Reply To: 881 Club San Rafael (from original archive item)
I wrote a story about Pete's 881 Club in the Pacific Sun in 1977 or 78. The place was located at 881 4th Street. It was a shot-and-beer joint with a legal card room in the back of the club. At the time, Pete was still alive, and he ran the club with the help of his sons Randy and Paul. The club moved over to its current location on Lincoln about 20 years. Pete and Paul have both since died, but I believe that Randy still manages the club. I frequented the joint to play $10-limit lowball draw poker (and high-low draw on Sundays), which later replaced by Texas hold 'em and Omaha high-low, when the poker laws were in California were changed. It was a very colorful place back in the 70s and 80s, with many of the regular poker players sporting nicknames like Hippie Bob, Squarehead Rick (and the inevitable Roundhead Rick), Lowball Dave, and Bill the Barber.
Hey Rick. Thanks for the info. Pete's 881 Club is actually on Lincoln Ave now, behind the shopping center with Staple & CompUSA, but I guess I had forgotten that they were in downtown San Rafael many years ago.
Howie - I don't know about the historical part. The 881 Club was a dive bar on 4th St. I remember seeing it from the little bridge that went between 4th St. and the parking lot behind the discount store ( can't remember the name, next to Grand Auto ) when i was a kid. They moved to their present location on Lindaro ( i think ? ) about 20-25 years ago. I'd all but forgotten the 4th St. location. That's for the memory. Rick.
A fairly new restaurant in San Rafael, Via Antico at 881 Fourth Street, says that it is at the historical location of the 881 Club. The only 881 Club I know is Pete's 881 Club card room, and I don't think it was ever at that location. Can anyone shed any light on this subject?
