Location: 401 2nd Street, Oakland, CA 94607, USA
Date: April 2010

Report by Jonny O

I have a special fondness for Merchants because its dive bar charm isn’t of the manufactured variety.

The go-go '90s and the housing boom brought a wave of die-stamped, mass-produced nostalgia, faux-vintage t-shirts and “dive-looking” bars, where self-obsessed Emo trust fund kids are served $11 pomegranate-infused ginger Appletinis from bartenders with fancy accents and eating disorders. 

But Merchants could care less about its Yelp reviews or Zagat rating, or whether it meets the latest definition of cool.  It was a dive when I first went there fifteen years ago and it hasn’t changed much since.

Come for a drink but stay for the local Art scene

“Hey look, mister, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast.  And we don’t need any characters around to give the joint atmosphere.  Is that clear?”

In the backroom are a couple of pool tables, a piano, plenty of atmosphere and some games, including this Addams Family.

The Addams Family

Just like the bar, it’s a bit rough, but delivers where it counts.  The thing flip might be out, and maybe the magnets too, but the flippers are good and strong.  Everything you need for a good game works and it’s only three for a buck. 

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