Historic Dive Bar Gets A Second Chance With New Owners In Marin County: Report

LARKSPUR, CA — It's been a tumultuous year for the Silver Peso, a beloved 65-year-old Larkspur dive bar.

Following a devastating car crash last spring that caused severe structural damage and mounting financial strain, the bar’s longtime steward, Rebel Lee, made the difficult decision to sell, according to a report by SFGate.

Now, a new chapter is beginning for the institution affectionately known as "The Peso." Max Perry and Conor Flaherty, owners of Sam’s Anchor Cafe in Tiburon, have stepped in to acquire the business from Lee, who had been the bar’s life force for 25 years, SFGate reported. The two owners, who both attended Redwood High School and have deep personal ties to the bar — Flaherty even met his wife there — are committed to preserving its unique, authentic essence, according to SFGate.

“We’re really excited about preserving a local institution such as The Peso,” Perry told SFGATE. “There are really very few spots left that are like it within the Marin community... Not everything needs to be all polished and upscale. You still need a watering hole, and the town needs a living room.”

Lee, who owned the bar for a decade after 15 years as a bartender, shared on the bar's Facebook page that a rapid decline in his health, compounded by the crash, led him to reevaluate his ownership. A connection through Sam’s Anchor Cafe staff helped Lee reach out to Perry and Flaherty, who had actually tried to purchase the bar seven years ago, SFGate reported.

The new owners are working with the building's landlords, Tommy and Shannon Lamanna, to not only fix the structural issues but also to install new floors, upgrade bathrooms, and run new tap lines, SFGate reported.

With repairs underway, Perry and Flaherty are aiming for a grand reopening just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. They plan to use some staff from Sam's Anchor Cafe initially and are reaching out to former Peso bartenders, eager to reassure the community that their sole intention is to see The Silver Peso survive.

Read the full story at SFGate.