The historic view of the House of Merkel

In its heyday this building - better known as the "House of Merkel" - served as a centerpiece of activity for downtown San Mateo German Immigrants. Carl and Cuna Merkel opened their United Cigar store in 1918, in the building which first occupied 2nd and B. The original building had been owned by a man named James Kerr. The S.J. Haines Bar operated there before the Merkels moved in, signing a five-year lease with Mr. Kerr.

The Merkel's eventually purchased the building, then replaced it with the current structure in 1931. The architectural firm of Thomas Edwards & H. Schary designed the distinctive Art Deco edifice. Two cupped towers, projecting from the northwest and northeast corners, reach 10 feet above the building parapet. Each tower features narrow-arched frames which surround the carved, low-relief patterning. Huge arched windows - divided between the stories by a horizontal spandrel - allow the evening sunlight to stream into the north and west facades. Elaborate vertical columns extend between the windows to above the parapet line. The exterior is covered in terra-cotta tile, most of a muted peach color, highlighted by accent tiles of pastel blues and greens. At one time, double front doors had been topped by a stained glass window transom with wording "House of Merkel" etched within. This structure remains one of the truly unique architectural landmarks of San Mateo.

Another downtown San Mateo masterwork of architects Edwards and Schary is the building at 22 S. B Street, current home of Capellini Ristorante. S.A. Wisnom of the famous San Mateo Wisnoms built 22 S. B Street while H.H. Larsen constructed the Merkel Building. Both are highlighted by intricate exterior ornamentation, but only the Merkel building has the terra cotta exterior.

At one time or another during its history the Merkel Building has hosted a cigar store, a confectionery, a liquor store, a cleaner's, a tailor shop and a billiards room. In the 1930s and 40s, it seemed to be a social center for San Mateo. High school students drank sodas at the fountain, while school kids bought comic books. Cards and jewelry were available for purchase, and it had at one point been a gathering place for purveyors of games of chance. In particular, book makers were discretely available for those wishing to place a bet on a horse at Bay Meadows. The House of Merkel is known to have been raided by police at least once in the 1930s for book making.

The building was purchased by the Constantino family in 1968 and has remained with them ever since. During the 1970s and 80s, several more businesses plied their trades in the Merkel Building: an antique shop, a Japanese restaurant, a shoe repair shop and a cab company.

With the revitalization of the downtown area, owner Ken Constantino says there have been great efforts to enhance the Merkel building's position in the historic district. In 1994, a restaurant and brewery called Barley and Hopps opened up in the House of Merkel. On the bottom floor a club called "Blues On B" featured first rate blues music, including one sparkling performance by legendary blues artist John Lee Hooker. Another brewery, the Red Bird Brewing Company, operated for 18 months.

Today, the Kingfish Restaurant - owned by Greg St. Claire - resides on both floors of the Merkel Building. Its New Orleans motif offers interior brick arches, hardwood floors, rosy lamplight and Robert Barris paintings. There is talk of reopening the music club downstairs, as well as developing an outdoor café to cater to future movie theater patrons. One of the most charming current aspects of the Merkel Building is the view afforded to patrons on the upper floor toward what was once known as the old Main Street Plaza. The view had been blocked in 1970 with the construction of the Main Street Garage. With the demolition of the garage last year, customers can enjoy the view once again. Across the old Plaza to the east and north, the diner can enjoy vistas of the new downtown train station, the old St. James Hotel building, the B Street Music building and Izmirian Roofing and Sheet Metal. On the north and west sides, patrons can people-watch at the busy corner of 2nd and B.

Ken Constantino speaks glowingly of the former House of Merkel, its storied history and its hopeful future.

"We want to make this building the gathering place for the city again," Constantino said. "The way it used to be."