Sam’s Anchor Cafe raises $300k+ with inaugural Bootleggers NFTs
Sam's Bootleggers NFTs
Sam’s Anchor Café on the San Francisco Bay
Sam’s Anchor Cafe – open since 1920 on the San Francisco Bay – has completed a successful launch of its first NFT (non-fungible token) collection, raising more than $300,000 with a sell-out of the limited-edition Sam’s Bootleggers NFTs. Sam’s Bootleggers NFTs, with artwork by San Francisco designer Anthony Laurino, were developed by ViciNFT. The 244-unit collection sold out entirely through presale! The NFTs are caricature images of Sam Vella, a notorious bootlegger who founded Sam’s during Prohibition.
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Sam’s Bootleggers NFTs by San Francisco designer Anthony Laurino
Open since 1920, Sam’s is located in Marin County on the San Francisco Bay in the charming town of Tiburon, California. It has long been famous for fresh seasonal seafood, a fun atmosphere and breath-taking views of Angel Island, Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline. The restaurant draws a 1-2 hour wait on most weekends and busy weekdays, with the line often stretching down the entirety of Tiburon’s Main Street.
Inspired by the late Sam Vella, a notorious bootlegger who founded Sam’s during Prohibition, Bootleggers NFTs will allow holders to skip the line and make reservations – a first in the Marin County restaurant’s 102-year history. Other perks include gift cards, exclusive merchandise and special event access. San Francisco-based NFT developer ViciNFT worked with Sam’s to produce 244 Bootleggers. Priced at $2,000 a piece, the collection sold out entirely through presale orders. With artwork by San Francisco designer Anthony Laurino, the NFTs are caricature images of Vella with Hawaiian shirts and other traits that relate to the history of Sam’s.
Sam’s Anchor Café is more than 100 year old
“Sam’s Anchor Café is a 100-year-old restaurant,” said owner Conor Flaherty, a Tiburon native who purchased Sam’s in 2018. “We want it to be around for another 100 years. By investing in new technology and new ideas, we are confident we can keep Sam’s durable for future generations.”
Flaherty, 35, oversaw an approximately $2 million renovation of Sam’s in 2019. The restaurant draws a 1-2 hour wait on most weekends and busy weekdays, with the line often stretching down the entirety of Tiburon’s Main Street. Bootleggers will receive line-cutting privileges, the ability to call ahead for reservations, airdropped gift cards, access to customized merchandise and a private ‘Bootlegger’s Lounge’ overlooking Smuggler’s Cove. Special event access will include VIP entry to Sam’s annual DeckFest, a New Year’s Eve dinner and more.
Flaherty and ViciNFT plan to release a Sam’s NFT collection for kids next, allowing children to draw their own unique version of Vella. ViciNFT will turn the drawings into NFTs, which will be redeemable for one free kids’ meal per month.”Plus,” Flaherty added, alluding to a long-time Sam’s tradition: “The popcorn is always free.”
Earlier we wrote about the NFTs of the first Bored Ape restaurant.
Website: Sam's Anchor Café
