The restaurant at the beginning of the universe
Welcome to the birthplace of investment in the online world. It’s a relaxed watering hole where big stuff happens in Silicon Valley. The regulars constitute a “who’s who” of movers and shakers behind what’s going on right now
Watch Jamis McNiven, owner of “Buck’s, Woodside” talk you through just a few of the bizarre relics on the memorabilia-encrusted walls of this magical eatery with tales of the historic deals done at his tables
This is an all-too-brief but entertaining and enlightening video interview of Jamis by Robert Scoble, starting at a table with an ‘early nineties eureka moment’ involving Hotmail.
Here is a little of what Wikipedia has to say about the mind blowing catchment area from which this establishment draws its local clientèle:
Woodside is among the wealthiest small towns in the United States.
Some examples of the people who live there:
Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation
Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel and originator of Moore’s Law
John Thompson, CEO of Symantec
Neil Young, rock singer, who owns a 1500 acre ranch there
Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple has a house there, but actually lives in Palo Alto
Shirley Temple (nowadays Shirley Temple-Black) legendary child actress, then US ambassador
Michelle Pfeiffer, actress, and her husband David E. Kelley, producer
Thomas Siebel, founder of Siebel Systems
Scott Cook, co-founder of Intuit
John Doerr, venture capitalist
Dr. Carl Djerassi, novelist and member of team that developed the birth control pill
Kenneth Fisher, investor, Forbes columnist, author, and local historian
Susan Dawson, philanthropist
Joan Baez folk legend and Woodstock performer
1950s country music icon Tennessee Ernie Ford lived in Woodside for many years until his death
Koko the gorilla who was taught in American Sign Language also calls Woodside home
This restaurant looks really amazing, with all those memorabilia. Just look at the number of things gathered there? Whole walls full of bits and pieces. And all those stories from the owner on top of that – great place to visit one day, thanks for sharing!
Yeah. It’s a really cool place. But probably a welcome “retreat” for some of the great minds in Silicon Valley. They probably prefer this to their boardrooms.
One of Jamis Mcniven’s kids, Tyler Macniven, is famous in his own right: he travelled the length of Japan on foot. The proprietor’s kids also run a restaurant called the Woodhouse Fish Company, and their father advertises his kids’ restaurant on the Buck’s menu. Looks like a family restaurant empire is on the way.
I agree, the place looks nice with all its memorabilia. What looks “interesting” to me are the mentioned clientele of the restaurant. I think their mentioning within the article vis-a-vis the article’s is something that can be easily overlooked, or easily scrutinized. I’m not one to point fingers, but it does pose interesting and controversial topics, right?
Woodside, a very wealth town, happens to be a short drive away from Silicon Valley, which may explain the type of clientele that frequent Buck’s. Buck’s may serve good food, but he’s a very lucky man to have started a restaurant in such a strategic location. If the restaurant were in another location, it probably wouldn’t be so successful. I can’t see any New Yorkers willing to pay nine dollars for Silver Dollar pancakes when you can get half-a-dozen at IHOP for three dollars.