The Friendship Bar Opens Its Doors to the Canyon

Friendship Bar co-owner Daniel Baker. Photo: Michael Mohamed

By Laurel Busby

News & Information Editor

Every night’s a party at the new Friendship Bar on 112 W. Channel Rd.

Longtime Golden Bull bartender Daniel Baker and his friend Michael Mohamed, who used to manage the Golden Bull, have taken ownership of the former SHOREbar, and have brought their welcoming, fun-loving style to the venue.

“It’s fun to throw a party,” said Baker, who worked at the Golden Bull for eight years. “You get to set a vibe for people. You get to see them smile and have fun. I’m a hospitality guy, and I use bartending as my vessel…. We like seeing people happy and creating an environment where people are happy.”

For the last two months, the two have been redecorating and enhancing the bar with both a new look and a new sound system that can accommodate live acts and prerecorded music. On Thursday, Aug. 13, they received their temporary liquor license, and decided to immediately open for business.

“The paint was dry; the bones were ready to go,” said Baker, who also noted that finishing touches like curtains and pictures for the walls will arrive soon. “We opened up the doors, and said, ‘Hey guys, come on in.’”

By the weekend, the bar was busy. Baker said that regulars who had enjoyed his late-night ‘80s-inspired party playlist at the Golden Bull returned for a Friday night dance bonanza that, as usual, began around 10:30 p.m. with Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, which was followed by hits from Madonna, Hall & Oates, the Thompson Twins, and other artists.

“Everybody was dancing; it was great,” Baker said, noting that the following day, they hired their first employees. “A friend had a 60th birthday upstairs…. I was running up and down, doing music, doing lighting.”

In a nod to the history of the bar, which has ranged from being a speakeasy during Prohibition to a gay bar from the ‘50s to the ‘80s, Baker plans to welcome the OutLoud gay men’s volleyball league on Sunday afternoons with drink specials. A drag show will eventually be added.

“Since the Friendship Bar was a gay bar back in the day, we want to throw it back and honor the history,” Baker said. “People keep asking, ‘Are you guys going to be a gay bar?’ We answer, ‘We’re mixed. We’re an all-inclusive bar.’ We want people dancing, laughing, talking. Whoever that is, you’re welcome in our bar.”

The building, which was originally a drugstore, was constructed a little over 100 years ago in 1923 by Burton C. Law, who was known as “Doc” Law, according to Baker’s research. During the Prohibition years, the spot was a soda shop by day with a speakeasy in the back. Will Rogers was one of the many customers who were served drinks, which might be disguised in teacups and enjoyed on picnic benches in the back.

Once Prohibition was repealed, Law converted the place to a bar, which he named Doc Law’s Friendship Café, according to Baker. After a shipwreck in 1937, the downed ship’s bow became part of the décor. A piece of wood in the Friendship features the names of friends of Law, including Rogers, and, when one died, as Rogers did in a 1935 plane crash, the name was painted white.

Sharon Kilbride and Bobby Olson enjoy opening night at the Friendship Bar.

The Gold family, who are the current owners, bought the building from Law, according to Baker, and they have rented it to various owners over the years, including Don Cranford who once owned the Golden Bull. During Cranford’s tenure, the spot became the S.S. Friendship, but in 2007, the new owners renamed the bar, The Hideout, which catered mostly to a college crowd.

Five years later, the spot became the SHOREbar under the ownership of Adam Koral and initially Mark Verge, the current owner of the Golden Bull. But this summer, on June 10, that bar closed as Baker and Mohamed started their venture, which brought back the friendship name in a tribute to its history.

Soon, the two hope to offer live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night from 7-10 p.m. On Aug. 20, the soulful jazz artist Jason (J.J.) Joseph initiated the club’s foray into live music. Bar food will also eventually be part of their offerings, but until then, hungry guests often grab a pizza at Vittorio’s and bring it into the bar to enjoy with their drinks.

Baker, who grew up in Sacramento before earning a degree in international business at San Diego State, is relishing learning more about the bar’s history, while simultaneously becoming its newest chapter. He also cherishes the Canyon community, who are a key reason that he and Mohamed chose to open the bar.

“The amazing people I’ve met—it’s crazy …  the people that live around the canyon, up the hill, in the canyon, artists, architects, actors, musicians, athletes,” said Baker, who also treasures the Friendship Bar’s location on the beach. “The people that I’ve met and interacted with through the Bull have been incredible.”

The bar currently opens at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and at 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. From Thursday through Saturday nights, it will close at 2 a.m., and, on the other nights, the Friendship will be open at least until midnight, although potentially as late as 2 a.m. if customers are enjoying themselves.

For example, on Wednesday night, “a guy rolled in with six people, and it was his wife’s birthday,” Baker said. “It was 11:30 p.m., and they stayed until 1 a.m. I was pumping music, and they were dancing. If people are having fun, we’ll stay open.”

The Friendship Bar on 112 W. Channel Rd. Photo: Sharon Kilbride