If you came to this page from an outside link, you may want to see the Picture of the Month and visit my main page. BackgroundThere are many businesses around San Francisco and in other cities that have "Cable Car" in their names. I list these businesses not to endorse them but to mention them as a reflection of peoples' interest in cable cars. I welcome reports about other businesses.
Go to top of page. Cable Car Charters was founded by San Francisco entrepreneur Arnold S Gridley. In 1958, the San Francisco Municipal Railway auctioned off all but twelve of the cable cars it had inherited from the California Street Cable Railroad. Gridley bid on a group of the cars, and then had to think of what to do with them. He figured out how to put them on truck chassis. He rented them out for parades and other events. Many of his cars appeared in movies. By the time of Gridley's death in 2004, Cable Car Charters had 60 motorized cable cars; 15 were original cars from Cal Cable and the rest were reproductions.
In August, 2012 I spotted a sign saying that Cable Car Clothiers was having a moving sale. The store was leaving its location at Bush and Sansome to return to Sutter Street. I went in and bought a wonderful cap for 30% off.
Cable Car Clothiers opened in its new location on Sutter Street in October, 2012.
The Cable Car Coffee Company has been in San Francisco's Hallidie Plaza since 1988. They have locations in several other cities.
On a bright and sunny June day, we drove over to Mission and Silver to visit Joe's Cable Car Restaurant, which is famous for its hamburgers. We got there early, and it filled up rapidly. My wife ordered a mushroom burger with onion rings and I ordered an avocado burger with French fries. We admired the eclectic decor while we waited for our food. The cooks ring a cable car bell when orders are up.
The burgers were both very good. My bun held together till the last couple of bites. The mushrooms were good. The avocado was a little firmer than I liked, but everything tasted good. My wife said the onion rings were excellent. I tried an one and it was light, not greasy. The fries were nice, but I like the ones at Bill's better. Both hamburgers came with a slice of cantaloupe. I was full before I finished my fries. We agreed we would come back. I didn't get to see owner Joe Obegi.
A waitress brought our bill and picked up the money, saying she would bring back our change. We waited a while and another waitress brought us another bill for the same amount and went to another table. I caught her on her way back and said we had already paid and were waiting for our change. She apologized and went back to look for our change. She brought it soon after.
On 29-January-2014, a report on KPIX Channel 5 said that Joe Obegi is going to close the restaurant in March and retire. On 16-March-2014, Joe Obegi closed the restaurant and retired. Steve's Gay '90s was a restaurant in Tacoma, Washington. It had a "Cable Car Room", with booths resembling cable cars.
Tony's Cable Car, a tiny hamburger stand, is located at Geary and Lyon in San Francisco. I've never eaten there, but I have always admired their neon sign. People speak highly of their shakes and curly fries.
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Last updated 01-April-2023