Vernetti’s Town House

You’d be hard pressed to find a place in Emeryville with more history packed into it as The Townhouse. The restaurant and bar has lived a storied life over its nearly 100 years of existence.

Originally built in 1926 by Emeryville fireman Frank Mesnickow, the history of the building began as a bootlegging joint during prohibition run by a man named ‘Blackie’. The property, which includes four other structures, is also known to have operated as a brothel during this time.

Sanborn Map

Mesnickow lived on the property at 5872 Doyle Street and perhaps more interestingly, he was married to the sister of longtime Emeryville politician Al LaCoste.

The first “legitimate” business at the structure wasn’t until a decade later in 1936 when Richmond native Joseph Vernetti turned it into a bar named Vernetti’s Town House. Vernetti’s catered to the local blue-collar crowd of Emeryville factory workers.

This legitimacy of the space did not last long as the establishment was almost immediately cited for hosting illegal gambling operations including slot machines as well as staying open beyond 2 a.m.

Oakland Tribune – Jun 10, 1938 – Page 29

Vernetti’s rustic exterior resembled that of an old western saloon with dark, weathered planks mounted to their walls.

The interior windows were boarded up and the walls were decorated with horse racing and western memorabilia including saddles, ten-gallon hats, steer skulls and wagon wheels.

By the 1940s, Vernetti’s Town House also contained a restaurant serving an equally blue-collar menu consisting of hamburgers, chili and sandwiches.

Joe Vernetti, center, surrounded by Town House regulars.

Numerous celebrities patronized Vernetti’s Town House over the decades including boxer Max Baer, pioneering exotic dancer Tempest Storm, actress Janet Leigh, pinup girl Betty Grable, Tony Curtis and bandleader Harry James.

Oakland Oaks’ players and managers and visiting players were regulars at the establishment.

The Town House builder Frank Mesnickow died in 1962 at the age of 66.

Oakland Tribune – Oct 24, 1962 – Page 15

In 1977, after an impressive 40 year run, Joe Vernetti retired. He sold The Town House to Local developer F. P. Lathrop CEO Tom Wenaas and Lafayette based Attorney Jim Carnitato.

Wenaas and Carnitato continued the eclectic western theme adding additional memorabilia and decor.

In 1980, Urban Cowboy starring John Travolta was released in theaters sparking a brief cultural phenomenon. Western wear and country music became fashionable again and The Town House thrived from it.

The Town House leaned into the craze featuring live country and rockabilly music with crowds of young line dancers.

The Town House became a destination for live country-western music and even hosted a live recording session that was released on Vinyl under the title “Town house Live!” with songs like “Beer Drinkin’ & Hell Raisin’”, “Drunk & Asleep at the Bar” and “(I Never Like) Drinkin’ Alone.”

They hosted a variety of local bands as well as nationally known names like Hank Williams Jr. and Ernest Tubb.

A scene from the early 80s at the Town House showing the stage and line dancers.

Meanwhile, the owners of The Town House became increasingly active in politics.

The Town House earned the reputation as “City Hall East,” with notorious Emeryville Police Chief John LaCoste turning the bar into his de facto office.

LaCoste, the nephew of original owner Frank Mesnickow, was known for cutting deals for the city on a dedicated phone line while playing a tabletop game of Frogger and slamming shots of Chivas Regal Whiskey (and apparently not paying his tab which surpassed five figures).

LaCoste and Wenaas were also huge fundraisers for the Democratic Party. One account billed The Town House as “White House West” hosting the Jimmy Carter administration during his 1980 presidential reelection campaign.

By 1982, amid mounting debts and legal problems, Wenaas and Carnitato were forced to sell The Town House.

Oakland Tribune – Nov 14, 1982 – Page 34

In 1983, the Townhouse was bought by local attorney Bob McManus and reopened.

As the country-western music rebirth faded, The Town House abandoned the format for Rock ‘n Roll, swapping the decor with an Americana theme including posters of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. Their jukebox was stocked with “golden oldies.”

It was during this period that The Town House built their original redwood deck.

The new format did not resonate for long unfortunately and The Town House closed in 1989.

1983-1989 Town House owner Bob McManus (news clip: Oakland Tribune - April 11, 1986)

The closure was brief though and in 1990 the Town House, now “The Townhouse Bar & Grill” was remodeled and reopened under the new ownership of Chef Ellen Hope Rosenberg and French restaurateur Joseph Le Brun. The previously dark and dank interior was opened up and filled with natural lighting.

Rosenberg and Le Brun brought class to the restaurant and transformed the establishment into a fine-dining destination.

Young bartender Paul Harrington built their bar into the epicenter of the West Coast cocktail renaissance with unique cocktails like their signature Jasmine.

Rosenberg became sole owner in 2002 and The Townhouse thrived under her vision for the next two decades.

In 2020 in the wake of the Pandemic, Hope retired and sold the business to a local contractor who has worked to freshen up the nearly 100 year old building including structural improvements and a new patio.

The Townhouse hopes to celebrate their centennial in 2026.