Former Location –
Bear’s Lair first opened on the basement level of the newly minted Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building on the University of Berkeley campus in 1960 as a coffee shop. It had a corner fireplace donated by the class of 1910.
In 2012, Bear’s Lair was tagged for demolition as part of a $223 million overhaul of Lower Sproul Plaza. The building was saved and it became the Bear’s Lair Tavern in 2018 after extensive renovations.
Notable Concerts Held At Bear’s Lair Include:
October 23, 1993 – No Doubt
February 29, 1992 – Green Day
July 30, 1979 – Robert Fripp
December 5, 1969 – Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
August 1, 1969 – New Riders of the Purple Sage
July 11, 1969 – The Elvin Bishop Group
February 21, 1969 – Hot Tuna
July 2, 1966 – Country Joe and the Fish
Bear’s Lair
2465 Bancroft Way #140
Berkeley, CA 94704
I don’t have the exact date but I believe it would have been 1983 or ’84 that I saw a comedy show at the Bear’s Lair that featured Ellen Degeneres and Bobcat Goldthwait.