California's Last Dry Town Has Growing Nightlife Scene
·11 min·1 clip
Pacific Grove upheld its Prohibition-era alcohol ban into the 1960s, but now hosts a growing nightlife scene.
The episode begins with news briefs on arrests related to a deadly fireworks explosion in Esparto and a court case involving Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of ballots. It then transitions to the main feature about Pacific Grove, California. Pacific Grove, known as PG, maintained a ban on alcohol sales longer than any other California city, upholding it into the 1960s. Despite its sleepy reputation, PG is now experiencing a growth in nightlife venues. The report focuses on Poppin' Hiss, a record store and music venue that opened in 2024 with a hidden bar in the back. Owner Michaela Kenster designed it to be family-friendly and host diverse events like country nights, dance parties, and Dungeons & Dragons sessions. The venue's success led to increased interest in city administrative use permits for music and alcohol. Other businesses like Hops and Fog and the PG Meeting House have followed. The PG Meeting House, owned by Scott Seufer, transformed from a daytime juice bar to an evening venue offering cocktails after customer requests. These developments have prompted discussions about noise ordinances, with the city council initially voting to raise noise levels downtown. The episode highlights a Valentine's Day event called 'Love Hurts' at the PG Meeting House, a tattoo arts show featuring over a dozen local artists that attracted more than 300 visitors. Tattoo shop owners Sarah Twigg and Chago Garcia note the town's shift from a retirement community to a more vibrant scene. The report includes perspectives from residents like Nora McKenna, a PG High School graduate who enjoys the new social options. It concludes by mentioning upcoming venues like the Block Wine Bar, emphasizing Pacific Grove's changing character.
