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The Pleasanton Planning Commission, with the support of the Pleasanton Downtown Association, has approved a bid by Barbara and Josh McKay to open a beer and wine garden with food service in a picturesque two story building on lower Main Street.
To be called McKay’s Taphouse and Beer Garden, the new business will serve customers on both floors and a rear garden area in the building that was built in 1938 as an upscale family home. Theirs will be the latest of a long series of changed uses that have included retail shops and, most recently, Bracelet Bar, a guitar lesson studio and Serenity Stoneworks.
“This is a wonderful plan and I’m excited about it,” said Planning Commissioner Gina Piper. Other commissioners agreed, including Nancy Allen who said the McKays’ taphouse will revitalize the south end of Main Street, and Jack Balch and Herb Ritter who called the business “a great addition to downtown Pleasanton.”
But Craig Semmelmeyer, who owns an Italian restaurant next door, expressed concern that on busy nights, the McKays’ patrons might park in his restaurant’s lot. He was assured by the McKays that one of them will always be at the new taphouse and would advise customers not to park there. They also will monitor customers driving up[ to make sure they don’t use that lot.
In their earlier reviews of the McKays’ plan, members of the PDA and its Downtown Vitality Committee said that the new beer and wine garden would help increase nighttime vitality on Main Street, which has been a goal of both groups.
Josh McKay said the taphouse also will include an outdoor front patio to help draw patrons to the far south end of Main Street, with the restaurant offering locally-sourced craft beers and wines.
The McKays said they will operate their taphouse from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays, until 11 p.m. on Thursdays, and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Amplified music also will be offered throughout the building and on outdoor areas consistent with the city’s Hospitality guidelines.
Food also will be served, including daily sausage selections, German homemade pretzels, a sausage platter, Cuban sandwiches, grilled prawns, Tri-tip and grilled cheese sandwiches and a variety of desserts.
I always thought this historical house on South Main would make an excellent restaurant location. Yea to the city for approving this new wine /beer garden restaurant. I look forward to becoming a regular patron.
Downtown Pleasanton finally did something right. Nice job!
What a wonderful use for this space! I can’t wait to walk down there and have a glass of wine with my husband!
This is very exciting for our downtown! The back garden at this location is awesome and this is a great way to share it with the community! Looking forward to it!
We spent a lot of time there as our neighbors owned Serenity Stoneworks – I even had my husband’s retirement party there. Love the atmosphere and looking forward to the the tap room opening.
I am so very excited for Pleasanton to add this to our downtown. I have been spending a lot of time in downtown Livermore because of the variety of restaurants, wine bars, and tap bars. Finally I feel like Pleasanton is taking a foot in the right direction in adding this. I want to spend more time downtown where I grew up! Keep it up Pleasanton!
Great Job City Staff and Planning Commission!!!!
This is a nice step that give me hope that you serious and committed to reviving our stagnant and deteriorating Downtown.
Please keep the momentum rolling.
Such great news. The pubs at the other end of the street will have to start treating customers with respect if they intend to remain in business. Redcoats has never been a factor with anyone other than the low lifes.
“Craig Semmelmeyer, who owns an Italian restaurant next door, expressed concern that on busy nights, the McKays’ patrons might park in his restaurant’s lot.” Down right neighborly. How dare someone park a car there! Why that could bring in customers…Craig get a clue.
That is awesome news. I always thought that would a great place for outdoor dinning.
Great news for the McKay’s and for the city. Looking forward to a nice place to have a beer.
The name: Craig Semmelmeyer was familiar. He’s the same guy that forced Cold Stone out of business last year.
So yeah, down right neighborly.
I was planning to walk to this place but now I will drive and be sure to park at Semmelmeyer’s building. What a jerk. For the record the first and definitely last time I ate at his restaurant the servers were continuing to serve drinks to some VERY drunk patrons, not just at one table. Really classy place Craig. Ask any tenant who has him for a landlord and you will see true greed.
Sounds great, when’s the target date?
theres an Italian restaurant down on our south end of Main? never knew that so why start now to visit the place. I WILL visit McKays for sure.
Great news, will be there for the grand opening!! As for mr. Crabby puss and his nearby Italian restaurant we aren’t going back there, change your attitude, you’ve got a lot of fixing to do at that place!!
I have always pictured that courtyard as a good place for a Hogs Breath Inn type of establishment.
I sure hope that it’s not another trashy hang-out for the rougher types…BUSTED!
if you catch my drift…
I’m with Mel — sign for ‘future home’ is up but no date. Anyone have info on the opening date?
We are hearing that McKays hopes to open in April. We cannot wait to have them as a vibrant part of our downtown!
Thanks Pleasanton planning commission for letting this one slip by you, I’m guessing the nail/hair/massage places weren’t interested in this building!!! Like I said before I will be at the grand opening to support this new business, finally starting to see some changes downtown!! How about that new Starbucks downtown, Am I the only person who thinks the building “footprint” is a lot bigger than what was shown on the original drawings ??