The Eagle Cafe Moves Up To Pier 39
Posted by: 
brwhiz
N 37° 48.526 W 122° 24.609
10S E 551921 N 4184761
This Historical Marker is one of many mounted on building walls along the upper level of Pier 39 on the San Francisco Embarcadero.
Waymark Code: WMJGEV
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 11/15/2013
Views: 10
The Eagle Cafe Moves Up To Pier 39.
Would you believe that the building at which you are now staring was previously located two blocks away on the corner of Powell and the Embarcadero?
In 1978, the Eagle Cafe, run by the Andreotti family since 1927 was lifted up on jacks from its old location (which is now the northwest corner of the Pier 39 garage) and rolled down the Embarcadero to Pier 39, where it was hoisted up to its present spot on the second level, that being Dan Andreotti's preferred location. Rumors that Andreotti refused to stop serving lunch and drinks during the ride down the Embarcadero simply aren't true.
The Eagle almost didn't move anywhere. The San Francisco Landmarks Board, which in 1973 decided the Eagle "has no architectural or historical merit" suddenly decided that 1978 was a different matter. However, the last minute attempt to halt the Eagle's move was vetoed by the City Attorney.
The City Attorney made a wise choice. Pier 39 and Andreotti were adamant that the move take place and rather angry that the Landmarks Board stepped in at such a late date and reversed its earlier decision.
When a young executive of Pier 39 was asked what would happen if a member of the Landmarks Board laid in front of a slowly rolling Eagle Cafe, he shrugged his shoulders and simply remarked, "SQUISH."