[2] The Columbus Avenue site was originally known as the Bal Tabarin, a nightclub that featured dancing to famous bands and a multi-act floor show including a line of showgirls.

[7] Gerunovich's orchestra had played at the Roof Garden (northwest corner of Broadway and Kearny streets) from 1928 to 1930 and made several 78 rpm records for the Brunswick label.

In 1931, in anticipation of the repeal of Prohibition in the United States, architect Timothy L. Pflueger was contracted to create an elegant, sophisticated nightclub and cocktail bar.

Two years later, with alcohol bans officially lifted nationwide, the Bal Tabarin was issued California's first new liquor license,[8] and in 1934 Pflueger gave the nightclub a quick renovation.

[8] The popularity of the club netted for Pflueger a series of contracts to design cocktail lounges for prominent hotels in San Francisco, including the Cirque Room at the Fairmont Hotel (which survives in its entirety, though it is no longer in use as a bar) and the Mark Hopkins' Top of the Mark, the interior of which has been remodeled to the point where no trace of the original design remains.

[9] In 1936, a 13-year-old Ann Miller took a job dancing at Bal Tabarin, by lying about her age[10] – local law required workers to be 18 in a restaurant that served alcohol.

On a night when Miller was appearing alongside Sophie Tucker and Tony Martin, Lucille Ball and an RKO Pictures studio agent came to watch the show.

Coming from the Bal Tabarin were Bob Saunders and his band, Señor Wences (a ventriloquist), singer-actress Gertrude Niesen, and the Duncan Sisters with their vaudeville act.

[14] After World War II started in earnest for the United States, Martinelli joked with a Billboard reporter that it was easy to get big-name stars to perform at his club, but asked "can you tell me where I can get one waiter and two dishwashers?

"[15] After the war, Gerun hosted NBC broadcasts of Ted Lewis and his band, announced by Bill Roddy, performed live from the nightclub's stage.

[16] This activity was not enough to keep the club solvent – in 1947 Billboard reported their doors shut for a time so that the owners could save money as they attempted to sign a major musical artist.

In the late 1960s, the club expanded from its lounge atmosphere to put artists such as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Dionne Warwick, Neil Diamond, Glen Campbell and The Fifth Dimension on the bill.

The Stooges also appeared once in early 1974, playing to a sparse crowd, with lead singer Iggy Pop wearing only bikini briefs and boots on stage.

[19] In the main performance area, there are no balconies, and 125–475 people can be accommodated in booths and at tables on the terrace and dance floor for sit-down dinner served from the venue's full kitchen, available to outside caterers.