The Trap, originally known as the Ingleside Saloon, is a historic bar in Sacramento, California. It is one of the city's oldest continuously operated businesses and the oldest surviving structure in the city's Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood.[1][2] In 2009, the City of Sacramento designated The Trap a historical landmark, noting that the building is one of the oldest and last remaining structures associated with the Portuguese agricultural community that were among the first settlers of the Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood.[1]

The Trap
Location6125 Riverside Blvd, Sacramento, California
Builtc. 1860 - 1880
Original usebar and grocery store
Websitehttps://www.thetrapsac.com/

The Trap claims to be the oldest bar in Sacramento.[3] The Sacramento Bee documents the Ingleside Saloon opening on October 2, 1897.[4] In 1964, a new owner changed the name to The Trap.[5] According to a local historian, a drinking establishment has been located at the same address since the 1880s.[5]

History

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The Evening Bee (Oct. 1, 1897)

The Trap's building was constructed between 1860 and 1880.[1] The location has been continuously operated as a bar and grocery store since at least 1885, known variously as the Ingleside, Ingleside Saloon, Ingleside Inn, and Pimentel's Ingleside Cafe.[1][5][6] In the late 1800s, the business would have been about four miles south of Sacramento's city limits and about two miles south of the Sutterville settlement.

 
The Evening Bee (May 18, 1900)

In 1897, a notice in the Sacramento Bee announced a "grand opening" of "the Ingleside" under management by Carl Munger.[4] By 1900, the business was operating as the Ingleside Saloon under management by E. Emerson.[7]

In 1912, Tony Pimentel and his brother-in-law, Ernest Savoie, bought the business and operated it as the Ingleside Inn.[5] The business featured two separate entrances: a main entrance (“for the men”) to the bar room and a side entrance (“for women and children”) to the store room.[1] At some point, Tony's wife, Maggie, took over operations and tried to rebrand the business as Pimentel's Ingleside Café,[5] but the Sacramento Bee continued to refer to the business as the Ingleside Inn through the 1920s and beyond.[8][9][10] The Pimentels sold the business in 1930.[6]

 
The Evening Bee (August 8, 1902)

The business's original building was likely destroyed by a fire in 1902.[11] After the 1902 fire, the business likely moved its operations to the current structure, a building next to the Pimentel family farmhouse, a few lots north of The Trap's current location. A photograph from around 1915 shows the business operating out of the current structure, with the Pimentel family farmhouse in the close background.[12] In 1924, the current structure was moved a short distance south to its present location near the intersection at 6125 Riverside Boulevard.[1][5] After the move, the Pimentels made additions to the building.[1][12]

Throughout the Prohibition era (1920–1933),[8][9][10] the Ingleside Inn was a site of repeated arrests for continuing to sell liquor, but the business survived and established itself as an important cultural center in the Pocket-Greenhaven neighborhood, then a predominantly Portuguese immigrant community. "These cafes ... were a very important social gathering place, especially for Portuguese men. As in Portugal, the men would come to these cafes and congregate during lunch or after work."[13]

In 1964, Eilene Strange bought the business and changed the name to The Trap. She apparently joked with her friends that they should "come see the little trap I have bought."[5]

In 2022, the Lukenbill family purchased The Trap. Gregg Lukenbill is the former owner of the Sacramento Kings.[3]

The Trap has a long tradition of being managed by women, including Maggie Pimentel, Eilene Strange (owner in the 1960s), Kathi Crudo (owner from 1983 to 2004), sisters Veronica and Jenn Crudo (owners from 2010 to 2022), and now Mariah Lukenbill.[5][6][14]

See Also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Burg, William. "Nomination of Landmarks for listing in the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources (2008)". Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  2. ^ Shaw, David. "The Trap". Scoundrel’s Field Guide. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Our Story". The Trap. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Grand Opening at the Ingleside". Sacramento Bee. 1 October 1897. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Boylan, Sue (24 July 1986). "Historic Trap keeps snaring customers". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Mau, Corky (January 2024). "The Trap's Set: An original landmark gets new lease on life". Inside Sacramento. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Free Dance". Sacramento Bee. 18 May 1900. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ^ a b "'Tis Better to Give than to Review---Yes, Liquor!". Sacramento Bee. 1924-05-12. Retrieved 2024-11-10. Among the others who were arraigned and sentenced for prohibition law offenses by Judge Dooling at today's session of federal court were: ... Paul Lazzarini, Ingleside Inn, Sacramento County, fined $500.
  9. ^ a b "Deputies Recover $100 In Groceries With Arrest". Sacramento Bee. 1926-05-08. Retrieved 2024-11-10. On their arrest they took the officers to the Ingleside Inn, where they were alleged to have sold the stolen groceries. They were identified by Rafallo Lugnani, the proprietor, as the men who had sold him the groceries for $8. When the identification was made both Shrank and Nevell informed the deputies that they had purchased liquor from Lugnani. A search of the place resulted in the discovery of a quantity of jackass brandy. Lugnani was arrested on Wright Act charges.
  10. ^ a b "Three Arrested in Raids by Federal Officers". Sacramento Bee. 1931-09-15. Retrieved 2024-11-10. Three men to-day are under arrest on national prohibition act charges as the result of raids by the federal prohibition agents . . . John Smith, Ingleside Inn on Riverside Boulevard.
  11. ^ "Riverside Road Resort Resort". Sacramento Bee. 1902-08-08. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  12. ^ a b Center for Sacramento History (2022-10-25). "Pimentel's Ingleside Cafe". Facebook. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  13. ^ Lionel Holmes, Joseph D'Alessandro (1990). Portuguese Pioneers of the Sacramento Area. Sacramento, CA: Portuguese Historical and Cultural Society. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  14. ^ Gurajpal, Sangha (18 June 2022). "The Trap in Sacramento to have new ownership". Fox 40. Retrieved 11 November 2024.