The Buena Vista

The original building where the Buena Vista sits today was a boardinghouse until 1916, when the first floor was converted to a saloon. That saloon was named the Buena Vista ("Good View" in Spanish). The view was good indeed and the Buena Vista served as a congenial meeting place for the many fishermen and dock workers employed at the nearby Sardine Cannery. At the Buena Vista they could take in a whiskey while scouting the bay for incoming fishing vessels, which alerted them to finish their drinks and get back to meet the boats.