The menu originally included clam chowder, baked beans, fish dinners. Every cal graduate was once a uc berkeley student with preferred watering holes and places to grab a quick bite to eat. Spengers fresh fish grotto berkeley, ca on opentable. The restaurant has been in operation since 18901899 and specializes in seafood dishes.
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. Spengers is closed, but its artifacts live on through. List of berkeley, california landmarks, structures of merit. Spengers fresh fish grotto was a restaurant located in berkeley, california at 1919 4th street. Berkeley kron an 8foottall meiji period vase for decades sat at spengers fish grotto, for diners to dazzle at.
Berkeley spengers fish grotto, the landmark restaurant that suddenly closed its. 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. Or book now at one of our other 9027 great restaurants in berkeley. Martin snapp, author of the article for california, interviewed many people associated with spengers and makes some astute observations. They soon moved to telegraph avenue where moes books evolved into a renowned emporium featuring hundreds of thousands of books. 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.
This sacred site represents our living culture and more than 5,000 years of our history. Its developers vs native americans in battle over berkeley. 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. Berkeleyunderwhelming first impression of boalt facultyimpressive cal student. California magazine licenses two lee foster photos for. The gabled structure he built here housed his business and family.
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. Nov 21, 2016 richard schwartz, historian and author of several books on berkeley history. Spenger s fresh fish grotto was a restaurant located in berkeley, california at 1919 4th street. A devoted father, husband, brother, uncle and friend. How berkeley changed the world, claims physicists j. This book is a rich and concise chronicle of berkeley, from. List of berkeley, california landmarks, structures of. He sets one scene in spengers restaurant on fourth street, long before it was part of the upscale. 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. May 24, 2018 it has a story its a story of the history of berkeley its a story you have to know, he said. 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. Spengers was berkeleys oldest restaurant before closing.
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. Get menu, photos and location information for permanently closed spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, ca. May 20, 2015 meeting on spengers parking lot proposal. Berkeley historical plaque project spengers fish grotto. Spengers restaurant, berkeley restaurants san francisco. Shift into low gear and peoplewatch along quirky telegraph avenue while checking out. Robert oppenheimer and edward teller hashed out details of the atomic bomb over dinners at spengers. Johann spenger worked as a hook and line fisherman on lake merritt in the early days. 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. Historical markers in california the historical marker database. Beginning as just a clam stand in the 1890s, johanns son frank expanded the stand to a full restaurant in the 1930s. 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. One of the bay areas oldest restaurants, spengers fish grotto, has abruptly closed in berkeley.
West berkeley historic ohlone site league of women voters. Berkeley historic civic center district roughly bounded by mckinney ave. Kg vintage coast spengers fresh fish grotto 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. 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.
Wollenberg was a popular historyteacher at berkeley city college who has written numerous books about the bay area during world war ii. There are other passages that show tarloffs deep familiarity with berkeleys history. 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 restaurant was designated as a landmark in 2001 by the city of berkeley. Radiocarbon dating suggests that native people settled here in 3700bc and inhabited the area of berkeleys shellmound for 4500 years. The original building housed spengers business and family residence. 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.
This is a list of landmarks, structures of merit and historical districts in berkeley, california. Housed in a striking modern structure, this museum is affiliated with uc berkeley. He correctly points out that the place was both a fish market and a restaurant. 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. Customers were alerted to the abrupt closure by a white piece of. Spengers is closed, but its artifacts live on through fame, memories. Feb 01, 2019 it had however, been quietly residing in the main dining room at spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california. Somebody is spreading sidewalk joy in berkeley brokeass. Johann spenger emigrated to california from bavaria and settled in west berkeley in the 1860s.
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. Enjoy your lunch, dinner or happy hour while browsing century old salvaged maritime artifacts that adorn the reconstituted teak walls. Berkeleys fourth street is an oasis of upscale shops and attractive eateries in the formerly industrial neighborhood of the berkeley marina. 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. As a kid and young adult spengers was a regular friday night. 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. Dec 12, 2018 spengers fresh fish grotto ranked as a landmark restaurant in the culinary history of berkeley and california.
Get menu, photos and location information for permanently closed spenger s fresh fish grotto in berkeley, ca. It all began in the 1860s when johann spenger from bavaria started fishing in the bay. 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. Preferably, the establishment should have opened in the 1920s or earlier and it must still be operating today. Before it was berkeley or emeryville it was native american. Berkeleys beloved spengers fish grotto restaurant has closed after opening 128 years ago. The waiters were often as crusty as the wonderful sourdough bread that was served. For 128 years, spengers served some of the bays finest seafood to generations of stevedores, students, nobel laureates, and everyone in between. 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. Founded in 1890 as just a clam stand by johann spenger who. Spengers fresh fish grotto was open for 128 years, making it berkeleys oldest restaurant until its closing in 2018. He reports that spengers at its peak was selling about 3,500 pounds of fresh fish per day. Its a great place to explore with kids, as most of its attractions are within walking distance even for little legs.
We didnt have ap science in those days, but thats the equivalent of what we did. Spengers fresh fish grotto 1919 4th st, berkeley, ca 94710. Alicia spenger is currently coordinating a cache of memorabilia accumulated at her familys bygone 128yearold berkeley restaurant, spengers fish grotto, for public auction. Historians thought it was lost or destroyed but no, it was in berkeley. Wed read college history books instead of high school history books. After 128 years in berkeley, spenger s fish grotto closed with nothing more than a sign taped on the front door. Richard schwartz, historian and author of several books on berkeley history. He will show slides of mortar holes, petroglyphs, shell bead deposits, stone chips, and other signs of the areas. 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. The counterculture, flower power center of the 60s, bohemian berkeley has evolved into a culinary and cultural travel scene. Historical markers in california the historical marker. The land was paved over between 1946 and 1958 and served as the parking lot of spengers restaurant for years.
If you stroll berkeley streets with your head down, youll. 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. We also archive physical objects that tell berkeleys history one example being an ashtray from the recentlyclosed spengers. Artifacts from berkeleys spengers up for bid at auction. You will need to describe what your hotel or restaurant was like when it opened and what its like now. Spengers fresh fish grotto is an eating establishment that offers a range of food items and beverages for lunch and dinner.
Berkeleys oldest restaurant, spengers fresh fish grotto. A few good restaurants berkeley oakland east bay california. This will be the 12 th location for the locally owned and operated independent bookseller with eight 8 books inc. It was a cut above mamaroneck, which was a pretty good high school. Spengers fresh fish grotto dates back to johann spenger, who emigrated to california from bavaria and settled in west berkeley in the 1860s. With leonard chang, heinz insu fenkl and myung mi kim. Spengers is closed, but its artifacts live on through fame. Surprisingly, spengers recently closed, after 128 years of serving seafood.
Spengers fish grotto abruptly closes after 128 years in berkeley. They are northern california history travel adventures. A plaque was formally installed at the entrance to the restaurant in 2004. Restaurant menu, map for spenger s located in 94710, berkeley ca, 1919 4th st. 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. 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. Further parallel articles are often chapters in my two main travel guidebooksebooks on california. In the late 1990s, the spenger family left the business, ushering in an era of corporate ownership. He started selling clams and beer from the front of the building in the 1890s. Spengers will be reborn but not as joes crab shack. Politics and prose are all in a days work for erik tarloff. Many of these old haunts are no longer in business.
Structures of merit is a classification given by the city of berkeley for buildings of local historic importance. 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. Customers were alerted to the abrupt closure by a white piece of paper taped between the handles of. 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. The downtown berkeley arts district is a lively place. Jan 07, 2019 the history of spengers fresh fish grotto. See more ideas about history, east bay and oakland california. West berkeley historic ohlone site league of women. After 128 years, spengers fish grotto in berkeley closes. Restaurant menu, map for spengers located in 94710, berkeley ca, 1919 4th st. Spengers fresh fish grotto berkeley, ca map, directions. It had however, been quietly residing in the main dining room at spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california. Apr 24, 2018 the land was paved over between 1946 and 1958 and served as the parking lot of spengers restaurant for years. We also want to recognize this amazing and generous group of donors. 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. This small museum packs a big punch with highprofile rotating exhibits and its own collection. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods.
This article a few good restaurants berkeley oakland east bay california is a standalone article on my website. Berkeley repertory theater berkeley rep, 2025 addison st bart to downtown berkeley station. See more ideas about richmond california, california and east bay area. Time, however, has changed the foodscape around berkeley. With its walls covered in shipping and fishing memorabilia, spengers is practically a nautical museum, and is sure to delight kids of all ages.
Here are eleven shuttered berkeley establishments that alumni still cry over. Landlord fixing up spengers site for new restaurant. He will show slides of mortar holes, petroglyphs, shell. The operation flourished as one of the largest and most successful dining spots in california. Spengers fresh fish grotto, berkeleys oldest restaurant, in a building thats a city historical landmark, was originally the home of bavarian. For over 125 years, spengers fresh fish grotto in berkeley, california, had. Joint statement from ohlone family bands beneath the pavement in west berkeley dwells a cultural and historical touchstone of singular significance. It was at spengers that teller discussed his idea for a superbomblater called the hbomband warned that its detonation.
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