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Published on 08/26/1996 All articles from this issue

Another landmark in Mac's' long, colorful history - a name change

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By Clyde Noel

Town Crier Staff Writer

Long before the city of Los Altos was incorporated in 1952, residents found a safe haven at Mac's Tea Room on Main Street. It started in 1938 as Mac's, a little bar that served alcohol from early in the morning to late at night. The floor was made of wood and covered with sawdust.

Mac's Tea Room is changing its name after 58 years to Mac's American Grill. The large sign on the roof has been removed and the menu changed.

"We are not what we used to be. We have a new generation coming in with us and we need a new perspective on dining with a new menu, " said Ron Shanholtz. "We are going to a classic American cuisine."

Originally, Mac's opened in a temporary place across the street from where it is today. The customers were cowboys and fruit workers. People on their way to San Francisco would stop in for a quick jolt. Then in 1941, Mac's bar moved to its present location at 325 Main St.

In the early 1940s, volunteers at the local fire department would call their wives and tell them they were going over to Mac's for some "tea." The name stuck and it was later incorporated as Mac's Tea Room.

Long-time resident Billy Russell had a men's clothing store in downtown Los Altos during this period. "There was a lot of building in Los Altos at that time and the carpenters and helpers would come in to Mac's at 6 a.m. to get a shot to start the day," Russell said.

In the late 1940s, the state passed a law requiring bars with on-sale liquor licenses to serve food. Hamburgers were the answer and it was the beginning of a food menu at Mac's Tea Room.

Mac's Tea Room has a reputation for attracting big names. Kathryn Crosby, Bing Crosby's wife, often came in to dine. Abe Vigoda, "Fish" from the "Barney Miller" TV series, often visited, as did Tennessee Ernie Ford and former Secretary of State, George Shultz. David Packard was a weekly customer.

Morton MacLeod, long-time Los Altos resident, had a law practice, MacLeod, Fuller, Muir & Godwin at 175 S. San Antonio Road. The firm represented the richest man in the world, Adnan Khashoggi and the Triad organization.

At lunch time, MacLeod and his office staff, including Khashoggi would adjourn to Mac's Tea Room to continue business. Mac's Tea Room was so much a part of the Triad's ambiance that a printed card listing Triad offices worldwide included Mac's telephone number.

The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce was born at Mac's Tea Room. The Rotary Club of Los Altos was started in the restaurant and held meetings there for many years.

Mac's received national popularity from Arthur Godfrey when he represented Tenderleaf Tea as a sponsor. Godfrey would mention on the radio that place in Los Altos where little old ladies stopped in to get tea but, they had no tea to serve.

Shanholtz purchased Mac's Tea Room in 1981 from Arno and Mariline Ragghianti.

"It's been a dark and dingy bar for years," he described. "Some people wanted it that way, but other people would look in and walk away."

Changes have gradually taken place on the dining room side with a new entrance directly into the dining room; a large open window that lightens the dining ambiance; the dark wood is gone and there is new carpentry and a big change in the menu.

"We are going to basic good cooking with daily specials. Tuesday is liver and onion day, and Thursday menu has corn beef and cabbage. The evening menu is changed with many new entrees and the coffee is all Starbucks," Shanholtz said.

Other features that will continue at Mac's under the new name will be the Mystery Dinner Theatre starting Sept. 28; dancing nightly and on Wednesday evenings, Country Western line dancing in the bar.