Three friends recently opened a saloon with a classic feeling, classic drinks, and a classic name: The Shady Lady. The saloon, which held its grand opening Thursday, April 9, from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. is part of a newly renovated R Street Corridor which already includes new restaurants such as Burgers and Brew and Magpie Catering.

According to a previous Sacramento Press article, the three owners, Garrett Van Vleck, Jason Boggs and Alex Origoni wanted the saloon's warm, yet dark architectural theme to draw on Victorian influences. It also features 1920s music such as jazz, simple American food, and black-and-white decór to honor the prohibition speakeasies.

"I want it to look like it's been there for a while, that it's lived in, that nothing is new, and that things have collected over time," said designer Whitney Johnson in the earlier article.

"We're just happy that people showed up," Origoni said while walking around through the standing-room-only crowd which neared 100 as it reached 11 p.m. There were large crowds coming in through the rain to take refuge and shelter from the pouring rain, though many still took a breather in the patio area, which was a location for more intimate discussions.

The boisterous crowd spoke loudly as private conversations filled the room in booths, at tables, and by the bar. A large number of people were dressed in black and white hats, dresses, and old-style pinstripe suits.

Waiters and waitresses were dressed in black and white wearing classic accessories like flowers and suspenders as they served dishes like grilled cheese, meatloaf, and tomato soup. There was a clear juxtaposition with the Shady Lady serving a decidedly older and classier crowd than Empire, located only three doors down, which had less sophisticated crowd waiting to enter the nightclub.

The Shady Lady does not offer a lounge with a television, or top 40 dance hits, but a place for people to have a conversation and gossip after a hard day. It adds a sense of history and wonder to the R Street Corridor, and it's land-marked as a historical building to boot.

"It's been a really smooth night for an opening night and there haven't been any problems," added Van Vleck.