Boulevard Tavern: The End or a New Beginning?

Will the thriving local hangout shut its doors or remain the stalwart where Los Gatians love to let it all hang out?

by Keith Larson

Topic: Food & Wine
Tavern Exterior

What’s amazing about Mike Ellenburg’s Boulevard Tavern is that it is nothing like anything in Los Gatos, yet is a town landmark of sorts that is one of many key components to its character.

Ellenburg has owned the establishment for 10 years, but the physical structure has endured for nearly eight decades. While McMansions in The Manor and the recent talk of developing the nearby North 40 parcel surfaced, there has always been The Boulevard Tavern.

“The Tavern,” as it is referred to by its faithful if not eclectic clientele, is a beacon for those who care only about good friends, good spirits and (always) a good, rollicking time. Everyone, from bikers to bankers and stroller-pushers to Silicon Valley movers and shakers, enjoys the venue on a daily basis.

However, those folks may have to find somewhere else to recreate The Tavern’s laid-back atmosphere because it may all come to an end on October 31st. The Tavern’s 10-year conditional use permit expires on Halloween, putting the famed watering hole in peril of shuttering entirely.

Ellenburg, though, is willing to do all he can to preserve the popular hang-out.

“I’m open to renovating the exterior to match (the neighboring buildings), landscape and serve food,” he said.

Before such enhancements are put into motion, there is that matter of the conditional use permit. The fee to apply for the permit is $10,000 and there is still no guarantee of the permit’s approval.

In an effort to keep the hard-rockin’ live music on Saturdays, Thursday Night Karaoke and more afloat, Ellenburg is hosting a “Save The Boulevard Tavern” fundraiser on Saturday, October 8th. The youthful and proud owner concedes that it will take more than raising the capital required to pay for the permit application. It will take words put into action. He urges a grass-roots effort by his loyal clientele to write to the Town Council members and Mayor Joe Pirzynski.

Come out on October 8th to see why this place is worth saving. Save the sports memorabilia-covered walls, the tried-and-true billiards tables, the dark speakeasy-like lighting, the vast playlist on the pulsating jukebox, the fabulous bartenders and so much more.

While it may be time for Los Gatos to evolve by developing the parcel of land where The Boulevard Tavern currently sits, for all of its patrons, it is also right for The Boulevard Tavern to grow right along with it.

The Boulevard Tavern; 
15043 Los Gatos Blvd.
Los Gatos, CA 95032; Tel. 1 408.358.0774
Open Monday-Sunday, 12pm-2am

Keith Larson is resident of Los Gatos, CA, along with his wife and two young sons. He stops in his tracks to discuss anything involving Batman films and the San Francisco Giants.

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  • Anonymous

    Please keep my email and name private. I enjoyed your article and felt your passion. I, too, am a fan of Mike Ellenburg. I also wish the Blv’d Tavern could continue as is but feel the deck is stacked, larger forces are at work and in the end the permit will not be passed by the Town of Los Gatos. My husband and I tried several years ago to improve the building and were denied. To pursue the permit is expensive and offers no guarantee of acceptance from the Town the permit will even be issued. It’s a shame because if the Tavern is closed the property is going to sit in limbo..

  • Untamedame69

    I loved what you wrote and feel the exact same way about the tavern. It’s an awesome place with a great atmosphere and to shut it down would be so wrong. It would leave many including my fiancee with out a place in which they feel safe to be themselves and have as much fun as possible with little judgement. The bar, its owners, and clientele are like family, whether your a new comer or have always gone, the tavern is home and the place to be.

  • Anonymous

    I think the article does a good job of outlining the current status, and I hope that the Blvd. is able to stay a while longer. Ultimately Los Gatos wants to give the town a face-lift, but now is not the time or economy to do this.

    Sadly,  feel the the town of Los Gatos has really lost the allure it once had back in the 90′s and earlier. Restaurant / bars like the Cats, Last Call and events like the old Strawberry Festival made the town somehow feel more connected to the community in terms of it’s youth and upper middle-class’ free-will. Now the town just feels stuffy and lacking the personality it once had. Doing a pub crawl in Los Gatos was once a fun yuppie thing to do on a week night. Soon Los Gatos will not have any nightlife and will become it’s rival cousin Saratoga.

  • Stellasang4me

    I agree. this is all los gatos big money and they don’t really have any respect for (surprise) history or culture in leiu of big dollars. I think that the Tavern is a great alternative to the troll stroll bars in downtown los gatos that charge a mint for a pretty lame time. the people at the tavern are always friendly, charming and darling from whatever walk of life. long live mikey and the tavern!

  • Nicki

    This is the BEST dive bar ever! Not to mention probably the only dive bar in Los Gatos. This is a place we need to keep. Not all of us like the high class, snooty atmosphere that LG has to offer. Blvd. Tavern is a place we call home and it feels like home too. A simple easy going place where true friends hang out. No sparkles, no falseness, just be your self. Mike Ellenberg has worked very hard to keep this place the “friendly bar” in town. It would be such a shame to take that from him as well as the rest of us. Come on, There has to be better things you can pick on in LG. Dont take our Bar!

  • 9herfan

    Does anyone know the name of the Karoke DJ there? Aaron something???

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