One of the oldest bars in San Francisco, opened originally in 1908, The House of Shields, is slated for closing by the middle of this year unless new owners step in to keep it alive. Eater reports, via several sources, that the lease on the downtown bar across from the Palace Hotel is up in June, and the current owners don’t intend to stay on. New owners would, in all likelihood, change the name and the concept, but there’s always a chance that a nostalgia buff with a lot of cash may step in. Below, a seven-minute documentary about the history of the bar, including a picture of an underground passageway from the Palace that was used during Prohibition.
According to this brief documentary (with an unfortunate choice of soundtrack) by YouTuber Devin, the bar got its name from an owner who took it over in the 1920s and owned it for about 40 years. The place was a gentlemen’s club where women were not allowed (unless they were prostitutes) until 1976. During Prohibition, the place operated as a speakeasy, with an underground passageway connecting it to the Palace Hotel from whence many out-of-town patrons were able to enter and exit.
Knowing all this, we’re pretty sure some clever entrepreneur will take it over, capitalize on its history, and for better or worse, turn it into a fancy cocktail bar à la Rickhouse or Bourbon & Branch where tourists can enjoy the novelty of an underground passageway beneath New Montgomery Street.
UPDATE: Via Twitter, we hear from owner Schlomo Rabinowitz that the place already has a buyer. More details as we get them.
The House of Shields [Wordpress]
House of Shields In Danger of Closing Due to Lease Woes [Eater]
