Topsy’s Roost

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Topsy’s Roost

In 1929, George Whitney opened a nearby "chicken shack" restaurant known as Topsy’s Roost located just north of Playland at the foot of Sutro Heights. Driving south along the beach from the Cliff House, the first building you came to was Topsy’s Roost, which become more than just a Chicken Dinner House -- it was also a popular nightclub. It had a live orchestra and dance floor and was decorated so it looked like the patrons were sitting in ramshackle chicken coops. There was seating on the main floor around the dance floor as well as the balcony. Patrons sitting on the balcony level could slide from their coops down to the dance floor if they wanted to dance. Eventually, Topsy’s Roost closed and the space became Skateland and later, the Slotcar Raceway.