Salty Otter Sports Grill to Open as Soon as Next Week

April 15, 2025 – Lost Boys hadn’t yet appeared in theaters when Rachael Carla Smith found her heart home in Santa Cruz.

This was back in 1986, on a road trip with her mom, at 14 years old.

“Santa Cruz always stood out to me,” she says. “It was just the surf and the sun and skateboarding—somewhere I always wanted to be.”

Leap ahead in the movie, after 33 years of restaurant experience, several bonus lifetimes of complementary experience as a chief of her own video production company, news channel camerawoman and bartender— and a lengthy run as a Surf City resident—and she’s ready to make it a more enjoyable place to be.

That’s arrives as soon as next Thursday, after fire marshall and health department appointments in the coming days, with the debut of The Salty Otter Sports Grill.

Smith frequented the property where The Otter will open in its heydey as 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, before more-fleeting inhabitants Firefly Tavern and CT Lights.

She remembers thinking back then, keeping with the theme of connection to place, “If this ever comes on the market, I’d love to be here.”

Before Firefly buzzed into place, she considered making an offer, but found a more affordable alternative across the bay, on Cannery Row, where she co-created The Salty Seal Brewpub & Sports Bar.

There she navigates payroll, events, advertising, marketing, website and music, among other duties, along with her business partner Jim McLennan, a brewmaster who’s installing lines for The Salty Otter’s 30 taps.

When the former 99 Bottles resurfaced on the market after updates and at a discount, she leapt at the opportunity.

“The universe opens the door when it’s meant to open,” Smith says.

Her plans for The Salty Otter include live music—modest solo acoustic to start, while permits for ambitious acts pend—a pool table, darts and table video games to stoke the activity quotient, plus a food-and-drink formula similar to what’s cooking at its marine mammal sister across-the-sea. (With the kitchen open atypically late for downtown, 10:30pm.)

The Salty Seal plays the hits: calamari, cauliflower bites, Gilroy garlic fries, traditional West Coast clam chowder, big burgers, fish ‘n’ chips.

“Basically American fare with Southwestern elements,” Smith says.

But it also dips into some surprises, given its Caribbean heritage. The Bermuda-style fish chowder, a nod to the the island where she was born, and a robust Dark and Stormy with Goslings Black Seal black rum, stand out among them, and have become best sellers.

Fellow industry veteran Jena Sullivan will come over as a manager, from Parrish Pub in Aptos, where she managed purchases on liquor and beer, which bodes well for the many taps at the former 99.

To buttress the suds, she anticipates a strong wine list, smart mocktails and important infill for a strategic segment of Santa Cruz.

“I think it’s going to bring a new vibe to downtown,” she says. “There isn’t a place quite like this.”

She flags the sports screens, kids menu, video and gaming diversions, student-friendly environment and kitchen hours as draws, adding “It’ll have a good mix.”

With affection for Santa Cruz as the most important, and even cinematic, ingredient.