The menu originally included clam chowder, baked beans, fish dinners. Here are eleven shuttered berkeley establishments that alumni still cry over. Alicia spenger is currently coordinating a cache of memorabilia accumulated at her familys bygone 128yearold berkeley restaurant, spengers fish grotto, for public auction. Spengers fresh fish grotto 1919 4th st, berkeley, ca. You will need to describe what your hotel or restaurant was like when it opened and what its like now. The land was paved over between 1946 and 1958 and served as the parking lot of spengers restaurant for years. We didnt have ap science in those days, but thats the equivalent of what we did. In the late 1990s, the spenger family left the business, ushering in an era of corporate ownership. Politics and prose are all in a days work for erik tarloff. Landlord fixing up spengers site for new restaurant.
Spengers fresh fish grotto, berkeleys oldest restaurant, in a building thats a city historical landmark, was originally the home of bavarian. Richard schwartz, historian and author of several books on berkeley history. He also respected berkeley history and the history of the land where he spent most of his life. Joint statement from ohlone family bands beneath the pavement in west berkeley dwells a cultural and historical touchstone of singular significance. Wed read college history books instead of high school history books. Spengers fresh fish grotto was open for 128 years, making it berkeleys oldest restaurant until its closing in 2018. Apr 24, 2018 the land was paved over between 1946 and 1958 and served as the parking lot of spengers restaurant for years. 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. See more ideas about history, east bay and oakland california. As a kid and young adult spengers was a regular friday night.
The counterculture, flower power center of the 60s, bohemian berkeley has evolved into a culinary and cultural travel scene. This article a few good restaurants berkeley oakland east bay california is a standalone article on my website. This will be the 12 th location for the locally owned and operated independent bookseller with eight 8 books inc. Since 1959 moes has been providing customers with fair and accurate valuations of. The downtown berkeley arts district is a lively place. Joseph patrick barry october 16, 1937 december 23, 2015 joseph patrick barry passed away peacefully in his sleep on wednesday december 23rd. 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. He will show slides of mortar holes, petroglyphs, shell bead deposits, stone chips, and other signs of the areas. Historical markers in california the historical marker. Radiocarbon dating suggests that native people settled here in 3700bc and inhabited the area of berkeleys shellmound for 4500 years. This small museum packs a big punch with highprofile rotating exhibits and its own collection. Housed in a striking modern structure, this museum is affiliated with uc berkeley. He will show slides of mortar holes, petroglyphs, shell.
Surprisingly, spengers recently closed, after 128 years of serving seafood. Dec 12, 2018 spengers fresh fish grotto ranked as a landmark restaurant in the culinary history of berkeley and california. He correctly points out that the place was both a fish market and a restaurant. Restaurant menu, map for spengers located in 94710, berkeley ca, 1919 4th st. 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.
He started selling clams and beer from the front of the building in the 1890s. Robert oppenheimer and edward teller hashed out details of the atomic bomb over dinners at spengers. Kg vintage coast spengers fresh fish grotto berkeley ca. Spengers is closed, but its artifacts live on through fame. Spengers restaurant, berkeley restaurants san francisco. The operation flourished as one of the largest and most successful dining spots in california. Wollenberg was a popular historyteacher at berkeley city college who has written numerous books about the bay area during world war ii. 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.
May 24, 2018 it has a story its a story of the history of berkeley its a story you have to know, he said. Aug 22, 2003 he also respected berkeley history and the history of the land where he spent most of his life. Spenger s fresh fish grotto was a restaurant located in berkeley, california at 1919 4th street. Berkeleys beloved spengers fish grotto restaurant has closed after opening 128 years ago. California magazine licenses two lee foster photos for. Many of these old haunts are no longer in business. 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. The restaurant first opened in 1890 and for decades was a destination for lovers of fried seafood platters, clam chowder and sourdough bread. 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.
The waiters were often as crusty as the wonderful sourdough bread that was served. It was at spengers that teller discussed his idea for a superbomblater called the hbomband warned that its detonation. Customers were alerted to the abrupt closure by a white piece of paper taped between the handles of. 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.
Johann spenger worked as a hook and line fisherman on lake merritt in the early days. 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. List of berkeley, california landmarks, structures of merit. Feb 01, 2019 it had however, been quietly residing in the main dining room at spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california. Berkeleys oldest restaurant, spengers fresh fish grotto, has. We also want to recognize this amazing and generous group of donors. Berkeley spengers fish grotto, the landmark restaurant that suddenly closed its. For over 125 years, spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california, had. Founded in 1890 as just a clam stand by johann spenger who.
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. It all began in the 1860s when johann spenger from bavaria started fishing in the bay. Berkeley kron an 8foottall meiji period vase for decades sat at spengers fish grotto, for diners to dazzle at. Johann spenger emigrated to california from bavaria and settled in west berkeley in the 1860s. Historical markers in california the historical marker database. Berkeleys fourth street is an oasis of upscale shops and attractive eateries in the formerly industrial neighborhood of the berkeley marina. 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. Sep 11, 2014 there are other passages that show tarloffs deep familiarity with berkeleys history. Shift into low gear and peoplewatch along quirky telegraph avenue while checking out.
If you stroll berkeley streets with your head down, youll. There are other passages that show tarloffs deep familiarity with berkeleys history. They soon moved to telegraph avenue where moes books evolved into a renowned emporium featuring hundreds of thousands of books. He sets one scene in spengers restaurant on fourth street, long before it was part of the upscale. It had however, been quietly residing in the main dining room at spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california. 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. 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. Beginning as just a clam stand in the 1890s, johanns son frank expanded the stand to a full restaurant in the 1930s. The gabled structure he built here housed his business and family. May 20, 2015 meeting on spengers parking lot proposal.
Write a report focused on an historic san francisco hotel or restaurant. Enjoy your lunch, dinner or happy hour while browsing century old salvaged maritime artifacts that adorn the reconstituted teak walls. 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. West berkeley historic ohlone site league of women. With its walls covered in shipping and fishing memorabilia, spengers is practically a nautical museum, and is sure to delight kids of all ages. We also archive physical objects that tell berkeleys history one example being an ashtray from the recentlyclosed spengers. Read the spengers restaurant, berkeley discussion from the chowhound restaurants, san francisco food community. Before it was berkeley or emeryville it was native american. This book is a rich and concise chronicle of berkeley, from.
This is a list of landmarks, structures of merit and historical districts in berkeley, california. Get menu, photos and location information for permanently closed spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, ca. A few good restaurants berkeley oakland east bay california. 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. Spengers fresh fish grotto berkeley, ca map, directions.
Berkeleys oldest restaurant, spengers fresh fish grotto. Artifacts from berkeleys spengers up for bid at auction. Its a great place to explore with kids, as most of its attractions are within walking distance even for little legs. Berkeley repertory theater berkeley rep, 2025 addison st bart to downtown berkeley station. Somebody is spreading sidewalk joy in berkeley brokeass. 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.
West berkeley historic ohlone site league of women voters. 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 historic civic center district roughly bounded by mckinney ave. He reports that spengers at its peak was selling about 3,500 pounds of fresh fish per day.
Spengers fish grotto abruptly closes after 128 years in berkeley. Every cal graduate was once a uc berkeley student with preferred watering holes and places to grab a quick bite to eat. Nov 21, 2016 richard schwartz, historian and author of several books on berkeley history. 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. For 128 years, spengers served some of the bays finest seafood to generations of stevedores, students, nobel laureates, and everyone in between. Or book now at one of our other 9027 great restaurants in berkeley. Spengers was berkeleys oldest restaurant before closing. Spengers fresh fish grotto is an eating establishment that offers a range of food items and beverages for lunch and dinner. 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. A plaque was formally installed at the entrance to the restaurant in 2004. They are northern california history travel adventures.
Get menu, photos and location information for permanently closed spenger s fresh fish grotto in berkeley, ca. 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. Its developers vs native americans in battle over berkeley. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. 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. Jan 07, 2019 the history of spengers fresh fish grotto. Time, however, has changed the foodscape around berkeley.
Spengers will be reborn but not as joes crab shack. A devoted father, husband, brother, uncle and friend. Spengers is closed, but its artifacts live on through. One of the bay areas oldest restaurants, spengers fish grotto, has abruptly closed in berkeley.
Structures of merit is a classification given by the city of berkeley for buildings of local historic importance. The restaurant has been in operation since 18901899 and specializes in seafood dishes. Historians thought it was lost or destroyed but no, it was in berkeley. Preferably, the establishment should have opened in the 1920s or earlier and it must still be operating today. Spengers fresh fish grotto dates back to johann spenger, who emigrated to california from bavaria and settled in west berkeley in the 1860s.
List of berkeley, california landmarks, structures of. Martin snapp, author of the article for california, interviewed many people associated with spengers and makes some astute observations. Spengers fresh fish grotto was a restaurant located in berkeley, california at 1919 4th street. 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. The original building housed spengers business and family residence. Berkeleyunderwhelming first impression of boalt facultyimpressive cal student. 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. 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. See more ideas about richmond california, california and east bay area. Spengers fish grotto abruptly closes after 128 years in. It was a cut above mamaroneck, which was a pretty good high school.
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. The restaurant was designated as a landmark in 2001 by the city of berkeley. 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. How berkeley changed the world, claims physicists j. Spengers fresh fish grotto 1919 4th st, berkeley, ca 94710. According to local historian dave weinstein, history was made there, too. After 128 years, spengers fish grotto in berkeley closes.
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