Chanquet Brothers was a wine and liquor business run by 3 brothers from the Chanquet family. It was started in San Francisco, then after the 1906 earthquake, they moved to Oakland.
The 1900 SF Directory lists Pierre and Valentin as successors to D. Chesney, wines and liquors, at 113 Grant. After the earthquake and fires in April 1906, they and their families moved to Oakland. In July 1906 they leased 874 Broadway (734 Broadway after 1912 renumbering).
By 1908, they had their business at Broadway along with a branch at 951 Franklin (the NW corner of Franklin and 9th). The 1910 directory lists younger brother Ambroise as a clerk. They sold the branch on Franklin in 1911. They also had a bar and sold cigars.
By 1916, they had a shop in San Francisco. It was run by Jean F. Berriex, the brother of Ambroise's wife, Marie.
Valentin got sick and suddenly died in January 1918. Pierre was deathly ill a few days later but recovered. His son Adrien and brother Ambroise were sick, too. One article suggested that perhaps the family was cursed. 1 Valentin left his third of Chanquet Brothers to Pierre and Ambroise, and the rest of his estate to his wife Marie.
Prohibition began in 1920 and brought an end to the Chanquet Brothers business.
Links and References
- Chanquet Bros. Co. Oakland Enquirer January 1, 1910
- Chanquet Brothers Oakland Tribune February 24, 1918
- Eerie Fate Scars House of Chanquet Oakland Tribune April 10, 1918
