Santa Monica’s iconic Chez Jay Celebrates 66-year anniversary with retro party

It’s been a famed celebrity hangout since its Dutch doors opened in 1959 with stars like Elvis Presley pulling up in his pink Cadillac and Steve McQueen rubbing elbows on the well-worn wood bar next to locals and beach bums.

Even members of the Beach Boys and the Rat Pack gathered at this historic spot  over martinis and it’s said that John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe had more than a few rendezvous at the small nautical themed bar, leading to the interior being declared a “paparazzi-free” zone.

Located by the end of Route 66 near the Santa Monica Pier, the historic Chez Jay celebrates its 66-year anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 9 with a daylong retro-theme party.

“We’ve had such a rich history here,” said Chris Anderson, who along with his father Michael Anderson owns the famous spot, which has long been described as a high-class dive bar and classy joint that’s pretty much remained the same since it opened in 1959.

“In a city that’s ever changing you can count on us to never change. And I think what’s special about that is that we see people who come in and they’ll sit in the same booth that their grandparents or their parents sat at. That kind of magic is something you can’t replicate,” he added.

The anniversary celebration is a ticketed event that will include live music featuring covers of The Beach Boys, Motown and jazz bands, a retro “Route 66” classic car display; a mini Chez Jay museum featuring memorabilia and historic photographs on display plus and interactive “Rumor Has It” video booth where attendees can share their Chez Jay memories.

And since Chez Jay also happens to be a legit restaurant known for dishes like the Butter Steak and Sand Dabs Sauté Almondine, its famed Linguine and Clams and Chez Jay’s “Original” Clam Chowder, some ticket holders will be able to reserve a prix-fixe dinner as part of the celebration. But with only 10 tables and 12 bar seats, you may have to be a celebrity to score one of these tickets.

Chez Jay lore

Chez Jay was originally founded by actor and hot-air balloonist Jay Fiondella, who purchased it when it was then known as the “Dawn Cafe” for one dollar. It opened with a party that included show girls and a circus elephants who ate free peanuts from the bar, according to the Santa Monica Conservancy. One of the elephants even left a dent on the bar, which can still be seen today.

According to the Conservancy, Chez Jay also has a place in political and space history too because the Pentagon Papers were passed to a New York Times reporter at table 10 and astronaut Alan Shepard smuggled a Chez Jay peanut into space and back.

While its lore is forever woven into the fabric of the city, for Anderson Chez Jay is still a spot that’s all about the people and the stories they share when they pull up a seat at the bar.

“You just never know who’s going to walk in through that front door,” Anderson said.

“It’s all about the people who come here. And it’s just this melting pot, a time capsule, no one is on their cell phones, everyone leaves their problems at the door and they come to the bar and you hear the greatest stories from all around the country and the world,” he added.

Chez Jay celebration

When: 3 p.m.-12 a.m. Aug. 9

Where: Chez Jay, 1657 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica

Tickets: resy.com