As little as I post on this blog site, it’s always a treat to receive a comment from a new reader who has a fond memory of their favorite San Francisco bar from back in the day.

I recently got a comment from Scott asking for any more info on Plaka Taverna (which I included in my 12 Favorite Bars That Are Long Gone post). He wrote:

“Does anyone have more info on Plaka Taverna – was it definitely definitely at 1024 Kearny? I was the talent buyer for Cocodrie (music venue; 1024 Kearny) 10/96 – 7/00 when it closed (landlords forced us out). I know some of the history of the building, but this article is the first time I’ve heard of Plaka Taverna. 1024 Kearny: vacant for around ten years 2000 – 2010; Cocodrie 1994 – 2000; Morty’s 1986 – 1994; Korean Village restaurant ’70s – maybe 1986; North Beach Revival (aka The Revival) 1971 – maybe 1975; Off Broadway (Carol Doda etc.) 1964 – 1971; Off Broadway (music) maybe early ’60s or by 1963 – 1964. And The Backyard (restaurant) was there by or during the ’40s until I think the late ’50s if not up until the Off Broadway.”

Scott’s post had me heading to the online Polk’s street directory that lists every business by address (an outstanding resource- thanks SF Public Library!) to get some proof. And searching the volumes by the years I remembered going there (1973? 1974? 1975?) I found….absolutely NOTHING! WTF?!

Plaka Taverna wasn’t just a figment of my teenage imagination. I was there, in person, with my future wife, Shirley, and her Greek-American girlfriend, Paulette Derdevanis (who’s dad was either part owner or managed the place). I didn’t just imagine drinking licorice-flavored ouzo that turned milky white as soon as it hit the ice in the low ball glass (yes, we were underage, but it was The City in the 70’s). I didn’t hallucinate that I was clumsily stomping out on the dance floor trying my best to follow the Greeks as they danced traditional dances in a wide circle to infectious bouzouki music.

As I told Scott in my follow up response to his post “Time for a deeper dive!’ And here’s what I found:

From the San Francisco Chronicle legendary columnist Herb Caen’s column on November 15, 1972:

So from December of 1972, the North Beach Revival (formerly Off-Broadway) became Plaka Taverna.

Since were in deep dive mode, here a photo of owner Voss Boreta with the San Francisco icon Carol Doda.

For the big grand opening, Voss (one of the biggest proponents of San Francisco’s Broadway Nightlife scene) decided to send invites to celebrities around the globe- including one to an ex-First Lady, and wife of one of the wealthiest men in the world- Greek shipping tycoon, Aristotle Onassis. Herb Caen snarkily covered the response:

One Greek V.I.P. did accept the invite for the Plaka’s grand opening festivities, but not without incident…

Plaka Taverna became one of North Beach’s premiere party venues:

In August of 1973, Voss decided to change careers. He and his wife, former Broadway strip club queen Yvonne D’Angers, opened a driving range on the Peninsula, then moved to Las Vegas. where they opened a massively successful golf business, Las Vegas Golf and Tennis.

Voss sold the Plaka to Art Thanash, another San Francisco Native, former Merchant Marine and (according to his obit at Duggan’s) “icon in the North Beach nightclub scene (who) helped pioneer the topless revolution.” He was one of the original co-ownerw of the famous (some would say infamous) Condor Nightclub. But the Plaka was going to be “family friendly”.

Art Thanash, the consumate publicist, kept Plaka in the papers with stories placed with local columnists like Jack Rosenbaum and Herb Caen.

The streets of San Francisco and the Bay Area were a bit tense (understatement?) during the late 60’s and the 1970’s, with the Zodiac Killer on the loose in the East Bay, Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple scandals in the Fillmore- before the horrors of Jonestown. And the racially-motivated random murders of 14-15 people that came to be known as the Zebra murders had citizens in a constant state of fear. This article discusses it’s effect on Broadway nightlife.

Herb Caen took other shot at North Beach and Broadway. I get the suspicion that Mr. “Don’t Call It Frisco” wasn’t a fan of the Broadway Topless scene and it’s players, or maybe they didn’t kiss his ass enough. (Quick aside: SFPD legend Charlie Barca was my boss when he was Chief of Inspectors and I was a humble Police Cadet at the Hall of Justice in 1974. Tough SOB.)

Who remembers the worldwide energy crisis in 1974? I do, I do! Long lines at gas stations extending around the block. That damned OPEC oil embargo. Rationing. High fuel prices (well, relatively high. It’s all relative, isn’t it?). But Broadway (including Plaka Taverna) wanted to help you get through the madness. A 26 dollar value for only 14.95?! Count me in!

So we come to the end of the Plaka Taverna era. Everything goes sale set for the end of December, 1976. Basically 1973 through 1976.

And that was that, Scott. But, for three glorious ouzo swilling, dolmades munching, underaged drinking, rabble-rousing, belly dancing, plate breaking, bouzouki-indouced Greek whirling, “Opa!” shouting years, we DID have a Taverna named Plaka at 1024 Kearny off Broadway in North Beach.