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Though it was never the height of gastronomy, John Barleycorn’s Bar and Restaurant in Bennett Valley had a loyal following that included my usually-gourmand grandmother. She still waxes poetic about the burgers of yesteryear at this Yulupa Ave. bar and grill which became more bar than grill in its last days when food service stopped altogether.
News of the demise circulated midweek when a sign on the window merely read, “Barleycorns is Closed. Thank you.” Bummer. Now, how to break the news to grandma. Maybe a cookie from nearby Pink Box Baking Company which is slated to open in early September will ease the pain.
Chris Smith has a few additional details in Towns…
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I remember starting my nights with a shot there, then going to the fun bars, then finishing my nights there back when i lived right around the corner. We used to do coke in the bathroom and steal stuff from in front of Longs on our way home.
Good-Bi to the “KornHole” and all the “KornFlakes”.
THe great black vocalist and guitar player, Luther Tucker and band performed at John Barleycorn’s during the early 1980-s…God-speed…..
The place started going downhill a few years ago. Arrogance will not win customers. Looking for a better venue.
RON & WA LTER ARE AT THE VILLA, ALEX AND EVERETTE ARE AT THE GOLF COURSE, haven’t seen Denny, Norman’s long gone. Hope George & Dee get it going again and find a better owner.
Thanx for the location of Alex….now a visit is due. I was wondering where everyone ended up!
@Mike-they moved to Garys at The Belvedere but then closed down before it became the other place from Penngrove that in turn closed
Damn shame. Where is Mike Rock gonna drink now?
A good friend and I would go there for lunch when the old owners were there. We’d have the “Deli Burger” and a bloody mary. Best burger ever. We’d call it our “bloody’s & burger’s” lunch. Good times! I’ll miss the ol’ John Barley Corns!
First Hamburger Heaven (which was next door to JB’s) closed years ago and broke my heart, and now this. I grew up in Bennett Valley and now have no reason to go back. Boo. I’m sad.
Old ownership had a place that worked. Food was decent, burgers were outstanding, employees friendly and approachable. New ownership couldn’t follow suit. It’s a shame.
Anyone remember the name of the place the old owners/employees transferred to? Somewhere on the west side if I remember correctly?
I’m sad
Used to have great lunches there while working in the Bennet Valley area and maybe a drink or two after work. Damn that was more than twenty years ago. Im still going to miss the place and the memories of it! Where’d the cook, bartender and customers go. Where’d the time go? Seems so much like yesterday!
The band Traffic did put out an album titled “John Barleycorn Must Die.” Just sayin’…
I went there once on a Sunday, you know how hard it is to find food on Sunday’s and had a killer Patty Melt. Went again a few weeks later and told that they were not serving “that day”…then tried again a few weeks ago and was told that they no longer were going to serve food. One this is true with any restaurant…you have to have consistency.