7 Mile House Welcomes You Back! (Luminary, July Issue)
By: MADISON DAVIS
Brisbane Chamber of Commerce
madison@brisbanechamber.org
415-467-7283
It’s no secret that the pandemic impacted some industries more than others. The restaurant industry i n p a r t i c u l a r suffered not only due to lack of diners but also due to the ever changing capacity requirements, and loss of workforce a s a re sult of unemployment pay. In Brisbane these challenges were heightened as many companies shifted to remote work and the lunch crowd that all but keeps many of our restaurants afloat, dissipated. Needless to say, our restaurants had to come up with solutions to survive and they had to do it quick.
7 Mile House, Brisbane’s oldest restaurant and likely the oldest business in town, had to adapt. If you’re new to Brisbane or just living under a rock, 7 Mile House opened its doors in 1858 along the stagecoach line from San Francisco to San Jose. As the area rapidly expanded due to the onset of the Gold Rush, mile houses were constructed for travelers and their horses to stop and rest. Soon these establishments turned into thriving hotels, restaurants, and saloons. Each mile house was named in accordance to the distance they were positioned from the San Francisco Ferry Building or Mission San Francisco de Asís.
During its 163 year history, 7 Mile House has repositioned itself a few times. In the 80’s 7 Mile had an infamous reputation as a sports gambling den. Fast forward to today, 7 Mile House is the last standing mile house in its original location, serving homestyle American and Filipino food that will knock your socks off. Interested in hearing more about 7 Mile’s history? Pick up the book “See You At The 7-Stories From the Bay Area’s Last Original Mile House” written by owner Vanessa Garcia (7milehouse.com/ shop).
Although today I’m not here to talk to you about 7 Mile’s past. No, today we’re talking about its future. Recently I had the chance to catch up with Vanessa and she filled me in on all the changes afoot in her business. Pre-pandemic, 7 Mile House was known for its food, sure, but its live music 6 days a week is what really put it on the map. A musician herself, Vanessa wanted to create a space for local bands to have consistent gigs. However, with the onset of COVID-19 and the shifts this has required, the 7 Mile House is re-envisioning its music program.
Instead of live music nightly, 7 Mile will host special monthly music events. Attendees will purchase a $10 ticket in advance online. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the band, many of whom have also suffered tremendous losses over the last 15 months. At 9 PM all the tables will turn over to the music event. To book a table, you must purchase a ticket and attendees are asked to spend a minimum of $20 per person on food and/or drinks. Musicians will play 2 sets of one hour and fifteen minutes each with a 30 minute break in between. The first event will take place on July 24 featuring the LP Band, an old school R&B band with a long history playing at 7 Mile. The following live music event will be held on August 28 with Latin music performed by Rene Escovido. Structuring live music this way allows 7 Mile House to dedicate more space indoors for dancing, ensures that people who come for a meal throughout the week don’t have to shout to their friends and family throughout dinner, and better complements the restaurant’s new layout.
Speaking of the new layout, 7 Mile House debuted expanded outdoor seating in 2020 along with a spacious patio complete with TVs, heaters, and a fire pit. Lovingly named “Karrine’s Happy Place” this patio is dedicated to longtime 7 Mile House employee, Karrine Yee, who passed in 2020. A dedicated employee of 9 years and lifelong Brisbane resident, Karrine called 7 Mile House her “happy place.” and always envisioned the restaurant expanding with a patio, urging Vanessa to make it happen. The pandemic pushed Vanessa to finally make the patio a reality. Now she can host more guests without having to alter the original structure of the building, something she has taken great care to preserve due to its historical nature.
With takeout being the only option for restaurants in the early days of the pandemic, 7 Mile House shifted its focus as a bar with live music to a restaurant offering exceptional food. Great time and care was dedicated to reviewing all the recipes for their taste and quality. Today 7 Mile House offers a revamped menu along with new additions such as 25 pieces of frozen lumpia for $12 that can be enjoyed at home and a $45 adobo meal with rice for 4 people. Happy Hour is offered daily from 3 PM-6 PM with $5 specials on cocktails, beer, wine and shots. On Sundays 7 Mile House offers $1.50 oysters until 4 PM and all day on Mondays. The dog menu is back and with expanded outdoor dining, there’s no better place to hang with your pooch. Weekly vegan specials are also back. Wear a onesie or pajamas on a Wednesday to 7 Mile and you’ll be treated to free s’mores at the fire pit.
This past year was grueling, especially for small businesses like 7 Mile House. The support of the Brisbane community has not gone unnoticed. Vanessa explained that the relationships she has built over the course of her business “mean so much more” than she originally thought. Saying, “when all of this started, things were really difficult and unpredictable. Immediately though, the Brisbane community jumped in to help. Some people donated masks to our staff, others brought me ingredients from their garden, and many contributed to our fundraisers.” Vanessa credits her ability to pivot so quickly to the City of Brisbane’s quick action in helping her get approvals to build her outdoor dining spaces saying: “being in Brisbane contributed to our survival. Businesses in other cities were not given the same opportunities to expand outdoors in the way we were and at the rate we did. Our City cares about the community and its businesses.” Vanessa also notes that her Chamber membership allowed her to access resources around funding opportunities so she could keep her business financially afloat saying, “I know I have the chamber as a resource and the pandemic has allowed me to see how the chamber contributes to the business community.”
From our conversation I walked away having felt Vanessa’s immense gratitude for the Brisbane community who has rallied to ensure 7 Mile House’s story doesn’t end because of COVID-19. After 163 years, it will take more than a pandemic to close 7 Mile House. And while part of that is due to the support of customers and of the city, much of it boils down to Vanessa herself. Vanessa looked at this period of time as an opportunity to make shifts in her business that she had always wanted to execute but was unable to pursue. Now 7 Mile House has come into its own. No longer a dive bar, but a pleasant restaurant with a passion for food at its core. A phoenix rising if you will.
Stop by 7 Mile House at 2800 Bayshore Blvd on Wednesdays-Mondays from 11:30 AM-8 PM on weekdays, and until 9 PM on weekends, closed Tuesdays. For more information visit their website: 7milehouse.com and follow them on Facebook: 7 Mile House-Historic Sports Bar, Grill & Live Music Venue and on Instagram: @7milehouse. Orders can be placed online or over the phone: 415-467-2343. As always, if you stop in, please mention you read about 7 Mile House in The Luminary.