“She’s the Silver Peso personified”: Beloved bartender returns along with a beloved bar

It seems like every other week another long-established restaurant or bar is closing. But finally, there’s good news. Larkspur’s venerable local dive bar, the Silver Peso, is back! And if the crowd on the Fourth of July weekend was any indication, things are better than ever.

“The reopening is going incredibly well,” said Max Perry, one of the two new owners and a recent guest on the “Barfly Podcast.” “We’re so grateful for the overwhelming support that we’ve received from the local community. It’s great to see the Peso busy again, and it feels good to have the place humming with happy people.”

In the bar business, continuity is key. And in a bar, that continuity is the people who stand behind the plank because bars are far more than the glasses, ice and the cocktails that they serve.

Perry and his partner, Conor Flaherty, both Marin locals, decided that the best way to keep the flavor of the Peso was to keep on some staff.

“We kept the best staff while bringing in some new great personalities and talent,” Perry said.

One of those kept on was longtime Peso bartender Erica “Rikki” Blumenberg.

“Rikki is simply the best. She’s the Silver Peso personified,” Perry said. “She brings an unmatched energy and authenticity to the table that our patrons love. She’s a true badass in every sense and can match volume with quality with the best of them.”

Blumenberg certainly has Marin County bartending chops. The 39-year-old has seen stops at Ghiringhelli’s Pizzeria, Gestalt Haus, Iron Springs Pub and Brewery, the Lighthouse Bar and Grill, Mac’s at 19 Broadway and Pete’s 881 Club before she landed at the Silver Peso three years ago.

“First, I was a patron,” Blumenberg said. “But I was very good friends with everyone there, and it was my regular spot.”

When longtime bartender and previous owner Rebel Lee began scaling back his involvement at the Silver Peso, it was Blumenberg who stepped up.

“I didn’t know them before they purchased the bar,” Blumenberg said. “But Rebel gave them my name and said, ‘She’s essential, she’s the one who kept me afloat, and she’s just someone you want on your team.’”

Perry and Flaherty, who also own Sam’s Anchor Cafe in Tiburon, took that to heart.

“I’m a hard worker, I’m dedicated, I’m loyal and I don’t drink, which is a huge bonus,” Blumenberg said. “I actually got sober behind the bar. My husband passed away from alcoholism. So, after he passed, I didn’t really have any tools. I went straight back to drinking. My bottom was not like a lot of people’s bottoms. I never drank on the job, even when I was drinking. I just woke up one day, and I was like, I’ve had enough; I deserve better. And I wanted to honor my husband’s memory by being sober and helping others.”

And it was after that, at the Silver Peso, that she found a home and a kindred spirit in Lee, who has 30 years of sobriety himself.

“I’ve finally found my place in the world,” Blumenberg said. “I’m so happy to be back. It feels like family when I go in there, and I don’t have the desire to drink anymore. Being around alcohol isn’t a problem for me. I get to be around so many people that I love and care about and have just great conversations.”

Blumenberg is also a certified holistic chef, and she credits that for her ability to craft cocktails.

“Being a trained chef definitely helps me with mixing drinks and balancing cocktails and all of that stuff,” she said.

But she’s quick to point out that the Peso isn’t really about the drinks.

“I can make old fashioneds, all that stuff; that’s not a problem. We just don’t do the super fancy, crazy cocktails that are 10 ingredients long. We’re less complicated. People come here to have fun; they’re here to have a good time. And they want to be here for a while and have good conversations. It’s not about focusing so much on what they’re drinking.”

Recently, we caught up with Blumenberg to see how things are going.

Q: What qualities attracted you to bartending in the first place?

A: I love fast-paced, organized chaos, as well as being able to be yourself completely.

Q: In your opinion, what makes a good bartender?

A: A good bartender is someone who can control the crowd and laugh at the same time. You need to have thick skin and be able to turn on a dime.

Q: The Peso has undergone a significant change in ownership. How do you feel it will change? And how do you feel it will stay the same?

A: The changes that have been made are ones that are beneficial, such as a POS system, new pool tables, new floors and new paint. The changes are minimal, but there will always be some patrons who don’t want to adapt and be a part of the new chapter in the Peso’s history.

Q: What do you find to be the most challenging thing about navigating sobriety behind the bar?

A: As far as my sobriety, I don’t have any challenges. I have a very strong foundation in my program. I spend my days helping others in and out of AA, and I’m supported by so many wonderful people.

Q: The Silver Peso is an institution, and in an era where longtime bars and restaurants are closing left and right, including Left Bank, right down the street from the Peso, what do you feel keeps the Peso going?

A: People love the Peso because you can come in and be yourself without worry. We have people come from all over the world with all different beliefs. And when you’re at the Peso, we’re all there together as one, and it’s a safe place to be a part of the community. There’s no place like the Peso. There really isn’t. I just feel at home, and I feel comfortable, even in sobriety, and so do our guests.

For more information, go to silverpesomarin.com.