CENTRAL & NORTHERN CALIFORNIA- RESTAURANT, CAFE, BAR & PUB HISTORY

HISTORY OF BARS AND RESTAURANTS - CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Not a whole lot of time machines left in California's Central Valley. I had researched a bunch of places to check out and they had almost all completely disappeared. I guess the Central Valley cities are just growing so fast - everything's getting plowed over. I also checked out Nevada City and Grass Valley California. I assume these places qualify as Northern California. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. They sure as heck are not in a Valley! While Sacramento, Grass Valley and Nevada City have some incredible exterior architecture left from the Gold Rush days, they have become so touristy that there are only a few remnants of historic interiors. I did find a few gems, however. Don't know if I will ever pass this way again, so what you see is what you get!

BAKERSFIELD, CA
Zingo's Cafe, 3201 Buck Owens Blvd., Bakersfield, CA 93308 661-321-0627 T	Nice neon signs. Fairly remodeled but still with an old feel. Good old American food for those late night rest stops one takes between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
GRASS VALLEY, CA
This is truly a beautiful area. I'm not going to give you anything in the way of history on this page, because it goes way beyond the scope of this website. Strangely, I have little interest in the history of California before 1900 (especially outside of Los Angeles). But I do enjoy the old West architecture and old Saloon interiors. The ride up through the Ponderosa Pines is rather peaceful. Between Old Sacramento, here and Nevada City, Grass Valley seemed to have the most interesting old interiors. Because of the time of day I was there, a number of old saloons were closed, so not every place is included here obviously. The town also has a nice old functioning movie palace I wish I could have gone into. The place looks like a community of longtime locals and newly transplanted yuppies. As far as I could see, everyone gets along! Here are some miscellaneous pictures and a few places I got to go into. You know you are in the right place when the first business you see coming into town is a Packard Dealership! Holbrooke Hotel and Golden Gate Saloon, 212 West Main Street Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-273-1353 (inside is the Golden Gate Saloon "one of the longest continually operating saloons West of the Mississippi.") T T T since 1851 This is a beautiful hotel. Looks like a great place to stay. While all tastes vary, I think they have "cleaned up" the Golden Gate Saloon a little to much to maintain the "time machine" feel. I would suggest making it a bit more funky, but that just my quirky tastes. It is very well preserved and worth a visit. Above is the Golden Gate Saloon. I would be nice if they could buy an older bar counter and get some really old bench seats (just a suggestion). The Main Street Cafe & Bar, 213 W Main St., Grass Valley, CA 95945 530 477-6000 T T T T (from what I could see in the window) This place was closed when I was in town early in the morning. I took a picture through the glass. Looks like a nice saloon interior. Main Street Bar & Cafe interior above - these people get it! Keep it understated, old and uncluttered like this place. Old Town Cafe,110 Mill St. Grass Valley, CA., 95945 530 273-4303 ("oldest continuously running diner in Grass Valley"). T T T Another place that really gets it right. They have left the simple, old interior pretty untouched. Fast and friendly service. Very good food at reasonable prices. Looks like a nice mix of locals and tourists. The Nevada Club, 108 W Main St Grass Valley, CA 95945 530 274-0947 T T T At 11:00 AM on a Sunday, this place was tame as can be. I have no idea what it is like at night. Still in great condition from perhaps a little more recent mining days. There was a strange metal gutter in front of the bar counter with a metal tube at the end. I had never seen that before in a bar (see below). The amiable bar tender explained that back in the old mining days, the miners jealously guarded their bar seats (not too many seats available) and thus did not want to get up to urinate. You get the picture! I don't think it's used anymore. Thankfully, this place has bravely not given in to the lowest common denominator of tourism and remains pretty much in its original state. The Nevada Club bar (above)	The Owl Grill and Saloon appeared to have a nice old saloon back bar, but it was closed during my early morning visit.
MODESTO, CALIFORNIA
Tiki Cocktail Lounge, 932 Mchenry Ave, Modesto, CA 95350 209 577-9969 T T T T T	One of the very last of the original Tiki bars or restaurants in California in its original location and not remodeled (I count Sam's in Seal Beach, the Tiki Ti, the Tonga Hut, Minnie's Restaurant, and the Tonga Room as the only other's in this category - if there are more fitting this criteria - let me know - and Trader Vic's is not in the original locations that I know of). I went in early in the afternoon while only a very affable bartender and her friend were in there (I took a nice picture of them, but without a signed legal release I'm afraid I can't use it!). I can't tell you what the place is like at night. It was in beautiful original shape. Next door (and owned by the same person) is a very modern "Rodeway Inn Modesto" with the glaring contrast that all the huge original Tiki's have thankfully been saved. Don't know what the original Tiki name of the motel once was. Some very nice original paintings in the place as well. Given that Modesto has two original Tiki places near to each other and on the same street, Modesto may well qualify as "Tiki Mecca" . This picture above is the Rodeway Inn, a strange but thankful mix of a modern motel and incredible Tiki sculptures. Who would have the heart to destroy such great artwork (many other places unfortunately - but not here!).
Minnie's Bar & Restaurant, 107 McHenry Ave., Modesto CA. 95354 209 524-4621 T T T T T	Another great part of Tiki Mecca in Modesto. A true time machine Tiki Restaurant, very popular with locals. The bartenders seemed a bit wary of me with my camera, but they can be forgiven for keeping this place alive (I long ago gave up explaining to people that my site is very good free advertising for a place - in the modern world everyone, perhaps understandably, assumes you have an evil, money making motive - hence my love of an earlier era!). Both Minnie's and the nearby Tiki Cocktail Lounge had great paintings by a local painter - I've got to find out his name. Minnie's and the Tiki Cocktail Lounge make a trip to Modesto (even a long one) well worth it. Strange that American Polynesia would survive only in the hot and dry California Central Valley! I guess that's where the fantasy was needed the most.
NEVADA CITY, CA
Another beautiful old Western mining town. Once again, I'm not giving you any history here. Just a few old places that might be of interest to people who love historic interiors. The National Hotel, 211 Broad St., Nevada City, CA 95959 530 265-4551 since 1852 T T T T (mostly recreated) Below are pictures of the hotel and "saloon", which I was told is not the original interior, but is still quite beautiful. The place claims to be "oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Rockies Chief Crazy Horse Inn and Saloon, 230 Commercial Street Nevada City, CA 95959 530 470-8443 T T (bar since 1965) Nice rustic bar counter. Very affable staff and really good homemade vegetarian chili. They showed me the store room that had a lot of nice old iron works.	Misc. Pictures of Nevada City:
SACRAMENTO AND OLD SACRAMENTO
Old Sacramento certainly has some beautifully preserved exteriors from the old West. I present some random pictures of the area here. Unfortunately, as old Western places become big tourist spots, almost all traces of historic interiors disappear to remodeling. I saw one place that still had some remnants of an old saloon, but not enough to catch my interest. Another place has a nice recreated back bar. It was a very quick trip here so I may have overlooked some interesting places. Definitely worth a visit in any case. I checked out several older restaurants in Sacramento and could find none that fit the "time machine" definition. I did not have the time to hit every place, so maybe you can write me about the places I missed. I did find one nice bar however:
Old Ironsides Bar, 1901 Tenth St., Sacramento, CA 95814 916 443-9751 since 1934 T T T	This place was very well preserved. Surprising to find such a middle-class crowd in an older area of the city. It was very crowded the day I went, so I couldn't get many interior shots. Love the neon sign. You could tell this place was once not so tame! Quite a few knick knacks. I guess it is an interesting commentary on human nature that the oldest businesses in any city I've seen are liquor stores and bars.
Some nice Memories: Johnnie's Waffle Shops Collection of Sandra Z.	Stockton, Modesto and Merced, CA