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Could the legendary Sally Stanford's Valhalla Inn be Coming Back?
UPDATE: We give you the latest news on this story!
Officer O'Hearn's Report for April 9, 2009: Informant reported seeing sign on door of closed Gaylord's restaurant that facility would be re-opening as Sally Stanford's Valhalla Inn. Investigated location and sign is in fact taped to interior of glass door. Suggest further research since community was disappointed in past by the Valhalla's aborted return and we want to get the story straight before it gets out. Local reporter from OurSausalito.com was with me, witnessed the report. Story under wraps for now but copied below.
"Well, ya see, officer, it was like this...
I was walkin' down the boardwalk in Sausalito, down in Hurricane Gulch. You know where I mean, dontcha, copper? Down at the south end of town, right before the road snakes up the hill to the Bridge?
So I turns the corner next to where Gaylord's used to be, listenin' to the sound of my footsteps on the planks and mindin' my own business. Then I looks up and I sees that all the big "For Lease" and "Gaylord's" signs got taken down off the building.
So I thinks, 'Hey, they leased out Sally Stanford's old place. Somebody got smart. Really smart.'
Then I goes up to the front door and looks and, right there on the glass, there's this sign. And it has a picture of a lady in an old outfit holdin' a parasol or an umbrella or whatever. And the sign says that 'Sally Stanford's Valhalla Inn is coming back!'
Well, officer, it quacks like a mystery to me! Ever since Ms. Stanfard died almost 30 years ago a lotta operations have gone through there. The Chart House. Another time some big cheese was gonna bring back the Valhalla, but it don't work out and they close the place up again. Antidote... that joint lasted maybe five minutes. Then Gaylord's of India.
Seems like a sad story about a trifecta that didn't pan out, with featured appearances by Jack Kerouac, Raymond Chamdler and a case of cheap Scotch. But hey, I don't read that literary stuff much, so don't ask me.
Still, pretty titillating, huh? Yeah, that's what I said. Titillating. Look it up. It's in the dictionary.
First them professors at the Sausalito Historical Society bring back the Trident for an evening?
And now maybe one of the most famous eatin' places in the whole history of this little town comin' back to life?? With the bar with the dark wood paneling and all the old photos? Hey, they do Valhalla right they're gonna own the neighborhood, you know?"
Copyright (c) 2009-2009 OurSausalito.com. All Rights Reserved.


This is entirely cool! Can't wait to see what 'they' do with it. Wonder what the background of this is?
Posted by: Anna | 04/10/2009 at 07:16 PM
You guys should take this story and make it in to a mystery novel with Humphrey Bogart.
Posted by: Dave | 04/13/2009 at 09:04 PM
My mother worked at the Valhalla in the early 70's w/Miss Stanford. I wnet to her home at Christmas w/my mother . I liked her Miss Stanford a great deal. She gave me 2 cats when I was a little girl. I named them Sally and Stanford.
Posted by: Shannondoah | 07/01/2010 at 01:51 AM
I saw a movie about Sally Stanford's life,and it inspired me to want to see and dine in the famous Valhalla Restaurant. Wish I could have met this wonderful lady. Hope it's opened soon as Sally Stanford's Valhalla in its original glamour.
Posted by: Earl | 07/17/2010 at 02:10 AM
I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND WHO WORKED FOR SALLY IN THE 70S & HAD NOTHING BUT GOOD TO SAY ABOUT HER! HE WAS A CHEF FOR HER! HOPE THEY REOPEN IT!
Posted by: LILLIAN | 09/29/2010 at 02:35 PM