The Cats

Located just a mile south of the town of Los Gatos at 17533 Santa Cruz Highway, sits a rustic two-story structure covered in brown shake shingles with brick trim along the bottom. You’ve undoubtedly seen the large billboard when driving south on Highway 17.

On the roof near the center of the building, the word “CATS” is spelled out in large red capital letters. The entrance is flanked on both sides by small white cement bobcats mounted on brick pedestals, with “THE CATS” in large white capital letters enclosed in tall thin cat silhouettes.

This establishment has been well known to locals for over 129 years. In 1896 it was a stagecoach stop, popular roadhouse, rowdy social club, and a weigh station for horse- drawn lumber wagons traveling to San Jose. The author Charles Erskine Scott Wood and his wife, poet Sara Bard Field, purchased 34 acres of land including the roadhouse in 1919. They built multiple houses on the property, created beautiful landscaping, developed many art installations, and entertained an array of local artisans of the time. In 1922, they commissioned sculptor Robert Paine to design, create, and install two eight-foot tall white cement statues of wildcats, Leo and Leona, on each side of their driveway entrance. The entrance is now also guarded by a wrought iron gate. Their home became known as The Cats Estate and the location as Poet’s Canyon.

In the 1920s, when the highway was first paved, the building flourished as a local tavern. In the 1930s, during prohibition, the structure housed a speakeasy and bordello. At various times during the 1940s and 1950s, the space housed a realty office, a gun store, and a sporting-goods shop.

Wood died in 1944, and his wife sold the estate and business center to oil executive Fred G. Hampton in 1955. Bruce and Diane Ogilvie bought the estate property in 1960, and over time acquired nine surrounding parcels for a total of 75 acres.

Hampton died in 1966, and the nearby business was reestablished as an eatery and tavern a year later by new owner Tony Crowley. At that time, the venue was first christened with the name “The Cats,” which is still in use today.

Bruce and Diane Ogilvie purchased the tavern in 1974. Live music was always part of this venue. Diane had a long career as a singer and showgirl. Tony stayed on as a waitress and sang show-tune duets with Diane under the stage name “T & A.” The Ogilvies eventually owned and operated several other businesses in Los Gatos including Pigalle’s, La Strada, Sir Toby’s, Toby’s Motel, and Le Poisson Antique store.

Bruce Ogilvie passed away in 2003, and Diane moved into a retirement home not long after. At the end of 2006, the family shuttered The Cats. In 2008, the restaurant was purchased by Mark Edwards, David Peterson, and a silent partner.

Edwards had construction experience, and the new owners made major improvements to the building including new plumbing and drainage systems, extensive retaining walls, a brand-new stainless-steel kitchen, and an upstairs bar and event room.

Because parts of the building are considered historical, strict building rules had to be applied. Unfortunately, Edwards had replaced

a rotten beam out of code, and the work was red-tagged. It took over two years to sort the permitting out with county inspectors. Construction continued at a snail’s pace over two more years as the owners fought through one issue after another. Finally, after a four- year closure, they reopened in December Diane Ogilvie had followed the saga with great interest. According to news reports, she told her daughter in October 2011, “We’re going to go in there on the first night and support them.” Sadly, Diane died just two months before the opening. Her family sold For the next 10 years, Edwards and Peterson enjoyed great success at The Cats. They enticed the public with award- winning barbecue, historical ambiance, and live local musicians. In 2021, during the pandemic, when indoor and outdoor dining were severely restricted, they struggled to keep the doors open. They decided to skirt the rules and continued offering food and drinks, as well as adult entertainment, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Santa Clara County defines adult entertainment as “topless or bottomless dancers, strippers, or any entertainers regularly displaying specified anatomical areas for observation by patrons or customers.” Basically, the venue became a After receiving several complaints, county inspectors discovered not only an adult- entertainment infraction of California Penal Code 315, but also a number of COVID-19 rule violations. The business did not immediately correct the transgressions and was fined a hefty $77,500. The establishment shuttered their doors for the next two years.

In 2023, The Cats was reborn once again when it was acquired by Richard Tam, founder of the food-oriented ChefCentury group. Tam started this culinary venture during the pandemic to help new chefs launch their businesses with little to no upfront costs. At The Cats, he saw an opportunity to expand the concept by allowing new cooks access to the fully equipped professional kitchen to introduce their own specialties. Tam also extended the business model by offering space for events, Texas-style barbecue such as smoked ribs, pulled pork, and beef brisket remain at the top of the menu, which also includes grilled chicken, salmon, and steak. Tam has also introduced some mouth-watering Filipino and Hawaiian dishes. The dine-in menu includes starters, salads, sandwiches, sides, kid’s meals, and desert. Takeout options include quick bites and grab-and-go meals as well as a full barbecue dinner.

The drink menu also got an upgrade. Besides a variety of beer, wine, and spirits, Tam added signature cocktails and mocktails, as well as mimosa drinks. You can also order bottles of the newly branded Cats Whiskey, Most importantly, Tam understands that The Cats is a legendary landmark to the , and he fully intends to retain the iconic venue’s western theme. Historical memorabilia, including a large moose head, a couple of rifles, a colorful stained glass window with The Cats etched in it, and a number of vintage liquor company signs, amongst other trinkets, still adorn the walls.

Wooden floors and beams, as well as the ornate copper ceiling over the bar area, add Live music on weekend evenings features popular local artists. The Cats is open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

More information is at www.thecatslosgatos. A roadhouse is defined as a mixed-use premises built near a major road on the edge of town that serves passing travelers. Services typically include food, drinks, music, and dancing. Early roadhouses also offered I would argue that today The Cats fully qualifies as a roadhouse, the same as it was way back in 1896. It is a bar, tavern, saloon, and restaurant with live music. It is located along Highway 17 on the fringe of town, in a location that is a little bit hard to reach. The venue’s long history, some of it disreputable, adds to its mystique.

Driving south on Highway 17, you can make an easy right-hand turn into The Cats just past the Santa Cruz Avenue on-ramp. Headed northbound on Highway 17, the safest option is to exit at Santa Cruz Avenue, then turn around and take the southbound However you get there, The Cats promises appetizing food including award-winning barbeque, thirst-quenching drinks, rustic charm, lively music, and good company.