Zot's is still around as is the Dutch Goose!
But yes, a lot of the casual dive bars we used to know and love have closed. Here's some of my long-gone favorites.
* The Oasis (Stanford Institution just north on El Camino)
* Antonio's Nut House (Mtn View on California Ave, funky vibe, pool tables)
* St James Infirmary (Long gone and long missed joint in Mtn View; Bigger than life-sized Wonder Woman doll!)
* Old Pro (Latest casualty although I wasn't a regular here)
* The Boardwalk (Sunnyvale, went their after league sports nights and didn't card pre-21 me. Thus a favorite)
A number of older South Bay bars were bought up by the company that owns Jakes. Most were upgraded and given a standardized menu. I like that they preserve the old favorites and they keep some of the vibe but they start to feel the same after a while. (Jakes, Jakes of Willow Glen, The Garret, The Garret Station, etc) I believe they also owned or at least ran The Oasis and Boardwalk toward the end.
Boscoe's Bones and Brew in Niles Canyon (near Fremont) though further from Stanford deserves a shout-out for their "unique" tap. Boscoe was a dog voted in as mayor of the small Niles community who now has an unusual after life. Lift his taxidermied leg to pour. I believe the place survived covid.
But yes, a lot of the casual dive bars we used to know and love have closed. Here's some of my long-gone favorites.
* The Oasis (Stanford Institution just north on El Camino)
* Antonio's Nut House (Mtn View on California Ave, funky vibe, pool tables)
* St James Infirmary (Long gone and long missed joint in Mtn View; Bigger than life-sized Wonder Woman doll!)
* Old Pro (Latest casualty although I wasn't a regular here)
* The Boardwalk (Sunnyvale, went their after league sports nights and didn't card pre-21 me. Thus a favorite)
A number of older South Bay bars were bought up by the company that owns Jakes. Most were upgraded and given a standardized menu. I like that they preserve the old favorites and they keep some of the vibe but they start to feel the same after a while. (Jakes, Jakes of Willow Glen, The Garret, The Garret Station, etc) I believe they also owned or at least ran The Oasis and Boardwalk toward the end.
Boscoe's Bones and Brew in Niles Canyon (near Fremont) though further from Stanford deserves a shout-out for their "unique" tap. Boscoe was a dog voted in as mayor of the small Niles community who now has an unusual after life. Lift his taxidermied leg to pour. I believe the place survived covid.
In 1938 Neville Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time", Superman first appeared in Action Comics, Seabiscuit beat War Admiral ....... and C.a.l last won the Rose Bowl.