The Golden Gopher is a restored 1905

dive bar A dive bar is typically a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment with inexpensive drinks; it may feature dim lighting, shabby or dated decor, neon beer signs, packaged beer sales, cash-only service, and local clientele. ...

in Downtown

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

at 417 W. 8th Street. It was originally dubbed The Golden Sun Saloon, reopening as the Golden Gopher in 2004. Due to its age, its original 1905 liquor license exempts it from abiding by certain present-day ordinances, such as prohibiting the sale or location of alcohol within a certain distance of the establishment's front door, or the prohibition of liquor-to-go. Former U.S. President

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...

was a rumored early owner of the bar. It is currently managed by L.A. entrepreneur Cedd Moses under his 213 Hospitality group which, as of 2018, oversees 17 other Los Angeles watering holes and eateries that are either in their original state or are located in historic buildings whose original uses differed from that of a food or drink business.

Philanthropy

The Golden Gopher and 213 Hospitality are partnered with The Spirited Group as The Spirited Coalition for Change. The coalition aims to raise funds for and awareness of the homelessness crisis in the city. They aim to help "permanently end the cycle of homelessness on Skid Row and Los Angeles, provide special services in particular to the homeless women, children & veterans on Skid Row, and raise awareness of homelessness and Skid Row amongst

heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offi ...

partners and patrons." One of the coalition's fundraising efforts involves donating a portion of the Golden Gopher's

Moscow mule A Moscow mule is a cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice; garnished with a slice or wedge of lime, and a sprig of mint. The drink, being a type of buck, is sometimes called vodka buck. It is popularly served in a copper mug, ...

proceeds toward the coalition's activities.

Use as a filming location

*The Golden Gopher appears in recording artist

Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting, artistic versatility, and Cultural impact of Taylor Swift, cultural impact, Swift is one of the Best selling artists, w ...

's " Delicate" music video. *The opening of

Chris Brown Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. A Pop music, pop and hip-hop-influenced contemporary R&B, R&B musician who works in a variety of genres, he has been called the "Honorific nic ...

's video for his song " Liquor" features the Golden Gopher's neon marquee. *A scene in '' Torchwood: Miracle Day'' shows

Captain Jack Harkness Captain Jack Harkness is a fictional character played by John Barrowman in ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-off series, ''Torchwood''. The character first appears in the 2005 ''Doctor Who'' episode "The Empty Child" and subsequently features in the ...

drinking there, although the story cites it as a bar in Washington, D.C.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golden Gopher Drinking establishments in California