Post #453573 by chiwito on Wed, May 13, 2009 2:37 AM

On 2008-01-06 16:35, Mai Tai wrote:

On 2007-05-08 20:37, RevBambooBen wrote:

Here's a fine matchbook I found from a cool looking place in Oakland. One can only assume that it was nautical inside, being named after one of the finest (partially South Sea) writers and skippers there ever was:

Is that Yoshis Now?

That place is still there, and nope, it's not Yoshi's. It's now Scott's Seafood. (Yoshi's is across the street). My dad also remembers The Bow and Bell restaurant - he's not sure if it was the same building as this one or different. Evidently Joe Dimaggio was partner in one of these.

Sea Wolf was a fine slightly upscale seafood place, similar to it's successor, Scott's [but not part of a chain]. The nautical theme was not particularly predominent; it was just a nice place on the water. The name came from the fact that the district is known as Jack London Square, not from any really strong attempt to build a theme around him or his travels.

Bow and Bell was next store. We went there from time to time when I was a kid, but I don't remember it very much. If I recall correctly, it was roughly where a Caribbean place called Miss Pearl's Jam House is now; the old building is long gone and the footprints don't correlate very well. B&B was part owned by a then-prominent local athlete named Jackie Jenson; I don't think Joe D was ever involved in any business around the Square, but I could be wrong.

The Square was also the site of a rooftop restaurant named The Castaway. I don't remember it as well as I should, but it definitely has a Poly flair, with nets and fishing floats and tropical foliage and the like.

chiwito