Henflings Firehouse Tavern
By Julie Horner
On Saturday, November 16, 2024, the Santa Cruz Mountains celebrated a rebirth of one of its most treasured community hubs, Henflings Tavern. Mario Ibarra, who also owns Aroma Restaurant in Ben Lomond and business partner Antonio Hernandez, who owns Avenue Cafe in Capitola were the honorees of the day; Mario cut the ribbon commemorating the next chapter of this storied roadhouse.
Addressing a huge crowd of supporters, Bryan Chambers, Executive Director of the San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce welcomed attendees to the ribbon cutting by saying, “Mario has a special sense of how to make the community come together, as you might tell from this gathering. This is the beginning of a new era at Henflings. Henflings is a long-term establishment, it’s been here forever for the fire department, but now it’s here for the community.”
Over the decades “Henflings” has become a trusted brand name in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The venue has served up rough and ready hospitality to generations of boisterous mountain folk and vacationing road warriors since the Henfling family established the original social club on Love Creek Road in 1931. After 1945, the Henfling family moved the business to property they owned next door to the Ben Lomond Firehouse. The Henflings were active with the department, so the move was fitting; Henflings soon became known as the “firehouse tavern.” The familiar building on Highway 9 near the junction of Glen Arbor and Mill Street is now owned by the fire department.
After the Henflings came a series of proprietors whose names, according to a few longtime patrons, are better left unspoken. Henflings earned its reputation as a biker bar where fistfights and drug busts became the talk of legend. The venue flickered in and out of dark times under different owners. Henflings has been home to the blues and rock n’ roll, complete with dollar bills and other dusty memorabilia tacked to the ceiling, and is on the route where motorcycle clubs stop for refreshment. The venue has seen its share of hippies and folk music, and it has been a hangout for Millennials who play pool on the covered patio while the flannel-and-leather crowd hold down their favorite spots at the bar sipping well deserved after work pints. Henflings is where the locals go to see a band, or stop in for a nightcap on the way home, or gather during mountain storms for human connection and a bite to eat from the late night grill.
With live music every weekend, and karaoke, open mic, and “Flingo” nights on the calendar, Mario said, “Dear neighbors, friends, and family: we are incredibly grateful and excited to embrace this opportunity to continue the legacy of our lovely bar where all San Lorenzo Valley can gather, make friends, and feel that this is our home.”
Henflings Tavern, 9450 Highway 9, Ben Lomond. Open daily 12:00 pm – 1:30 am. @henflingstavern | henflingsbar.com | (831) 289-3019
Photos by SLV Steve.
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Julie Horner is Co-Founder and Editor for the San Lorenzo Valley Post. Julie lives and works in Boulder Creek and is an active participant in the county's vibrant music scene. She loves the outdoors and is the go-to expert on Santa Cruz Mountains hiking trails.
