By AMELIA RICHMOND | Moonshine Ink
Pete ‘n Peters displays its rich 40-year history in the rows of trophies, old photos, and memorabilia adorning the walls, but the Tahoe City bar’s true legacy is embodied in the three men sitting in front of me who have all played key roles in its history — Pete Perata, Peter Paine, and David “Johnny B.” Rutter.
Perata and Paine met as bellhops at Squaw Valley Lodge in 1958 where Perata taught Paine how to carry suitcases. Shortly after, Perata embarked on two equally successful endeavors: he bought a backhoe to found Perata Excavation, and sponsored his first fastpitch softball team by the same name. A dedicated and passionate manger, Perata coached the team to their first league championship in 1964, and they went on to win the Nevada fastpitch championship in 1975.
Over the years, Perata and Paine talked about opening a bar, and the right time came in the mid-70s amid fastpitch softball’s heyday in Tahoe City. Word got around that the owner of The Hearthstone did not want softball players in his restaurant, a local hotspot adjacent to the softball field. Hearing the news, Paine declared, “Pete, we’re opening a bar!” Pete ‘n Peters opened on Feb. 1, 1976 in central Tahoe City, where it remains today.
Later that year, Perata and Paine recruited David Rutter, known as Johnny B., to bartend for Pete ‘n Peters. Perata sold his shares to Rutter in 1983, and Rutter became sole owner in 2009. Nodding to Rutter, Perata says, “You’re looking at the finest person you could sell to, and that’s the truth.”
Through its 40 years, Pete ‘n Peters has been a town favorite with deep community ties. The bar has contributed countless hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities, though its owners would say they have received even more in return, quantified in both business and friendships.
“Customers become great friends,” Rutter said. ‘We’ve made some lifelong friends in this community through this bar.”
On Saturday, June 18, the iconic bar celebrates its legacy with a 40th anniversary party, featuring a DJ, dance floor, appetizers from Za’s, and slideshows of customers past and present from 6 p.m. until close.
Asked what people can look forward to at the party, Rutter responds with a line that speaks to the core of Pete ‘n Peters: “You can expect a lot of great people.“
How did you come to name the bar Pete ‘n Peters?
PAINE: When we went to get our liquor license, the guy said, “What’s your DBA?” I said, “What the hell is a DBA?” So he asked for our names. Everyone’s always called him Pete, and I’ve always insisted on being Peter. So he just wrote, Pete and Peter. We were going to call it something else later, but it hung on.
What are some of your favorite memories from fastpitch softball in its prime?
PAINE: Pete’s team was one of the best teams in California. We had so many ball players that when we started the bar, we started another team in the local league. And when the bar team played the Perata team, the whole park was filled. There would be 2,000 people.
PERATA: They were really huge crowds. He beat my team one time. Pissed me off. I had to leave to go to Reno and cry.
PAINE: I thought we beat the Giants!
How did Johnny enter the picture?
RUTTER: I was working at The Hearthstone at the time, that was 1976, and I remember both of them came down and asked me if I’d be interested in working at Pete ‘n Peters. At that time, Pete ‘n Peters was construction workers and softball players, there wasn’t a lot of women who hung out here.
PERATA: And then we started getting girls!
Pete ‘n Peters has a long history of contributing to local charities. What inspired you to get involved in community fundraising?
RUTTER: Peter’s father was a big fundraiser down in Napa. When I bought Pete out in 1983, we started thinking, what can we do for the community? The first year, we held our street dance and auctioned off Bobby Maloney’s skis, raising $400 for the North Tahoe High School Ski Team. Over the next 24 years, we raised over $200,000 for the North Tahoe athletic program. We have always tried to give back to the community and have contributed to many charities including Tahoe Senior Services (Meals on Wheels), Lake Tahoe Historical Society, Tahoe City Recreation Association, Tahoe City Rotary, Tahoe City Kiwanis, Tahoe City Little League, and North Tahoe SPCA.
What shifts have you seen in Tahoe City from the 1970s to today?
RUTTER: Back in the ’70s, Tahoe City was growing — there was a lot of construction, which eventually led to a moratorium on new buildings in 1984. These last few years, new developments in Squaw, Northstar and Truckee have taken a little bit away from the town, but I see a comeback and a lot of places are now being leased. Tahoe City is definitely going to turn around.
Johnny, I read in an interview from 2012 that you were hoping to retire within the next five years. Any plans for retirement in your future?
RUTTER: I’m hoping to, though I haven’t set a date yet. I hope to turn it over to the employees and let them carry on. It’s been great to have Jonny Roscher of Za’s involved again. When Za’s returned in 2013, Jonny bought into Pete ‘n Peters and I bought into Za’s. I hope he’ll be a part of the bar’s future.
Pete and Peter, if you could give some advice to yourselves in 1976, what would you say?
PAINE: Have a bigger bar!
