The Saloon first opened in 1861, and was originally owned by Ferdinand E. Wagner. Wagner was the son of a liquor merchant from StundwillerBas-Rhin, France. In 1836 Wagner migrated to Louisiana, married a native of Cannes nine years later, to eventually open a saloon there.[4][5] By 1852 Wagner had relocated to San Francisco, to first work as a hotel manager and then as a fruit vendor.[6] His family later rejoined him in San Francisco, and by 1868 he opened Wagner's Beer Hall at 308 Dupont Street. When Dupont Street was renamed as Grant Avenue, the tavern's address changed to 1232 Grant Ave. Wagner and his family though lived in the two floors above the bar, and one of his sons would continue to operate the business after he retired. Wagner's Beer Hall was eventually renamed as simply the Saloon.[7]
The Saloon's wooden bar, was constructed outside of the US, shipped to San Francisco and installed in 1860. Located in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, the Saloon continues to maintain a sense of similarity with its original 1870s aesthetic.[4][8]
Notable performers
Several talented and famous musicians have performed at the venue. The following is a partial list of who either got their start or had performances at The Saloon:
^ abChalmers, Claudine: French San Francisco, Arcadia Publishing, 2007, p. 62
^Graziano, Frank (2019-04-17), "San Francisco de Asís, Golden", Historic Churches of New Mexico Today, Oxford University Press, pp. 241–266, retrieved 2023-02-13
^Richards, Rand: Historic Walks in San Francisco, Heritage House Publishers, 2008, p. 291