On December 15th, the doors to Design Plus Consignment Gallery’s second store officially opened. And not just in any old location, but in a landmark of Americana and local lore: 733 Francisco Blvd. East in San Rafael was a hotspot in its heyday of the 1950s to 70s. The Bermuda Palms, built by real estate magnate Whitey Litchfield in the 1940s, was billed as “California’s Las Vegas – a complete hotel resort. Coffee Shops – Cocktail Lounges – Banquet Rooms – Ballrooms for Dancing – Auditorium – Swimming Pool.” One former bartender there recalled, “It was high class. It was the place to go in Marin County. A lot of people from San Francisco would come over to see big name entertainment and first-class strippers.”
During the 1950s and early 1960s, the Bermuda Palms was a favorite spot for celebrities and community gatherings. In 1954 Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum stayed there while filming “Blood Alley” at China Camp. In the 1960s, the ballroom, known intermittently as the Euphoria and Pepperland, featured some of the biggest groups in rock: the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Frank Zappa, Steve Miller, Boz Scaggs, Leon Russell, Elvin Bishop, Linda Ronstandt, Pink Floyd, Chuck Berry, Sly and the Family Stone, Van Morrison, and more.
Years later, the fabled dance floor is now our showroom floor! Lots has changed, but the spirit of the past remains – in our building, and in the historied second-hand items on our gallery floor. And we’re still offering customers a dose of fun, vintage, and cutting edge – at prices for everyone, just the way Whitey Litchfield liked it. View photos from and read more about the colorful past of our new store location here.
We’re celebrating this rich history and hopeful future with a Grand Opening Party on Friday, January 18th from 6-9pm. Hope to see you then!