Old Ironsides (bar)
| Industry | Dive bar |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1934 |
| Founder | William "Bill" Bordisso |
| Headquarters | 901 10th St., Sacramento, California, 95811 |
| Owner | Bret Bair and Eric Rushing |
| Website | theoldironsides |
Old Ironsides is a historic dive bar located at 1901 10th St., Sacramento, California. It was established in 1934.
History
William "Bill" Bordisso opened Old Ironsides, named for the warship USS Constitution, in 1934.[1][2] It was the first establishment in Sacramento to obtain a liquor license after the end of Prohibition.[1] In the 1950s, the location featured a game room and bottle shop and filled orders for Sacramento politicians and lobbyists. In the 1960s, the restaurant was a hotspot for its cocktail hour.[3] It remained family-owned and operated by Bordisso's descendants, the Kanelos family, until 2024, when Bret Bair and Eric Rushing, founders of Ace of Spades in Sacramento, bought the business.[4]
The bar is known for its live music, and acts such Sublime, Oleander, Death Cab for Cutie, Everclear, and Cake have performed there.[1] Additionally, comedians such as Jay Mohr, Aisha Tyler, Johnny Steele, and Katt Williams have entertained at the bar.[1][3]
Old Ironsides serves weekday Greek and Italian lunches, and plays host nightly to music acts.[2][4]
References
- ^ a b c d "The History Behind Sacramento's Old Ironsides - CBS Sacramento". CBS News. May 2019.
- ^ a b "Old Ironsides". Sacramento 365.
- ^ a b "The Iron 88: After almost nine decades, Sacramento appreciates the past and ponders the future of Old Ironsides". Sacramento News & Review. 24 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b Truong, Hanh; Taylor, Brianna (18 March 2022). "Sacramento's oldest bar is getting new owners. What does this mean for Old Ironsides?". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on 2022-03-28.