City to see if Carlos Club’s sign historic: San Carlos weighing options after new owner takes over

Meanwhile, City Manager Jeff Maltbie said the owner agreed to take the cover off the sign and is being cooperative. Not that it might matter; Mayor Olbert said on a recent walk-by he noticed that the light bulbs had been removed in the sign and in a neon sign on the building’s side.

“Even if one wished to turn the sign back on there’d be nothing to show for it,” Olbert said.

If the sign is deemed historic, the city can purchase and relocate the sign or forbid its removal. The city could also require the owner to replicate the neon marquee style in any new sign with the current bar’s name. What the city can’t do is force the new business to keep the old Carlos Club name.

Olbert said the name itself is iconic to a certain generation and thinks any change may be upsetting.

The San Carlos Club has stood on El Camino Real across from the train station in San Carlos since 1947 and the building itself is past 100 years old. Notable acts include blues performer John Lee Hooker and even a few politicians were known to pay a visit, according to Olbert and some online posters.

Prior to its purchase by Lee was the source of debate over what city officials said was an uptick in police responses to and around the bar. Then-owner Fred Duncan’s attempt to expand the nightclub in 2011 set off a prolonged stretch of public hearings and debate over the business and the clientele. Duncan said he wanted to add food, live music and an outdoor patio to bolster business. The City Council said it couldn’t overcome public safety concerns after the police chief showed logs of calls. After the denial, Duncan put the club up for sale.

The Rail Club is billed as a sports bar and grill with handcrafted cocktails and special nights for karaoke and bands.

New owner Lee did not respond to an inquiry but is interested in expanding his bar with food, too. Olbert thinks his request might find a different reaction than Duncan’s.

“What I’ve been told is that while Fred’s idea was to be basically a bar with some food the new owner wants to turn it into a restaurant with a bar which I personally think would be great,” Olbert said.

Lee also owns Burmese restaurant Rangoon Ruby’s in San Carlos and Palo Alto.

michelle@smdailyjournal.com

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