Menlo Park’s Oasis Beer Garden Closing After 60 Years

The Oasis Beer Garden of Menlo Park, a perennial Peninsula favorite decorated with Stanford University memorabilia and wood tables carved with 60 years of names, is closing. Its final day at 241 El Camino Real will be March 7, according to a note on the restaurant’s Facebook page, which blames the closure on failed lease negotiations with the building’s landlord.

To all of our loyal customers and to the greater Menlo Park community,

It is with heavy heart that we announce the closing of our beloved bar and restaurant, The Oasis. After several months of effort, we were unable to negotiate a reasonable lease for our business, nor meet the requested terms of the building’s owner. Therefore, we have made the very difficult decision to close our doors, and bid farewell to the endearing community of Menlo Park and Stanford University. Our last day of business will be March 7 - please stop in for a visit and say goodbye!

Sincerely,

The Tougas Family

Longtime customers are already mourning the loss of “The O,” an area fixture that drew a cross section of local customers for pizza, burgers, and pitchers of beer. Aside from students, the business reportedly served as a meet up spot for members of the Homebrew Computer Club, the legendary group of Silicon Valley hobbyists and geeks that included Apple’s Steve Wozniak.

The Tougas family operates several other area businesses: Jake’s in Saratoga, Sunnyvale, and Willow Glenn, The Garret in Campbell, and the Garret Station in Los Gatos. The owners of the 241 El Camino Real property tell The Almanac they do not have development plans for the site, and are actively seeking a new tenant.

Update, 3:30 p.m. 2/22: Oasis fans unwilling to let go of their favorite bar have put together an online petition pleading with the landlord to let the business stay.

• Menlo Park: The Oasis to shutter March 7 [The Almanac]