An Owl Club timeline

The Owl Club was originally built in the early 1920s for John H. Herring as a one-story building and was subsequently acquired by Lester and Elizabeth McRae. From 1925 to 1935, half of the one-story building was occupied by Louis Manfreddi's Italian-American grocery. The other half housed Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Albers variety store. About 1925, George and Ruby Gee started a take-out Chinese restaurant in the rear portion of the building, entering from the alleyway between the Herring Building and the Roseville Banking Company. 1926 saw a second story added to the building. Once completed, the Gees moved their business upstairs where they operated the "New China Café" until their retirement in 1978. The Gees raised their four daughters in the upstairs rear of the building. Meanwhile, the Albers moved their variety store to 226 Vernon Street. Frank Vincent opened a neighborhood tavern called The Owl Club in the vacated store space, which prospered from the beginning. The date Vincent commenced operations remains unclear; some accounts say 1929, others 1934. In 1939, after Louis Manfreddi moved his grocery across the tracks to Lincoln Street, Vincent expanded the Owl Club to include the entire downstairs portion of the building. In 1945, a mixed drink cost 40 cents, beer 25 cents and call whiskey 50 cents. In 1989, Ralph and Diane Wilson purchased the building after extensive remodeling. From 1991 to 1993 it was converted into a microbrew pub known as the Owl Club Antiques. Jeff Scammon bought the business from the Wilsons in 1996 and leased the building, which the Wilsons continued to own. Every Thursday was "Pint Night," when Scammon barbecued everything from bratwurst to baby back ribs. In 2002, the Wilsons sold the building and the business to Bill Scheck, who operated the Owl Club as a venue for live, original musical acts. Ellia and Bianca Karres purchased the Owl Club in 2007 and immediately began a massive makeover. The end result of their efforts can be seen this weekend as the newly refurbished Owl Club celebrates its grand reopening.