a dark hole-in-the-wall…

There was a simple reason the neighborhood association wanted glass walls on both sides of our location and that reason was the Portofino Cafe. For years, 520 Columbus was home to this cafe (actually a bar) which was described as "a dark hole-in-the-wall."
In the early 90's the police raided it because it was operating an illegal gambling parlor with video poker machines. The bar managed to stay open and just one year later it was raided again when it was discovered all new video poker machines were operating. The bar still didn't close but it was raided a third time, one year later, but this time for a different reason. Besides gambling, 520 Columbus had been the center of a massive drug ring selling cocaine and other drugs all over the Bay Area. Twenty people, including the bar owner and his sons were indicted.
When the bar finally closed for good, glass walls were put up on both sides to expose any future nefarious activity.