Sitting prominently in Jack London Square on the Port of Oakland, is one of the oldest and most well preserved bars on the West Coast, and even in the whole country: Heinold's First and Last Chance.

This bar was opened by German transplant Johnny Heinold in 1883 and has been serving continuously ever since. It is most famous for helping to launch the career of one of America's most beloved authors, Jack London.

Since 1871 there's been a saloon at 1308 East 4th Street in Austin TX. Originally it was a depot for railroad workers, selling everything from dry goods to beer and whiskey. The railroad, just a stone's throw behind the building, stopped close by, so they had a regular supply of customers.

In 2006 the current owners bought the place and turned it into the Scoot Inn, preserving many of the past traditions. They restored the ancient saloon, putting up period-looking wallpaper and building stages indoors and outside in its back patio.

Cole's P.E. (Pacific Electric) Buffet was founded in 1908 as a stop for hungry workers getting on and off trains above at the Pacific Electric Building, which was the hub for the Red Car line of trains that shuttled people throughout the LA area up until the 1950's.

Cole's is particularly famous for inventing the French Dip sandwich--though there have been a couple of other locations to claim the same but Cole's story is particularly compelling. Add a comment

The Esquire Tavern was opened the day after prohibition was lifted in 1933 and has been a beloved (or at least notorious) landmark in San Antonio, TX ever since.

While serving as one of the city's premier watering holes up into the 1970's, where we were told you could sit next to a homeless man on one side and the mayor on the other, it started to get a bit seedy in the 1980's. In the 80's and 90's the Esquire served as the headquarters for the dangerous Mexican Mafia, based out of San Antonio.

The gang turned the Esquire into a drug dealing haven and destination for prostitution, with a "VIP" room above the bathrooms (the VIP room contained a bed and a sink...ewwww).