CC SA-BY Our Oakland
Quinn's Lighthouse is a bar and grill on the Oakland waterfront near Brooklyn Basin in Embarcadero Cove. The building was originally the Oakland Harbor Light; it was sold and moved to the current location, and in 1972 became Quinn's Lighthouse.
The bar upstairs is kind of a glorified dive bar. There is sawdust on the floor and sometimes live music.
1951 Embarcadero
Oakland, California 94606
www.quinnslighthouse.com (via archive.org)
2025 CC SA-BY Our Oakland
History
The Oakland Harbor Light was replaced with a more modern automated beacon in 1966 and deactivated. (The old website says it was moved in 1965.) Comments on Facebook indicate it was moved to an interim location first. It was purchased and moved by Don Durant, who moved other old buildings to Embarcadero Cove.
The business was started by Dick Bradley, Bob Freeman and Peter Lee, who started the successful Victoria Station restaurant chain; their fourth location was nearby. Quinn's opened in April 1972.
In 1984, Larry J. Katz, a former jeweler, along with Arthur Wellens and Clyde “Buzz” Gibbs, purchased Quinn's from the Victoria Station chain. After a remodel, it was re-opened as LJ Quinn's Lighthouse.
In January 2024, they announced they were closing at the end of the month. The owners cited rising costs, fewer corporate events because of COVID, and other causes. 2
It reopened in March 2024 under the ownership of Tina Tran, brother Nathan Tran and cousin Hannah Nguyen. The menu now includes Vietnamese crepes and banh mi. 3 And the name has reverted to Quinn's Lighthouse.
photo by ismenelik
CC SA-BY Our Oakland
Links and References
- Embarcadero Gets Face Lifted Oakland Tribune January 30, 1972 (p2)
- Quinn’s Lighthouse, an iconic Oakland restaurant, closes after 4 decades Mercury-News January 30, 2024
- Quinn’s Lighthouse returns: Oakland’s 40-year institution is now Vietnamese San Jose Mercury News March 31, 2024
