French Laundry
Posted by: 
heringermr
N 38° 24.259 W 122° 21.914
10S E 555424 N 4250866
Currently, a notable restaurant.
Waymark Code: WM1EJB
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 04/21/2007
Views: 29
The French Laundry, a 1600 square foot structure, constructed from river rock and timbers, was built in 1900 by Scottish stonesman Gus Clark for Frenchman Pierre Guillaume. It was built as a saloon, however, a 1906 state law forbidding the sale of alcohol within a mile of the Veterans Home precipitated Guillaume's sale of the building.
After the sale and at times during it history, the building has served as a residence and at one point, a brothel. During the 1920's, it was owned by John B. Lande and his wife, who operated a "French Steam Laundry," the "French," because of the high degree of skill associated with the service.
In 1978, Don Schmitt, a longtime resident and town major, with his wife Sally, renovated the decrepit structure into a one-seating, fixed-menu restaurant. In 1994, Chef Thomas Keller purchased the restaurant.
Street address:
6640 Washington Street
Yountville, CA USA
County / Borough / Parish: Napa
Year listed: 1978
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1900-1924
Historic function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic
Current function: Restaurant
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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