It’s last call for longtime Henry’s Hi-Life bartender
What do you call someone who has been an institution at a San Jose institution? Because that’s what James Dillsaver, known as Jimmy to most, became over more than 30 years at Henry’s HiLife — a run that ended with his retirement Tuesday.
“He’s a legend,” said Richie Aranda, a former Henry’s manager who tended bar with Jimmy for 20 years, at Dillsaver’s retirement party. “He would remember the name and regular drink of someone who hadn’t been in for 10 years. There’s no replacing Jimmy.”
He was an old-school bartender in the best sense, with a bushy, cowboy mustache and a lanky frame, slinging beers and mixed drinks for the cross-section of San Jose that darkened Henry’s door since the mid-1980s — before the arena now known as SAP Center existed and the rest of downtown was redeveloped into high-rises. Over the next 32 years or so, he served both Sharks fans and players, threw out the first pitch for the San Jose Giants and poured drinks for countless cops and fleets of firefighters. He survived the ’ 95 flood that swamped Henry’s, at least three economic downturns and the rise of veganism.
Henry’s Hi-Life owner Jason Alarid, the grandson of founder Henry Puckett, closed the landmark restaurant to the public until 4:30 p.m. for the party. San Jose City Manager Dave Sykes and former City Hall Planning Director Harry Freitas, now director of roads and airports for Santa Clara County, were among the many longtime regulars who stopped by. Sykes said they’ve been coming there since they were single guys just starting out with the city of San Jose and can’t imagine Henry’s Hi-Life without Jimmy, who worked at AT&T for 20 years before Henry’s.
Dillsaver, 72, is packing up and moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado, this week. He says he’ll be back, and happy to be a customer at Henry’s this time around. “Sure, I’m going to miss San Jose,” he said. “I’m going to miss this place forever.”
Not like we’re gonna miss you, Jimmy.
CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK READY TO GO »
San Jose’s favorite holiday tradition, Christmas in the Park, is set to open for its 40th year tonight, and there’s a lot more in store for opening night visitors than usual. The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with a parade around Plaza de César Chávez, followed by Santa’s arrival at 6 p.m.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo will lead the tree-lighting ceremony at 6:20
p.m., presented by San Jose Clean Energy (remember when that used to be PG&E?). Following the big show, there’ll be more entertainment with holiday favorites performed by the Mary Ellen and Thom Duo at 7 p.m. Christmas in the Park will be open from 9 a.m. to midnight through Jan. 5.
POWERFUL PERFORMANCE » Tuesday night’s windy rainstorm caused a lot of power outages in and around downtown San Jose that nearly threatened the adage, “The show must go on.” Bonnie Home was attending the preshow lecture before “Hansel and Gretel” when the lights went out at the California Theater and the emergency lights kicked in. Opera San Jose general director Larry Hancock finished his talk and invited the conductor, Joseph Marcheso, to speak.
People kept showing up at the dark theater for the 8 p.m. performance — traffic lights on First Street were out and Original Joe’s was in the dark, too — and ushers kept bringing people in and having them sit anywhere in the orchestra area where there was light. An opera employee periodically updated the patient audience about PG& E’s progress.
“In the nick of time, the power was restored,” Home recalled. “The organist in the lobby flew to his keyboard and began to play. The costumed juggler and the fairy princess appeared in the lobby to greet everyone, including the many children.”
The performance started only about 15 minutes late, and the power stayed on for the duration.