Johnny’s Bar and Grill in Hollister, California, is the undisputed bucket list destination for rally goers at the Hollister Independence Rally. If you subscribe to the biker lifestyle, you know Johnny’s is the epicenter of American biker lore. Dubbed the “birthplace of the American biker,” Hollister – specifically Johnny’s and the events of 1947 – signify the beginning.

Johnny’s Bar and Grill Celebrates Hollister Motorcycle Rally 70th Anniversary

An excerpt from the Johnny’s Facebook page:

“Celebrating 70 years of tradition, Johnny’s is the bucket list destination for all bikers. The only establishment to have been open for business continuesly since the 1947 event. Opening at 8:00 a.m. and closing at midnight per the Hollister ordinance. Breakfast buffet served 8:00 am-11:00 am. Our famous BBQ served from 10:30 am until -7:00 pm.”

There are more than 90 vendors slated to be at this year’s Hollister Motorcycle Rally offering all things biker, as well as a wide variety of food and beverages. Celebrity host Eric Estrada will be at the rally on Friday, June 30th. Johnny’s Bar and Grill will always be lively.

The Beginnings of the Hollister Motorcycle Rally

In 1947 Wino Willie and his Boozefighter’s came to Hollister for the Fourth of July Gypsy Tour Races. They cut loose in town after the races and one the guys drove through Johnny’s on his motorcycle. They were a little rowdy but the mayhem that was depicted in the July 1947 issue of Life Magazine exaggerated the event. The article inspired the 1953 movie The Wild Ones with Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin. The Boozefighters Motorcycle Club have made it a point to come back to Johnny’s for the Fourth of July weekend ever since.