<P> In the spring of 2012 Smith Tower experienced a brief revitalization in the form of new companies moving into some of its empty floors including Portent, Inc., an internet marketing company, marketing consultant Aukema & Associates, graphic - design firm Push Design, and Rialto Communications, a marketing and public - relations company . </P> <P> Also in 2012, Death Cab for Cutie frontman Benjamin Gibbard paid tribute to the Smith Tower in the song "Teardrop Windows ." </P> <P> In January 2015, Seattle - based real estate investment and operating company Unico Properties bought Smith Tower for $73.7 million . Later that year, the new owners stopped the visitor tour and began remodeling the public areas, including the Chinese Room, which had been closed since 2014 . A new speakeasy - themed restaurant, with Prohibition era - inspired food and drink was built on the Observatory floor, in the same space as the Chinese Room, which was permanently closed . Parts of the Chinese Room decor and furniture, such as the Wishing Chair and carved teak ceilings, were used in this new restaurant . </P> <P> A revised Smith Tower self - guided visitor tour, with new exhibits, resumed on August 25, 2016, along with the opening of the Observation floor bar, open to tour ticket holders at a cost of $19.14--the number is a reference to the date of the building . Access to the bar without paying for the tour requires a cover charge of about half that price . A new retail store on the ground floor was also opened following the renovation . </P>

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