Tales

Told by Larry Jayko on April 27, 2007

Early 1970s, coming back from a concert stopped in for one quick one. Someone grabbed me by the arm and bellied me up to the bar. Seems everyone there had at least five or six drinks lined up in front of them. Took a moment or two to find out what was going on. Two regulars were playing liars dice. Looser to play the house (Larry) for drinks. Double or nothing! More often than not Larry was the winner. Took only a short time and I had five burbon and gingers lined up. Larry was exhorting everyone to drink up. He was running out of glasses!

The JB was my living room for almost all the years I spent in SF. Sad to hear of its passing

Told by Larry Jayko on April 27, 2007

PS The sign atop the entry looks a lot better than when I repainted it in the 70s. When I was finished it looked like a tipsy WC Fields!

Told by Zara Morris on March 26, 2007

The JB was my home away from home for the 5 years I lived and taught in San Francisco. I had the privelege and the pleasure of working 2 nights a week with Larry, and the patrons I met during this time became my family whilst living away from home (Australia). In fact I made life-long friends with many of the regulars during this time, people I'm in touch with regularly, who I'm hankering to meet up with as soon as possible, in front of the fire at my favourite pub! The news that I may not have this opportunity after June is more than sad.

I have so many happy memories of nights spent at the bar... with friends I made at the bar! (it's that kind of place. The JB is a community centre!) Larry, Dan and Robbie are kind-hearted, salt-of-the-earth guys.

I'd never experienced a place like the John Barleycorn before I moved to SF in 1993, and I never have since. That's why it must be saved. It's one of a kind and, to me and many others I know, the John Barleycorn is where you can find your heart in San Francisco.

Told by Trevor on February 22, 2007

During the summer of 1991 my friends and I were living across the street whilst over in San Francisco from Dublin.

We spent many a night here and never missed Sunday for The Simpsons on TV.

I have been back a couple of times since then and always make sure that I stop by.

I have some friends there right now and I made sure to tell them to have a drink for me.

They are the ones that told me you are being forced out.

A sad day indeed.

Trevor

Sydney

Australia

Told by Graham on February 22, 2007

My buddy Trevor (see earlier posting from Sydney, Australia) emailed to say the John Barleycorn was closing. This is very sad news and I hope that something can be done to change this.

As Irish students we spent the summer of 1990 working in San Francisco, we lived in a pretty small apartment across the road and the Barleycorn became our living room. It fed us, watered us and sustained us. I went back to visit in 1998 and spent an evening there. It still had all of its old charm (and Larry of course!). Its a unique pub and sadly pubs like it all over Ireland are slowly disappearing too. It can stand alongside any of Dublin's literary pubs for pure character and appeal. I wish you luck with your campaign to save the Barleycorn. Hopefully I'll be enjoying a cold one watching the ball game (or The Simpsons) in there in the years to come.

Graham,

Cork City

Ireland