main Street Program applauds this year’s Excellence on Main award winners and the impacts they have made in their communities. For more photos of the award winners and of the RevitalizeWA conference overall, visit preservewa.org/revitalizewa2023-album.

About the Washington State Main Street Program:
Since 1984, the Washington State Main Street Program has been helping communities revitalize the economy, appearance, and image of their downtown commercial districts using the successful Main Street Approach®. For more information, visit the Washington Trust’s website at preservewa.org/mainstreet.

The Downtown Pullman Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation and sustainability of vitality within the City of Pullman’s historic downtown, cultivating a place for residents and visitors to make community connections and lifelong memories. Learn more at downtownpullman.org.