Thirty days from now, Daisy’s Bar and Saloon in San Juan
Bautista will be under new ownership, and one of the new owners
assures customers that the local hang out will keep its unique
atmosphere.
San Juan Bautista – Thirty days from now, Daisy’s Bar and Saloon in San Juan Bautista will be under new ownership, and one of the new owners assures customers that the local hang out will keep its unique atmosphere.
“That’s one of the things we really liked about the place, so of course we’ll keep it the same,” Rod Concepcion said.
He and business partner Dan Thomas, of San Juan Bautista, bought Daisy’s from John Tapella, who has owned it since April 2003. One of Daisy’s bartenders, who goes by C.P., said Tapella is retiring and will enjoy spending more time riding his Harley. While Tapella rides off into the sunset, Concepcion said he’s looking forward to riding to his soon-to-be business.
“It’s a place I’ve gone to for years now, and I have a bike and enjoy riding to it,” he said.
While they hope to keep the historic charm of the bar, Concepcion said he and Thomas have thought of adding a back patio.
“It will give the guys another place to smoke, rather than out front,” he said.
Thomas and Concepcion are joining a long history of owners at a bar that has been a staple in downtown San Juan Bautista for 84 years. Before it was called Daisy’s, the bar was named “Vincent’s.” And for a long period during the 20s, the saloon had amenities only men could love. Vintage photographs on the walls of the saloon show bartenders smiling and serving drinks, and lining the bottom of the bar was a urinal.
“That was back when only men were allowed in the bar,” said Albert Gallego, a former employee.
Gallego worked at Daisy’s from 1977 to 1998, and said there was a time, right after World War II that there were more than 30 bars in downtown San Juan Bautista. One of the reasons Daisy’s continued to stay in business was because it has a liquor store attached to it, he said. Back in the day, the liquor store used to be a restaurant, C.P. added.
In 1976, the owner of Vincent’s at the time, San Juan Bautista resident Mitchell Bakich, sold the bar to then local Daisy Costa. She kept the name Vincent’s until the bar burned down in August of 1977. When it re-opened for business in June of 1978, Costa renamed it after herself.
A few years back, Costa sold the bar to another man, Dave Damm, and then he sold it to Tapella.
As far back as she can remember, C.P. said through every ownership change, Daisy’s has managed to keep its “everybody knows your name” atmosphere.
Hollister resident Steve Breneman agrees.
“I come here because I like the casual, comfortable surroundings,” he said. “It’s an everyday guy kind of place, and I also come for the historical and festival feel of the town. It’s great to come here and enjoy a drink instead of at a strip mall.”
