H. Joseph Ehrmann, Proprietor of San Francisco’s historic Elixir saloon, celebrated the landmark anniversary of one of the city’s oldest institutions with three events highlighting separate significant milestones in the history of San Francisco’s deep saloon history.
“As long as there are records of the Northwest corner of Sixteenth and Guerrero Streets, they show a saloon keeper of some sort there,” said local saloon historian Jim Jarvis.
Since 1858, the Mission District, and indeed the City of San Francisco, has been patronizing this authentic piece of the wildest of Wild West towns. Those proprietors have been making their neighbors happy with a friendly bar stool and stalwart bartender at their service, and these events celebrate that noble history.
The original saloon was burned down in 1906, along with the rest of the neighborhood. Then thirteen-year Proprietor, Patrick J. McGinnis, ESQ, rebuilt his saloon with famed Petaluma-based architect Brainerd Jones. Since that era, the saloon has seen eight proprietors. Mr. Ehrmann purchased the property formerly known as Jack’s Elixir Bar in 2003 and restored the room’s Victorian charm by revitalizing all of the original redwood trim and mahogany bar and bringing back the saloon atmosphere of a bygone era.
Today Elixir has a local reputation for having everything you could want in a local watering hole, and then some. “I like to think of it as an exceptional neighborhood bar,” Ehrmann boasts. “The more time you spend with us, the more you realize how special a place it is.” In the five years since re-opening, Ehrmann has brought national attention to the saloon via an exceptional spirits selection, award-winning cocktails and pioneering work in the “greening” of the bar industry.
The celebrations kicked off November 22nd at noon with a daytime party to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Mr. Ehrmann’s proprietorship, featuring a Celebrity Chef Barbeque with Mission District culinary dignitaries Justin Deering (Conduit) and Scott Youkilis (Maverick). Wristbands to enjoy the feast will sold for $10 and the funds raised from the BBQ will go to a new Distressed Bartender Fund to be established with the local chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG), for Guild members who cannot work because of accidents or injuries and lack of insurance. Other activities for the day included a sidewalk sale for local Mission charities, a 1 p.mm toast to the 150th anniversary, a “Blue Blazer” cocktail demonstration, games, raffles, giveaways and more.
The next event is a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Repeal Day, the day the 18th Amendment was repealed, ending thirteen years of Prohibition, on December 5th. The Prohibition era-themed party will begin at 9pm and go until close. It will include a 1933 cocktail menu, period music and light hors devours. Customers are encouraged to dress the part in costume and to R.S.V.P. for the party to [email protected] to get on the list. Tickets will not be sold, but a $10 donation to the Mission District Boys & Girls Club will be requested at the door. .
The final event will close the year with the final 150th anniversary party of the year, “Elixir 151”. This Victorian Era-themed party will be the first ticketed party in the five-year history of the current proprietorship. Tickets will cost $100 per person, all inclusive and will be available soon through the saloon’s website www.ElixirSF.com.
