Established in 1915 by Italian immigrant, Cesar Menotti, Townhouse is the oldest bar in Venice and one of the oldest bars in the Los Angeles area. Townhouse's live entertainment basement, The Del Monte, was a true speakeasy during Prohibition (1920-1933) and a night-life nucleus, serving many nefarious and infamous characters of the day, masked cleverly by Menotti's grocery store above.

Underneath the rows of produce was a trap door and dumbwaiter that could bring down two guests at a time. Alcohol was brought in by boats from Canada and then smuggled via underground tunnels. Once Prohibition ended in 1933, a staircase was added.