The Mint

History

The Mint was built in 1895 at 19th and M streets, one of dozens of saloons packed onto 19th Street when Bakersfield was still a small town, and it was among the first local businesses with a telephone. Prohibition tore out the mahogany bar in 1920; Amerigo Pierucci and Allesandro Melone ran it as The Mint Buffet until a new, longer bar went in after repeal in 1933. John “Bud” Walston, called the mayor of 19th Street, bought it in 1960, and his son Walter later owned the dive, which still draws a mixed crowd and weekend DJs.