In the 2016 Bar Rescue episode ‘Gettin’ Jigger With It,’ Jon Taffer travels to San Francisco to visit the legendary, historical landmark bar, Sam Jordan’s. The bar is owned and run by two children of the late light-heavyweight boxing champion Sam Jordan, Allen Jordan and Ruth Jordan. Sam opened Sam Jordan’s Bar in San Francisco in 1959. It was the first African-American-owned bar in the city. Four years later, the trailblazer became the first African-American to run for mayor of the city. (He came in 8th.) When Taffer arrives, Sam Jordan’s is $500,000 in debt. It’s not just a business on the line, but also a legend.
After Bar Rescue renovated Sam Jordan’s (of course it kept its name!), Allen and Ruth continue to work together. Sam Jordan’s hosts a number of private events including sip and paint classes, and in March 2018, the 1600th block of Galvez Avenue (between 3rd and Phelps Streets) was renamed Sam Jordan’s Way. While Sam Jordan’s doesn’t have a strong presence on social media, the bar and restaurant gets good reviews on review sites including Yelp. New episodes of Bar Rescue air Sundays at 10pm on Paramount.
I am so happy that Sam Jordan’s, the City’s first African-American owned bar named after the late Sam Jordan—Mayor of Butchertown—will be honored with the renaming of the 1600th block of Galvez Avenue to Sam Jordan’s Way. Congratulations Ruth and Allen! Sam Jordan’s is Community! pic.twitter.com/xTpOei51yZ
— Shamann Walton (@shamannwalton) March 20, 2018
