Here are eleven shuttered berkeley establishments that alumni still cry over. This book is a rich and concise chronicle of berkeley, from. Historians thought it was lost or destroyed but no, it was in berkeley. Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer s proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the seller s shipping history, and other factors. Spengers fresh fish grotto berkeley, ca on opentable. The menu originally included clam chowder, baked beans, fish dinners. Johann spenger worked as a hook and line fisherman on lake merritt in the early days. He will show slides of mortar holes, petroglyphs, shell.
This article a few good restaurants berkeley oakland east bay california is a standalone article on my website. The original building housed spengers business and family residence. Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyers proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the sellers shipping history, and other factors. Apr 24, 2018 the land was paved over between 1946 and 1958 and served as the parking lot of spengers restaurant for years. Or book now at one of our other 9027 great restaurants in berkeley. Spengers fresh fish grotto, berkeleys oldest restaurant, in a building thats a city historical landmark, was originally the home of bavarian.
Berkeleys beloved spengers fish grotto restaurant has closed after opening 128 years ago. The restaurant was designated as a landmark in 2001 by the city of berkeley. Every cal graduate was once a uc berkeley student with preferred watering holes and places to grab a quick bite to eat. Spengers was founded by johann spenger who emigrated to california from bavaria in 1860 and worked as a hook and line fisherman on oaklands lake merritt. List of berkeley, california landmarks, structures of merit. The counterculture, flower power center of the 60s, bohemian berkeley has evolved into a culinary and cultural travel scene. For over 125 years, spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california, had. We all know the stories and really loved that history. Robert oppenheimer and edward teller hashed out details of the atomic bomb over dinners at spengers. Ohlone campaign to save west berkeley historic shellmound site ohlone indian leader corrina gould and authorpublisher malcolm margolin discussed preservation of the west berkeley shellmound for environmental concerns speaker series may 14 at northbrae community church, berkeley. He sets one scene in spengers restaurant on fourth street, long before it was part of the upscale. Spengers fresh fish grotto 1919 4th st, berkeley, ca 94710. Founded in 1890 as just a clam stand by johann spenger who. Wed read college history books instead of high school history books.
Dec 12, 2018 spengers fresh fish grotto ranked as a landmark restaurant in the culinary history of berkeley and california. Baseballs flawed geniusbill pennington gives longoverdue flesh to the caricaturepennington knows when to give martin the floor and when to raise an eyebrowin billy martin, pennington savors the dirtkicking. Berkeley historical plaque project spengers fish grotto. This is a list of landmarks, structures of merit and historical districts in berkeley, california. Spenger s fresh fish grotto was a restaurant located in berkeley, california at 1919 4th street. Surprisingly, spengers recently closed, after 128 years of serving seafood. This concise book, the only uptodate history of berkeley, is a rich chronicle connecting the people, trends, and events that made the city to much larger themes. Jan 07, 2019 the history of spengers fresh fish grotto. List of berkeley, california landmarks, structures of. Once upon a time there was a restaurant in berkeley, california called spengers fish grotto that had a history dating back to the early part of the 20th century.
The restaurant was known for dishing up fresh seafood, oysters, and clam chowder, and in its heyday was frequented by famous guests including ernest hemingway, clark gable, joe dimaggio, and in recent years robin williams. Spengers is closed, but its artifacts live on through fame, memories. Spengers is closed, but its artifacts live on through. Get menu, photos and location information for permanently closed spenger s fresh fish grotto in berkeley, ca. A historic landmark since opening our doors in 1890, spengers fresh fish grotto features antique stained glass and porthole windows to give you the nautical dining experience. It had however, been quietly residing in the main dining room at spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california. In 2000, when spengers considered building a new parking structure, manning asked that he first determine if the lot was above a shell mound, the traditional burial plot for the ohlone indians of the region. Joint statement from ohlone family bands beneath the pavement in west berkeley dwells a cultural and historical touchstone of singular significance. Structures of merit is a classification given by the city of berkeley for buildings of local historic importance. Beginning as just a clam stand in the 1890s, johanns son frank expanded the stand to a full restaurant in the 1930s.
Feb 01, 2019 it had however, been quietly residing in the main dining room at spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california. California alameda county, berkeley moes books berkeley history in 1959, morris moe moskowitz and his wife, barbara, opened a small paperback bookshop on shattuck avenue. A devoted father, husband, brother, uncle and friend. Spengers will be reborn but not as joes crab shack. Kg vintage coast spengers fresh fish grotto berkeley ca. Historical markers in california the historical marker database.
Aug 22, 2003 he also respected berkeley history and the history of the land where he spent most of his life. Sep 11, 2014 there are other passages that show tarloffs deep familiarity with berkeleys history. Spengers fresh fish grotto was a restaurant located in berkeley, california at 1919 4th street. Distinguished speakers malcolm margolin and corrina gould address the berkeley shellmound proposed development on the spengers parking lot area in the lwvbae environmental concerns series on monday, may 14, 2018, 7. May 20, 2015 meeting on spengers parking lot proposal. May 24, 2018 it has a story its a story of the history of berkeley its a story you have to know, he said.
It was at spengers that teller discussed his idea for a superbomblater called the hbomband warned that its detonation. Before it was berkeley or emeryville it was native american. A public notice posted by the california department of alcoholic beverage control announces a company called krg jcs, llc filed to transfer ownership of the restaurant to a new owner. Berkeley spengers fish grotto, the landmark restaurant that suddenly closed its. He correctly points out that the place was both a fish market and a restaurant. The waiters were often as crusty as the wonderful sourdough bread that was served. One of the bay areas oldest restaurants, spengers fish grotto, has abruptly closed in berkeley. Since 1959 moes has been providing customers with fair and accurate valuations of.
Spengers fish grotto abruptly closes after 128 years in berkeley. Spengers fresh fish grotto is an eating establishment that offers a range of food items and beverages for lunch and dinner. The restaurant has been in operation since 18901899 and specializes in seafood dishes. Spengers fresh fish grotto berkeley, ca map, directions. Spenger s fresh fish grotto, berkeley s oldest restaurant, in a building thats a city historical landmark, was originally the home of bavarian immigrant and fisherman johann spenger. Somebody is spreading sidewalk joy in berkeley brokeass. Preferably, the establishment should have opened in the 1920s or earlier and it must still be operating today. Restaurant menu, map for spengers located in 94710, berkeley ca, 1919 4th st. We didnt have ap science in those days, but thats the equivalent of what we did.
Berkeleys oldest restaurant, spengers fresh fish grotto. Restaurant menu, map for spenger s located in 94710, berkeley ca, 1919 4th st. Berkeleyunderwhelming first impression of boalt facultyimpressive cal student. Spenger s fresh fish grotto in berkley, ca offers a daily lunch, dinner and bar menu of fresh fish, steak, pasta, salads, desserts, cocktails, beer and wine. He also respected berkeley history and the history of the land where he spent most of his life. Johann spenger emigrated to california from bavaria and settled in west berkeley in the 1860s. Customers were alerted to the abrupt closure by a white piece of. Further parallel articles are often chapters in my two main travel guidebooksebooks on california. Wollenberg was a popular historyteacher at berkeley city college who has written numerous books about the bay area during world war ii. Historical markers in california the historical marker. As a kid and young adult spengers was a regular friday night. There are other passages that show tarloffs deep familiarity with berkeleys history. The history of the japanese cloisonne vase in the spenger collection the 8foot japanese cloisonne vase as it appeared for over a hundred years in the main dining room of spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california. They are northern california history travel adventures.
If you stroll berkeley streets with your head down, youll. It was a cut above mamaroneck, which was a pretty good high school. Martin snapp, author of the article for california, interviewed many people associated with spengers and makes some astute observations. He will show slides of mortar holes, petroglyphs, shell bead deposits, stone chips, and other signs of the areas. Alicia spenger is currently coordinating a cache of memorabilia accumulated at her familys bygone 128yearold berkeley restaurant, spengers fish grotto, for public auction. While berkeley roots may be hard to find these days, somebody is out there doing the most to remind passersby of the creativity and counterculture sentiment that once permeated the historic city.
Write a report focused on an historic san francisco hotel or restaurant. See more ideas about history, east bay and oakland california. Baseballs flawed geniusbill pennington gives longoverdue flesh to the caricaturepennington knows when to give martin the floor and when to raise an eyebrowin billy martin, pennington savors the dirtkicking spectacles without losing sight of the man. With its walls covered in shipping and fishing memorabilia, spengers is practically a nautical museum, and is sure to delight kids of all ages. Berkeleys fourth street is an oasis of upscale shops and attractive eateries in the formerly industrial neighborhood of the berkeley marina. He reports that spengers at its peak was selling about 3,500 pounds of fresh fish per day. Spengers fresh fish grotto in berkley, ca offers a daily lunch, dinner and bar menu of fresh fish, steak, pasta, salads, desserts, cocktails, beer and wine.
West berkeley historic ohlone site league of women voters. After 128 years, spengers fish grotto in berkeley closes. Its developers vs native americans in battle over berkeley. If you stroll berkeley streets with your head down, youll find little silver discs of pure joy and a silver lining of hope that all is not quite lost. This will be the 12 th location for the locally owned and operated independent bookseller with eight 8 books inc. Spengers fresh fish grotto dates back to johann spenger, who emigrated to california from bavaria and settled in west berkeley in the 1860s. How berkeley changed the world, claims physicists j. Spengers is closed, but its artifacts live on through fame. Producing consistently highquality productions of contemporary and historical plays since its founding in 1968, the berkeley rep is a primary center of theater on the west coast. Time, however, has changed the foodscape around berkeley. Spengers restaurant, berkeley restaurants san francisco.
Jan 02, 2019 every cal graduate was once a uc berkeley student with preferred watering holes and places to grab a quick bite to eat. Politics and prose are all in a days work for erik tarloff. The gabled structure he built here housed his business and family. For 128 years, spengers served some of the bays finest seafood to generations of stevedores, students, nobel laureates, and everyone in between.
This sacred site represents our living culture and more than 5,000 years of our history. Spengers was berkeleys oldest restaurant before closing. Artifacts from berkeleys spengers up for bid at auction. The restaurant first opened in 1890 and for decades was a destination for lovers of fried seafood platters, clam chowder and sourdough bread. Customers were alerted to the abrupt closure by a white piece of paper taped between the handles of. Landlord fixing up spengers site for new restaurant.
In the late 1990s, the spenger family left the business, ushering in an era of corporate ownership. We also want to recognize this amazing and generous group of donors. Shift into low gear and peoplewatch along quirky telegraph avenue while checking out. Berkeley repertory theater berkeley rep, 2025 addison st bart to downtown berkeley station. We also archive physical objects that tell berkeleys history one example being an ashtray from the recentlyclosed spengers. Radiocarbon dating suggests that native people settled here in 3700bc and inhabited the area of berkeleys shellmound for 4500 years. Berkeley kron an 8foottall meiji period vase for decades sat at spengers fish grotto, for diners to dazzle at. Richard schwartz, historian and author of several books on berkeley history.
According to local historian dave weinstein, history was made there, too. West berkeley historic ohlone site league of women. You will need to describe what your hotel or restaurant was like when it opened and what its like now. Its a great place to explore with kids, as most of its attractions are within walking distance even for little legs. The land was paved over between 1946 and 1958 and served as the parking lot of spengers restaurant for years. Only if you count some of the cooked crabs kitchen workers left to cool behind spengers fish grotto, the roomy seafood restaurant near the docks.
See more ideas about richmond california, california and east bay area. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. Indian life in the san franciscomonterey bay area, named by the san francisco chronicle as one of the hundred most important books of the 20th century by a western writer. Housed in a striking modern structure, this museum is affiliated with uc berkeley. Joseph patrick barry october 16, 1937 december 23, 2015 joseph patrick barry passed away peacefully in his sleep on wednesday december 23rd. With leonard chang, heinz insu fenkl and myung mi kim. This small museum packs a big punch with highprofile rotating exhibits and its own collection.
A plaque was formally installed at the entrance to the restaurant in 2004. California magazine licenses two lee foster photos for. A few good restaurants berkeley oakland east bay california. Enjoy your lunch, dinner or happy hour while browsing century old salvaged maritime artifacts that adorn the reconstituted teak walls. The mounds oldest subterranean parts now rest beneath spengers parking lot though, after a 1950 uc archeological dig, portions were replaced by engineered soil to better support subsequent development. Berkeley historic civic center district roughly bounded by mckinney ave. He started selling clams and beer from the front of the building in the 1890s. The spengers workers, who had walked the few blocks from their west berkeley homes, left the crabs out on purpose, knowing it was a furtive way to help feed the. Spengers fresh fish grotto 1919 4th st, berkeley, ca. It all began in the 1860s when johann spenger from bavaria started fishing in the bay. Nov 21, 2016 richard schwartz, historian and author of several books on berkeley history. Berkeleys oldest restaurant, spengers fresh fish grotto, has.
The walls in the main dining room are made from the boards of an old ship, and giant marlins, captains wheels, and photos of old berkeley fishing boats stud the interior. They soon moved to telegraph avenue where moes books evolved into a renowned emporium featuring hundreds of thousands of books. Get menu, photos and location information for permanently closed spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, ca. Spengers fresh fish grotto was open for 128 years, making it berkeleys oldest restaurant until its closing in 2018. Spengers fish grotto abruptly closes after 128 years in. The operation flourished as one of the largest and most successful dining spots in california.
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