Golden Gate Market (International Way Station)

OVERVIEW

The Golden Gate Market has anchored the southern edge of Old Town Sausalito since the 1940's — a neighborhood institution known for its gourmet deli, local wines & spirits, and unhurried pace. This market is a wonderful place on the South Side of Sausalito to take a break from your Whiskey trail journey to enjoy a snack, puchase items featured in the tour and/or learn a bit of take in the history of Old Town Sausalito.

HISTORY

Old town was orignailly inhabited by the Coastal Miwoks. They live in this sheltered cove and enjoyed the fresh water and abundant fish & widelife for over 2500 years.  In 1775, Spanish explorers landed right here and named our town.  William Richardson made this cove his first home in 1838.  John C. Fremont, Kit Carsen and his band of soldiers camped here in 1847 during the Bear Flag Revolt.  The US Navy made this cove their Pacific Fleet Headquarters in 1850.  This area grew slowly over the next 40 years, but in 1893, Joseph Lowder — former owner of the Buffalo Hotel in downtown built the Walhalla Biergarten, one block from here (201 Bridgeway). It was loud, sawdust-on-the-floors, and beloved by residence and vistors for decades. During Prohibition, the Walhalla became one of Sausalito's most active bootlegging operations — a 1921 raid netted 478 quarts of illegal spirits, and by 1932, gangster Baby Face Nelson was tending bar. In 1947, Orson Welles filmed a scene from Lady from Shanghai here with Rita Hayworth. In 1948, Sally Stanford bought the building and renamed it the Valhalla — beginning a new chapter in Sausalito legend.  From this market we cheer the legacy of those that came before us.