I worked there as a dishwasher in about 1967 and it was the Inn Marin. IRS shut it down when I was there, came to work one day and it was padlocked, end of my job and the Inn Marin. Guy still owes me my last paycheck.....about $25.00 !
When we lived there for a brief time in 1966, the restaurant you are asking about was called "The Cherish Inn" I believe. The song "Cherish" by The Association was very popular right then and I always associated the restaurant with the song and the time frame. Sort of a swanky little place if I recall.
I remember loving the ivy that grew all over the center and was really sad that they finally cleaned that all up a few years back.
We used to like going to the coin store , the model store and the phone store , since I was totally into phones I loved that store. I really liked the feel of the old Center. I went down there for the first time around Christmas time and I did'nt like the feel of the remodel much. I must say they did a nice job remodeling Slaveway , but I hardly shop on that side of the freeway much
My best girlfriend and I both lived in that neighborhood growing up. She also lived on South Knoll Road and we spent a lot of time at Strawberry Town & Country Village. Was Kubla Kahn in that space or was it on the back of the center next to the Golden Strawberry Beauty Salon where Yet Wah eventually opened? No other restaurant is coming to mind at the moment.
I moved to Marin in July 1964 and lived in an apartment on South Knoll Road. That was right behind where they were just building Strawberry Town and Country Village.
Does anyone remember the name of the original restaurant that occupied the space that eventually became The Ancient Mariner, then Strawberry Joe's and now Smith and Hawkin?