Our story
An Emeryville Institution Since 1926
Built by a local fireman in 1926 and immediately rented by a bootlegger named ‘Blackie’, this Townhouse went from Speakeasy to a brothel, to a bar, to a family restaurant known as Vernetti’s Townhouse and back to the bar again until its current incarnation, Townhouse Bar & Grill. Opened by Ellen Hope and French restaurateur Joseph LeBrun in 1990, Townhouse served up simple dishes in a rustic yet elegant space. Townhouse Bar & Grill has been Chef Ellen’s pride and joy since 2002 when she became the sole owner and operator.