Doesn't sound good. Maybe somebody would buy it and turn on the pizza ovens.Website kaput.

Back in my day Kips made the best burgers anywhere. I still miss them. Along with Cody's, but that's another story.

stu said:

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Back in my day Kips made the best burgers anywhere. I still miss them. Along with Cody's, but that's another story.

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Yes when Joe-owned it. The charcoal grill in the front where that lady piled on shredded Cheddar cheese. Then you went to the condiment for onions, tomatoes etc. It would be nice to see a traditional burger pizza place there again. Probably would take years for the City of Berkeley to approve it. Im sure there are still pizza ovens downstairs.

Ah my memories of Kip's was watching LA Kings hockey playoffs (when the Kings and Gretzky) upstairs because we didn't have the channel at home. Good times.

My memory of Kip's is in 1977 when I went in there for dinner by myself and ordered spaghetti and meatballs. The waitress delivered my food and asked me if I wanted any Parmesan cheese. I said sure. She brought me the traditional Parmesan cheese container and I liberally applied it to my food and took that first bite. WOW WOWIE WOW WOW! I looked at the contents of the container closer and it was chili pepper flakes, not cheese.

The waitress disappeared. I went over to the cook and explained my error, said my food was too hot to eat and asked if he would ladle me up a new plate of spaghetti.

His response: "Looks like you are out of luck, buddy."

My retort: "Then you better call the police."

Cook: "Why?"

Me: "Because I'm leaving now and I'm not paying for this."

Cook: "Well, if you are going to be an a@sshole about it (presenting me with a fresh plate of spaghetti and meatballs.")



*B.A. Bearacus All Rights Reserved

Quality service, a Berkeley trait on the south side

In the mid '80s, Kips was the place to go for lunch between classes during March Madness. Grab a cheep burger and fries with a soda, catch some basketball on the projection screens, back to the grind.

bearister said:

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My memory of Kip's is in 1977 when I went in there for dinner by myself and ordered spaghetti and meatballs. The waitress delivered my food and asked me if I wanted any Parmesan cheese. I said sure. She brought me the traditional Parmesan cheese container and I liberally applied it to my food and took that first bite. WOW WOWIE WOW WOW! I looked at the contents of the container closer and it was chili pepper flakes, not cheese.

The waitress disappeared. I went over to the cook and explained my error, said my food was too hot to eat and asked if he would ladle me up a new plate of spaghetti.

His response: "Looks like you are out of luck, buddy."

My retort: "Then you better call the police."

Cook: "Why?"

Me: "Because I'm leaving now and I'm not paying for this."

Cook: "Well, if you are going to be an a@sshole about it (presenting me with a fresh plate of spaghetti and meatballs.")



*B.A. Bearacus All Rights Reserved

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Good for you. Never let them get away with anything.

AunBear89 said:

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In the mid '80s, Kips was the place to go for lunch between classes during March Madness. Grab a cheep burger and fries with a soda, catch some basketball on the projection screens, back to the grind.

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A grind? The 80's were a cakewalk. (Just kidding)

stu said:

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Back in my day Kips made the best burgers anywhere. I still miss them. Along with Cody's, but that's another story.

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Kip's closing? They might as well tear down the Campanile. I liked Si's behind the Standard Oil station at Ashby and Telegraph. Kip's was equally good and much closer to campus.

It's truly amazing Kip's lasted this long. So many crazy memories.

I remember as a freshman in the early 90s hearing that Kip's didn't card, and not believing it for a few weeks until I mustered up the curiosity to head upstairs one day and be served my first ever beer in a bar. It definitely was not my last visit there.

I have many fond memories starting when I was a kid in the '60s and my dad took us there - one of the best pizzas ever! and then when I was a Cal student in '85 and '86. Hopefully there will be a new operator once the pandemic is fully over.

bearister said:

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My memory of Kip's is in 1977 when I went in there for dinner by myself and ordered spaghetti and meatballs ...

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I was once there eating with a few friends when somehow the topic of temperance came up. My friend who stands 6'7" was goaded into standing on the table and delivering a lecture on the evils of drink. I don't think he made it to the third sentence before the lot of us were thrown out. No Bearister there to stand up for us.

75bear said:

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It's truly amazing Kip's lasted this long. So many crazy memories.

I remember as a freshman in the early 90s hearing that Kip's didn't card, and not believing it for a few weeks until I mustered up the curiosity to head upstairs one day and be served my first ever beer in a bar. It definitely was not my last visit there.

---

"I'm announcing that we got a new lead and are
therefore opening a cold case file concerning an
unsolved underage drinking problem that the City
had back in the early 90s! We plan to question the
perp after we make him wear a mask and Lysol his
hands, or if he doesn't confess, we'll mask his hands
and Lysol his face!"

At the end of the quarter, some of the faculty took the TAs (now GSIs) out for beer and pizza at Kips, and held what is known in the academic world as a symposium. At one memorable session, we had two Profs who tried to keep pace with our rate of beer consumption, but alas, they gave up and staggered out as we continued with nourishment paid from departmental funds. Of course when I played football as an undergraduate, the coaches were much more beer proficient, and as chattel, we had to pay for our own beer at Kips. It was great being a grad student at Cal. I will miss Kips. I suppose there is always Top Dog for a heavy dose of midnight nitrates and nitrosamines.

Probably a casualty of covid. Haven't been there in eons. Owners closed Sun Hong Kong downstairs many years ago and never filled that space.

philbert said:

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Probably a casualty of covid. Haven't been there in eons. Owners closed Sun Hong Kong downstairs many years ago and never filled that space.

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They kept saying a few people from ChezPanisse were going to open a home style restaurant in the lower level. Three years later it still had not happened and space remained vacant. Its really the only large restaurant the South side. It would be a shame if they turn it into apartments or dorms but I would not be surprised if the owner is thinking of this. Another ugly, boxing building with no character like all the ones springing up everywhere.

oskidunker said:

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philbert said:

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Probably a casualty of covid. Haven't been there in eons. Owners closed Sun Hong Kong downstairs many years ago and never filled that space.

---

They kept saying a few people from ChezPanisse were going to open a home style restaurant in the lower level. Three years later it still had not happened and space remained vacant. Its really the only large restaurant the South side. It would be a shame if they turn it into apartments or dorms but I would not be surprised if the owner is thinking of this. Another ugly, boxing building with no character like all the ones springing up everywhere.

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Relocation facility for former People's Park citizenry. ZRW will be the RA/Floor Warden/Shaman once he serves his time for the hate crime. Dumpster Muffin will be House Mother.

Cal weeknight basketball games in the early '80s, when I was a recent grad. "Kip's at 6:00!" was the battle cry, enabling us to come from work and park on Bancroft, a block from Harmon. Kips had that bottle of Worcestershire Sauce out there, so we'd put some on the cheeseburgers. Not bad.

After the game, back to Kips, sometimes to celebrate, but usually to drown our sorrows. The waitresses were often fairly cute and a tiny bit flirty, The men's bathroom upstairs was gross.

Then we'd drive home. Times were different, in that regard. One constant that has provided stability in my life: Cal Basketball still loses more than it wins. Makes me feel like an undergrad again.

Big C said:

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Cal weeknight basketball games in the early '80s, when I was a recent grad. "Kip's at 6:00!" was the battle cry, enabling us to come from work and park on Bancroft, a block from Harmon. Kips had that bottle of Worcestershire Sauce out there, so we'd put some on the cheeseburgers. Not bad.

After the game, back to Kips, sometimes to celebrate, but usually to drown our sorrows. The waitresses were often fairly cute and a tiny bit flirty, The men's bathroom upstairs was gross.

Then we'd drive home. Times were different, in that regard. One constant that has provided stability in my life: Cal Basketball still loses more than it wins. Makes me feel like an undergrad again.

---

"Cal basketball still loses more than it wins," is an exaggeration. Maybe they lost more when you were an undergrad and they are losing more over the last 4 years, but the years in between, Cal has won more than it lost. Overall, since Nibs Price was named head coach in 1924, Cal has had 56 winning seasons in less than 100 years. Cal has had 13 coaches in that time, and 7 were winning coaches: Price with 22 winning seasons, Braun with 8, Montgomery with 6, Newell with 5, Campanelli with 5, Martin with 3, Bozeman with 2. Monty and Cuonzo never had a losing season. Monty never had a losing season. Newell and Bozemen only had one losing team, We had long run by Price including a final 4 and the ultimate glory during the Newell years, a National Championship and a runner up finish. Cal has won 18 Conference Championships, and had a few more good years in the NCAA.

We were a little below .500 when I attended Cal. And we stink right now. But what goes around comes around. It was just a few years ago that we had some serious talent under Cuonzo Martin, and before that 6 winning years from Monty, including a PAC10 title, the first in many years. We have not been nearly as good as most of us would like, but we do not lose more than we win. It just seems that way. We are like the proverbial girlfriend or wife, who too often nags, "Yes, but what have you done for me lately?"

Well, the 1972-1985 years showed that there is such a thing as too much Dick. (two winning seasons (one barely) and one nonwinning/nonlosing season)

philbert said:

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Probably a casualty of covid. Haven't been there in eons. Owners closed Sun Hong Kong downstairs many years ago and never filled that space.

---

I have fond memories of visiting the late-night option of Sun Hong Kong when it was on Shattuck. When it reemerged in Kips years later the aging chef was actually highly acclaimed. Ordering from the regular menu resulted in rather mediocre results, but each table had a list of Chef's Specials that were indeed special. Once he passed SHK closed its doors again.

Had Kips not eliminated pizza they could have gotten some revenue from delivery and pick up business. Their extremely limited food menu was their undoing. Basically they had become a bar with some food. Its understandable since more money can be made on alcohol. The problem is no one orders pino colada's to go. They did themselves in. Not really sorry to see this business model fail.

They still have pizza ovens downstairs, as far as I know. They could have used them as students would have ordered pizza to go. Not much on the south side. " Pizza is back at Kips" Special delivery prices for students.just a thought.

Honestly, Kips had turned into quite a dump the last few decades. It was mostly empty, when open.

However, I do recall that during a downpour vs the Ducks, loads of folks exited Memorial and packed the bar upstairs to get out of the rain. That was sort of fun - but no where near where is was in the 80s and before.

Civil Bear said:

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philbert said:

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Probably a casualty of covid. Haven't been there in eons. Owners closed Sun Hong Kong downstairs many years ago and never filled that space.

---

I have fond memories of visiting the late-night option of Sun Hong Kong when it was on Shattuck. When it reemerged in Kips years later the aging chef was actually highly acclaimed. Ordering from the regular menu resulted in rather mediocre results, but each table had a list of Chef's Specials that were indeed special. Once he passed SHK closed its doors again.

---

What exactly was Sun Hong Kong? What did I miss out on?

There was a chinese restaurant at Kips lower level for a few years. Food was good, for the most part and cheap.i once ordered a cheeseburger and walked out when it was obvious they microwaved it.

oskidunker said:

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Had Kips not eliminated pizza they could have gotten some revenue from delivery and pick up business. Their extremely limited food menu was their undoing. Basically they had become a bar with some food. Its understandable since more money can be made on alcohol. The problem is no one orders pino colada's to go. They did themselves in. Not really sorry to see this business model fail.

They still have pizza ovens downstairs, as far as I know. They could have used them as students would have ordered pizza to go. Not much on the south side. " Pizza is back at Kips" Special delivery prices for students.just a thought.

---

If Kips wasn't across the street from a college dorm and notoriously light on enforcing ID requirements for alcohol purchase, it would have been out of business 30 years ago. They should just open a marijuana dispensary on the site. 2020's version of what Kips has been for decades.

oskidunker said:

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There was a chinese restaurant at Kips lower level for a few years. Food was good, for the most part and cheap.i once ordered a cheeseburger and walked out when it was obvious they microwaved it.

---

SHK served cheeseburgers? I guess I never explored that part of the menu.

There also used to be an SHK in Oakland Chinatown if I remember correctly. Think there is still one in SF.

SFCityBear said:

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Big C said:

---

Cal weeknight basketball games in the early '80s, when I was a recent grad. "Kip's at 6:00!" was the battle cry, enabling us to come from work and park on Bancroft, a block from Harmon. Kips had that bottle of Worcestershire Sauce out there, so we'd put some on the cheeseburgers. Not bad.

After the game, back to Kips, sometimes to celebrate, but usually to drown our sorrows. The waitresses were often fairly cute and a tiny bit flirty, The men's bathroom upstairs was gross.

Then we'd drive home. Times were different, in that regard. One constant that has provided stability in my life: Cal Basketball still loses more than it wins. Makes me feel like an undergrad again.

---

"Cal basketball still loses more than it wins," is an exaggeration. Maybe they lost more when you were an undergrad and they are losing more over the last 4 years, but the years in between, Cal has won more than it lost. Overall, since Nibs Price was named head coach in 1924, Cal has had 56 winning seasons in less than 100 years. Cal has had 13 coaches in that time, and 7 were winning coaches: Price with 22 winning seasons, Braun with 8, Montgomery with 6, Newell with 5, Campanelli with 5, Martin with 3, Bozeman with 2. Monty and Cuonzo never had a losing season. Monty never had a losing season. Newell and Bozemen only had one losing team, We had long run by Price including a final 4 and the ultimate glory during the Newell years, a National Championship and a runner up finish. Cal has won 18 Conference Championships, and had a few more good years in the NCAA.

We were a little below .500 when I attended Cal. And we stink right now. But what goes around comes around. It was just a few years ago that we had some serious talent under Cuonzo Martin, and before that 6 winning years from Monty, including a PAC10 title, the first in many years. We have not been nearly as good as most of us would like, but we do not lose more than we win. It just seems that way. We are like the proverbial girlfriend or wife, who too often nags, "Yes, but what have you done for me lately?"

---

Thanks for that dose of optimism. Yes, there have been a number of bright spots in the last 45 years (as far back as I go). And I will be around for more!

philbert said:

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oskidunker said:

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There was a chinese restaurant at Kips lower level for a few years. Food was good, for the most part and cheap.i once ordered a cheeseburger and walked out when it was obvious they microwaved it.

---

SHK served cheeseburgers? I guess I never explored that part of the menu.

There also used to be an SHK in Oakland Chinatown if I remember correctly. Think there is still one in SF.

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Went to the one in Oakland CT a few times as it was also open late. Same menu as the Shattuck location, IIRC, but quite the dingy hole-in-the-wall. I noticed the location in SF's CT but never went because the report from friends was it wasn't very good.

stu said:

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bearister said:

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My memory of Kip's is in 1977 when I went in there for dinner by myself and ordered spaghetti and meatballs ...

---

I was once there eating with a few friends when somehow the topic of temperance came up. My friend who stands 6'7" was goaded into standing on the table and delivering a lecture on the evils of drink. I don't think he made it to the third sentence before the lot of us were thrown out. No Bearister there to stand up for us.

---

Was he related to Francis Elroy Duffy?

"You're now looking, for the last time, at the mortal body of Francis Elroy Duffy, born to John and Edna Duffy, good, God-fearing folk. Who raised me up to be a good man and a good Christian, and I was a good Christian, a good husband to my beloved wife, good father to my children, who I leave behind, hoping that they, and all you, will learn this here lesson which I leave you with. When you take the devil into your mouth, you're doomed! For he is lying there in wait for you inside that bottle of whiskey. Waiting for you to take him into your mouth. Waiting to get down into your guts where he can do his devil's work. Liquor is the most foul, evil thing in this here world. It destroyed good men like myself. It'll destroy you too. Beer is not much better - it's slower, cheaper. So take these words of advice. And remember, you heard them from a poor sinner, got no more cause to lie, 'cause he's going to meet his Maker. Now he's ready. Well that's all I've got to say."




Mr. Duffy is the second man to our right of the preacher, a/k/a Book'em Dano!

Michael O'Sullivan (March 4, 1934 July 24, 1971) was an American actor, "larger than life, who appeared on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, on the London stage, at San Francisco's Actor's Workshop and in many regional theaters and festivals of America throughout his brief career in the late 1950s and '60s.

In July 1971, Michael O'Sullivan was found dead in his San Francisco apartment at the age of 37, a bottle of sleeping pills by his side. It is not known whether his death was accidental or a suicide.

Great minds think alike. I research every person that interests me. So you found it too. Sad ending.

When I was at Cal (early 1990's) SHK was on Shattuck. I didn't know they opened under Kip's.

The place to be was Yogurt Park next to Kip's - at least if you wanted the company of young ladies.

The food at Kip's was dreadful and the only reason to go there was to watch a game. Even then I mostly avoided it. I was too young to drink, so maybe that is why it didn't hold any allure.

My most memorable Kip's moment was the 1991 NBA playoffs when the Lakers knocked off the Warriors (and later the top-seeded Blazers) to reach the NBA Finals. There were lots of Warriors fans in the house, but they were outnumbered by Lakers fans who would chant "Campbellsaurus! Campbellsaurus!" every time Elden Campbell made a play. The tension in the room was palpable, although back then Warriors fans were like Clippers fans and knew their place in NBA lore so they never got too cocky.

However, given a choice I preferred LaVal's - North Side or South Side - for both the food and the ambience. Lots of good moments at LaVal's including Michael Jordan's 55 points against the Knicks March 28, 1995 in his comeback bid (with a pass to Bill Wennington for the win!) and John Paxson's game-winning 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals.

Kip's best days were already long behind it even then. I am surprised it lasted this long.