DIVE BAR WHERE NIGHTMARE BEGAN
THE Willow Den is a popular dive bar frequented by locals, students and athletes, including the San Francisco 49ers.
It is the venue where Jarryd Hayne’s nightmare started, two years ago to the day.
The Bulletin can reveal Hayne was drinking with fellow 49ers players at the bar early on December 21, 2015, the night a young local woman claims – in civil court documents – that he raped her.
Willow Den manager Jason Garewal said Hayne had been in “a couple of times” during his 49ers stint but was always polite and often mobbed by “football groupies”. “Athletes come in here all the time. We never have any problems, we love having them here,” he said.
“He has always been polite and not even rowdy or anything and people would come and flock around him.”
Mr Garewal said the Willow Den stuck to the California curfew of 2am but was often a popular destination as last drinks were called at 1.45am, later than many similar bars.
On Sunday nights, like the one Hayne and his friends were enjoying after their 24-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the bar heaves. Shuffle board and pool tables are scattered throughout, and while there is a modern jukebox with all the latest records, you are more likely to hear old-school Bon Jovi or Guns N’ Roses playing.
The bartenders are often seen drinking shots with patrons and the ceiling is covered in one-dollar notes that people write on and stick up.
Mr Garewal said he has never been questioned by police about Hayne.
The woman, identified as Ms V in court documents, states that she was blackout drunk on the night in question. She says she went to Hayne’s apartment via an Uber, “despite having minimal interaction” with him that night. The ride to Hayne’s former San Jose apartment is about 20 minutes from the bar. The modern building boasts a pool, hot tub, rec area and gym.
Hayne had a roommate while living in the luxury apartment complex but their bedrooms were separated by the living room.
According to court docu-