Heritage Happy Hour: Murio's Trophy Room
About this Event
Heritage Happy Hour: Murio's Trophy Room
Heritage Happy Hour is a convivial “no-host” gathering of heritage professionals, young preservationists, aficionados, friends, and Legacy Business cohorts interested in safeguarding San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity. We get together on the Second Thursday of each month from 5-7 pm at a registered Legacy Business (usually bar or restaurant) in San Francisco.
Murio's is a neighborhood bar in the Haight that also offers pool, pinball, live music, and comedy events. Only a block away from beautiful Golden Gate Park and surrounded by fantastic restaurants and shopping (including other legacy businesses on the block like Cha Cha Cha), there's no better place to unwind and grab a drink after a long day of exploring the city.
The bar was founded in 1959 by John Keloha Murio in its present location at 1811 Haight Street. Born in 1901, Murio was an American tennis player in the 1920s and 1930s. As a San Franciscan of Hawaiian descent, Murio broke down boundaries to become a successful international tennis player after being barred from competing in the US open due to his race.
Prior to opening the bar, John Murio operated “Murio’s Sports Shop” in the space for many years, living upstairs at 1807 Haight Street. He had opened a tiki lounge at 1801 Haight Street, which is now the location of Cha Cha Cha, another Haight Street Legacy Business. He operated Murio’s Trophy Room in 1959 and lived in the flat upstairs until his passing in 1986.
From 1986 to 2007, John Keloha Murio’s children – John Murio and Susan Murio – ran the bar. In 2007, the bar was purchased by Roger Howell and Karen Sandica. Roger is from Birmingham, England and also the owner of a bar down the street called Mad Dog in the Fog. In 2011, Karen Sandica sold her half of the bar to Edward Sargent before moving home to Sweden. Eddie is an English immigrant who has called San Francisco home since 1987.
In 2023, Eddie purchased the bar from Roger Howell and became the sole owner of the business.
Murio's joined the Legacy Business Registry in 2025. SF Heritage is happy to see that since elevating Murio's as a worthy Legacy Business Registry candidate for our Haight Heritage in the Neighbhoorhoods spotlight month back in August 2022, that they have since joined the Registry!
Your Hosts:
San Francisco Heritage (est. 1971), has protected the city in the face of rapid change by advocating for historic resources, hosting educational programming, and interpreting and preserving cultural heritage. As part of its mission, SF Heritage advocates for and helps promote San Francisco's Legacy Business Program as a crucial preservation tool in protecting the city's unique intangible cultural heritage. The Program is the first-of-its-kind in the U.S and supports and promotes iconic, small businesses over 30 years in operation that are long-standing pillars of our communities and neighborhoods.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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