Winters Tavern
THE BUILDING
Winters Tavern was housed in a frame stucco building, constructed around 1906. It started out life at Old County Road (Palmetto) and Santa Rosa. It was "remodeled" at one point by simply building a new structure over it, which explains why there are two levels in the present Winter's. In 1945, the building was moved to its current location, which back then was 1202 San Francisco Blvd., and today is 1522 Francisco Blvd.(the building wasn't moved again for the address change - the street was re-zoned). The property and building for decades was owned by Ray Higgins, who also owned many other properties in Sharp Park, and who (according to Dick Plate's wife Victoria) "Really started the whole town." Higgins was the one who later gave the abandoned Pedro School to the City of Pacifica, for its council chambers.
MA AND BRUNO'S CAFE
Before WINTERS' TAVERN opened on May 30, 1946, the business was called "Ma and Bruno's Cafe", owned by Bruno & Stefanie Benndorf. The Benndorfs married in 1914, and had been residents of Sharp Park since 1920. In addition to "Ma and Bruno's Cafe", they were active in the community, serving with the Sharp Park Improvement Club in the 1930s, and participating in "whist"(card games), of which Bruno was good at. Around town, they were just known as "Ma and Bruno". In 1940, Bruno became ill, and died in June, 1941. On December 8, 1941, Stefanie transferred the business to her daughter Bertha and a friend amed Frieda Grifchott., keeping ownership. Bertha and her husband Gustav Buchten operated the business as "Ma's", more of a tavern than a cafe. Running a tavern was not without the usual incidents, of course - it comes with the territory. In 1942, a minor drank liquor at the tavern, and with a "borrowed" car went on a joyride which resulted in partially demolishing the home of a Mr. E. C. Hawkins. The youth then blamed the Buchtens for selling the liquor to him in a Redwood City court proceeding.
EMMETT WINTER
After running the cafe/tavern for 20 years, Stephanie was ready to retire, and sold the business to a Mr. Emmett Winter. Winter was a San Francisco native, who spent most of his life in the City. He was a WWI veteran who returned to civilian life as a race car driver and also a manager for fighters/boxers in San Francisco, before he bought the business on January 23, 1946 and re-named it "Winters'". Emmett was deeply involved in community affairs. He was one of the originators of the New Northside Lion's Club, a gathering of local merchants. He also participated in numerous community activities, representing Winters' tavern. Emmett operated the cocktail lounge/tavern until his death on November 15, 1951. Emmett's widow Beulah continued managing Winters until selling it to Fred Plate and Leonard Girard.
Fred PLate and Len Girard
In 1953, Fred Plate and his brother-in-law Len "Skinner" Girard bought the business from Beulah Winter, and ran the business for nearly 40 years. Len and Fred were close, even playing for Winters in the annual "Donkey baseball" teams against Nick's in the '80s and early '90s.
Frederick Charles Plate was a WWII veteran who lost an eye in battle. He was the son of Dick Plate, who owned "Al's Cafe" and other property and businesses in Sharp Park. Fred's mother Victoria Plate operated the County Road Market. Fred's parents bought up land in Sharp Park in 1930, and owned several businesses. Fred grew up in Sharp Park, and graduated from Jefferson High in 1939. He then went to work for his father at Dick Plate & Sons Service Station. Fred joined the Marines in 1942, serving with the Marine Corp until 1944. He married Hilda Girard in Reno in May of 1948, and moved to Rockaway Beach (Hilda was the sister of Len Girard). Fred was elected Senior Vice Commander of the local VFW, of which he was heavily involved. He was also a member of the Pacifica Tavern Owner's Association. He and Len Girard were on the first Donkey Baseball team, which began in 1958. They played these games for charity against other local businesses. Fred was also active in community affairs before purchasing Winter's Tavern. Hilda worked for the North Coast County Water District, and undertook many volunteer activities. She was also a teacher's aid for Jefferson High School. In 1978, Hilda died at the age of 52 of cancer. Fred Plate died of cancer at the age 69 on April 21,1990.
Leonard William "Skinner" Girard Sr. was born in Arkansas. Len was a sergeant in WWII, and as he put it 'experienced hell" in a battle that was represented in an Audie Murphy film as part of the third division's legendary, bloody march, which was a key segment of WWII. He was wounded in action, and returned home. After the war, Len chose to make California his home, specifically Sharp Park, initially because his sister Hilda lived there. He first was a Sharp Park butcher at Landi's Market, following the trade of his father and from which relatives said he derived his nickname: Skinner. He met his wife Marietta Luce when she was on a nursing assignment in Sharp Park, and they married in 1951. When he and Fred Plate took over Winters', it was a scene of frequent community and organization dinners. Girard and Plate were leaders in the Coastside Tavern Owners Association, which got involved in a strong bowling league at the new Sea Bowl, sponsored a golf tournament and emerged in local politics. Mr. Girard was one of the founders of the association's annual donkey baseball games. . Leonard's father Dick passed away in 1949, while Leonard was serving in the Merchant Marines. Len died on July 25, 1993 at the age of 70 after a series of health crises.
Russ Conroy grew up in Sharp Park, moving there as a child with his father, who was a golf pro. In fact, his father won the Sharp Park Golf Course opening day tournament. Russ graduated from Jefferson High. One of Conroy's first jobs was for Dick Plate's new Standard Oil Station at the corner of County Road and Clarendon. "That station had one of the first auto hoists on the coast." He was then called up to serve in WWII, where he joined the Merchant Marines. He had an early release after having an appendectomy in Panama. Upon arriving home, he took a temporary job at Scotty's Place in Rockaway Beach, one of many former bootleg road houses on the coast. "Scotty taught me how to mix drinks, one by one", said Russ.
Later, Conroy was bartender at Winter's Tavern and Nick's, where he had a ringside seat for politics, public affairs, and people. This experience served him well with his work as director, then president, of the Water District for 36 years. His last 20 years before retiring from the Water District, Conroy also worked at the Leaning Tower Bar in South San Francisco. When Russ was bar-tending at Winter's Tavern, he and his wife Dottie lived in an upstairs apartment and operated “the only 24-hour phone in town" - meaning that no one else in town had a public telephone. They agreed to take calls for Police Chief Bill Regan, a legendary coastside cop. “The phone didn't ring very often. If we couldn't find Bill, we'd phone the sheriff in Redwood City.” said Conroy.
Winters' as owned and operated by Fred Plate and Len Girard opened on Halloween Day, 1952, the same day of a daylight holdup while bartender Russ Conroy was on duty. There was also a big Opening Party in December, 1952. Winters in those days was the scene of frequent community and organizational dinners, and was a popular hangout for almost 40 years.
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Lois Graupner and Neil Moorhouse
In 1987, Fred Plate and Len Girard sold Winters to Neil Moorhouse and Lois Graupner. Graupner ran the business with Neil and her son Michael until they were foreclosed upon in 1992. During their brief run, they were contacted by filmmakers wanting to use Winters in their films. Unfortunately, that never came to pass, but at least Moorhouse an Graupner kept the doors open during their tenure.
MARY HALL and "Stella"
Mary Hall a.k.a. Mary Fellom was the next owner of Winters, taking over in 1993. It was under Mary's ownership that the famous 1888 "Stella" painting. There were many "Stellas" produced in the decades prior to Mary's tenure. The one that hung in Winters' tavern was probably more interesting than the original, since the model appeared to have two left feet. Mary printed up free copies of the (actual) painting's history to hand out to customers. Even though the painting that hung in Winters was not the original, it was a great gimmick to bring in business. The publicity about the "Stella" painting hanging on the walls of Winters included the information that the nude in the painting had two left feet. Good thing she wasn't dancing! Mary also listed Winters' recreational features (besides the bar, which included alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, whipped up by friendly mixologists Milt, Jim, Richie and George): a pool room, dart game, piano (which all guests were encouraged to play), and the only shuffleboard game in Pacifica. Free popcorn, too! There was also live music. You might say that Mary Hall gave it her all, and Winters had good business during that time.
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In 2002, Don Holloway, a Texan with a fondness for Harleys, took over ownership of Winters. During that time, Don was a silent partner with Antoinette and Matt DeFlavia, who ran Scooter's Sandwich Shack on Palmetto. Don was also a graphic artist who worked at Realty Graphics in San Jose. He had a refined aesthetic sense, and made significant changes in how the place looked, and how it was run. "Winters had a bad reputation for years. We turned it into a nice place. We cleaned it up and made it more desirable for the average Pacifican.", said Don. One decoration that had to go during the remodel was the painting of Stella. Don maintained and serviced video games on the peninsula, so it made sense that he would add some to Winters' game room, video bowling and golf. He kept the pool table, dart board and shuffleboard, as well. In addition to music, Holloway put Winters on the map as a venue for comedians, booking many renowned stand-up comics to perform at Winters. During his tenure, Don hosted more comedians than any of the other Winters' owners. One of Don's quotes was that "Without humor, you cannot run a tavern - let alone a nation".
In 2004. Chad Heeley joined Don Holloway as co-owner of Winters'. Chad became sole owner in 2005 when Don sold his share of the tavern to him. That year, Chad also opened the Longboard Marguerita Bar in Eureka Square with business partner with Kim Lerohl. For sure, Winters was a place to have a good time, but during Chad's ownership there were also charitable fundraisers and benefits. In 2011, Chad had to do some unexpected renovations when, one late January morning, an inebriated woman slammed into the side of the building, which caused one person to quip: "She made Winters' a drive-through!" It wasn't funny, though, in spite of the newspapers downplaying the story. At least one of the three persons who were injured in that accident is still traumatized by being slammed into by the woman's vehicle. There were other incidents, as expected in such a business, but for the most part, as Chad emphasized: "During [my] tenure Winters' was the epicenter of entertainment in Pacifica."
C.J. Valenti and Corinne Robinson took over ownership of Winters in 2013. Their Winters' motto is: "No, really - It's all about the music!" Also: "No Crap on tap!"
C.J. answered Chad Heeley's Craiglist ad offering the business for sale. Since C.J. had never heard of Pacifica, he decided to check out the town prior to making a committment. He liked what he saw, so he and his partner Corinne Robinson bought the business (they sealed the deal a decade later when they purchased the building). Under the Valenti-Robinson ownership, Winters' has survived and thrived, in spite of the Covid epidemic's effect on most businesses at the time. They were up for the challenge, creating an inviting outdoor area in what had been the tavern's parking lot. This set-up became so popular that the outdoor space has become an ongoing part of the venue.
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Winters Tavern is a historic building in Pacifica, California, with a rich history dating back to pre-prohibition. Under new ownership since 2013, the tavern continues to honor its legacy and provide a genuine feeling of yesteryear. Known for live music, the venue features a variety of original music from national and international touring bands to local Bay Area talent. They also offer a wide selection of fresh, local, and west coast real micro-brews with 16 rotating taps, as well as a full bar with an extensive collection of fine liquor. Winters Tavern prides itself on being a classy dive bar with great service, outstanding live music, and no crap on tap. Also, interesting factoid: Winters' has the only neon sign left in Pacifica. The Pacifica Historical Society recognizes Winters' as being a Community Social Hub Since 1946.