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Hotel Utah (San Francisco, California)

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Coordinates: 37°46′48″N 122°23′53″W / 37.780010°N 122.397959°W / 37.780010; -122.397959
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Hotel Utah
Location500–504 4th Street, San Francisco, California, U.S.
Coordinates37°46′48″N 122°23′53″W / 37.780010°N 122.397959°W / 37.780010; -122.397959
Built1908; 116 years ago (1908)
Architectural style(s)Edwardian
DesignatedNovember 2, 2018
Reference no.282
Hotel Utah (San Francisco, California) is located in San Francisco County
Hotel Utah (San Francisco, California)
Location of Hotel Utah in San Francisco County
Hotel Utah (San Francisco, California) is located in California
Hotel Utah (San Francisco, California)
Hotel Utah (San Francisco, California) (California)
Hotel Utah (San Francisco, California) is located in the United States
Hotel Utah (San Francisco, California)
Hotel Utah (San Francisco, California) (the United States)

The Hotel Utah is a historic mixed-use building known as a saloon bar, live music venue, and residential hotel, built in 1908 and located in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco, California.[1] It is known for its diverse open mic nights, which have historically attracted some people who have later become famous.[2] It is also known as The Utah Inn, The Hotel Utah Saloon, and simply The Utah.

The Hotel Utah has been listed as a San Francisco Designated Landmark since November 2, 2018.[3][4][5]

Building history

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The Hotel Utah is located at 500–504 4th Street, at Bryant Street in San Francisco, California. It was built in 1908 as a saloon and hotel.[6][7] The interior of the saloon is fairly small, which makes for an intimate performance and music venue.[8][9] The building is four stories and the upper floors were once an inn, and now operates as a single room occupancy and room rental.

The building was originally created for seasonal workers employed in nearby factories.[4] In the 1930s, the saloon was a hangout for gamblers, madams, and longshoremen.[10] Most of the buildings in the nearby neighborhood were razed in the 1940s and 1950s during a period of redevelopment, including almost all of the other residential hotels.[4] After World War II, Al Opatz owned the saloon which he named, "Al's Transbay Tavern".[11] On March 18, 1977, the bar was purchased by Paul Gaer, who turned the space into the Hotel Utah and built the stage.[6] Damian Samuel, who had gotten his start as a doorman (under Gaer), was later the owner of the Hotel Utah.[6]

Cultural history

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Hotel Utah performance, Keren Bein and band (2016)
Hotel Utah performance, Keren Bein and band (2016)
Interior view
Interior view

The Hotel Utah Open Mic on Mondays draws a local diverse crowd including musicians, comedians, poets, and other performers.[10] Notable people and bands that have performed here include Con Brio,[2] Mike Deni of Geographer,[12] Amina Shareef Ali,[13] Kelly McFarling,[2] PJ Harvey,[14] Matt Nathanson,[15] Miggs, Toychestra, The Union Trade, The Loud Family, Terra Naomi,[16] Whoopi Goldberg,[15] Robin Williams,[15] and John Mayer.[2][15]

In 1980, the drag musical Blonde Sin was first performed at Hotel Utah, featuring Doris Fish with Sluts A-Go-Go (the drag queens Tippi and Miss X).[8]

In 1989, The Marsh, a theater company was founded at the Hotel Utah, before they found their own space.[17]

From January 4, 1994, to January 14, 1997, "The Dark Circle Lounge" was a weekly improvisational music series, and it later became a festival, founded and led by Gino Robair at the Hotel Utah.[18][19] The Bay Area Improv Scene participated in The Dark Circle Lounge.

In 1989, the album United Kingdom by American Music Club was partially recorded at Hotel Utah, including the song "All the Lost Souls Welcome You to San Francisco".[20] In 2008, Black Francis recorded the album Live at the Hotel Utah Saloon.

The Hotel Utah is mentioned in an essay in the Rachel Kushner book, The Hard Crowd: Essays 2000–2009 (2021, Simon & Schuster).[21][22] She reminisces on a secret PJ Harvey concert she saw at the Hotel Utah, which inspired her to become a writer.[21]

Similar local and intimate live music venues in San Francisco include the Bottom of the Hill, Public Works SF, The Independent, Great American Music Hall, the Brick and Mortar Music Hall,[23] Cafe Du Nord, the Knockout SF,[24] and the Chapel SF.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hicks, Tony (March 12, 2008). "Hotel Utah celebrates its wild S.F. history". East Bay Times. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Silvers, Emma (June 6, 2018). "Hotel Utah is not your average open-mike night bar". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  3. ^ Examiner staff (July 13, 2014). "In an ever-changing SF, the Hotel Utah Saloon remains the same". San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Designated Landmarks And Landmark Districts". San Francisco Planning, City and County of San Francisco. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Planning Code - Landmark Designation - 500-504-4th Street (aka Hotel Utah)]" (PDF). San Francisco Planning.
  6. ^ a b c Vigil, Delfin (March 15, 2007). "Hotel Utah Saloon: No U-Hauls for the Utah: South of Market bar-nightclub-eatery celebrates 30 years of high times since it was Al's Transbay Tavern". SFGate. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  7. ^ Copperman, Amy (February 27, 2015). "The 18 Oldest Bars in SF". Thrillist. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Flanagan, Michael (October 30, 2019). "When Doris Fish Resurfaced - Blonde Sin silkscreens at the 2007 Castro Street Fair". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  9. ^ Harrington, Jim (October 19, 2010). "Our picks for the Bay Area's great small venues". The Mercury News. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Mobley, Esther; Silvers, Emma (February 21, 2019). "The Ultimate Guide to Classic S.F. Bars". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  11. ^ "Alois 'Al' Opatz's Obituary". Press Democrat. September 17, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2023 – via Legacy.com.
  12. ^ Yu, Betty (July 1, 2022). "Geographer, Cold War Kids bring indie-rock to Stern Grove". CBS News. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  13. ^ Silvers, Emma (March 24, 2021). "Amina Shareef Ali Comes Back to Life". KQED. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  14. ^ Kushner, Rachel (April 27, 2018). "Rachel Kushner on the San Francisco Dives of Her Youth, and That Time She Tended Bar With Keith Richards". Vogue. Condé Nast. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d Valentino, Silas (March 7, 2022). "The return of SF's 'big daddy of open mics', which hosted everyone from Robin Williams to John Mayer". SFGate. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  16. ^ "Terra Naomi, Grace Woods, Jacob Wolkenhauer in San Francisco at the Hotel Utah Saloon". DoTheBay.com. 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "The Marsh Theater at 1062 Valencia Street - 2012". DIVA. San Francisco State University.
  18. ^ Prestianni, Sam (January 22, 1997). "Short Circuit". SF Weekly. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  19. ^ Snyder, Micheal (January 15, 1995). "Jerry Garcia Pens a Play". SFGate. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  20. ^ Barmann, Jay (November 13, 2014). "The 20 Best Songs About Places In San Francisco". SFist. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Gross, Anisse (April 5, 2021). "Review: Rachel Kushner's The Hard Crowd vividly evokes a bygone San Francisco era". Datebook, The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  22. ^ Haber, Matt (March 31, 2021). "Beer, weed and strangers: Rachel Kushner remembers 1980s S.F. youth in essay collection". Datebook, The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  23. ^ Lonely Planet; Harrell, Ashley; Benchwick, Greg; Bing, Alison; Brash, Celeste; Karlin, Adam (December 1, 2019). Lonely Planet San Francisco. Lonely Planet. p. 439. ISBN 978-1-78868-677-8.
  24. ^ Charnock, Matt (June 17, 2021). "11 Quintessential Dive Bars in San Francisco". 7x7 Bay Area. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  25. ^ Wells, Madeline (October 14, 2021). "'Sworn to secrecy': Ex-employees say The Chapel's ghost was real". SFGate. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
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