For travelers heading into California’s scenic Sierra Nevada, a stop in Sonora can offer more than just a scenic detour. The Sportsman, a historic gun store-bar, lets patrons sip beer while shopping for firearms—a combination increasingly rare in the state. San Jose resident Dawn Schiavo discovered this unusual spot on a recent trip to Yosemite, finding a mix of local charm, history, and guns under one roof.

Story Highlights:

• The Sportsman is California’s last gun store with an on-site bar.

• Shoppers can buy handguns and rifles while enjoying beer, chips, and a social environment.

• The store holds a Type 40 liquor license, permitting beer sales and allowing minors inside.

• Dawn Schiavo, visiting from San Jose, called the experience “unlike anything back home.”

• The Sportsman serves both as a local hangout and a tourist stop near Yosemite, Gold Country, and the High Sierra.

In early August, Dawn Schiavo from San Jose set out for Yosemite with a friend. But before reaching the mountains, they decided to pause in Sonora.

“We don’t have a bar like this in the Bay Area,” Schiavo said between sips of cider. Her friend had lured her in with the unusual pitch: “Let’s go to the gun store that has a bar in it.”

The Sportsman, housed in a historic brick building near the town’s main street and police station, offers a split experience. One side functions as a pub, complete with televisions showing Giants games and framed photos of customers past and present. The other half is dedicated to firearms, with pistols and rifles displayed in glass cases. Prices range from $250 for a six-shooter to more than $600 for a .22-caliber rifle.

Steve Kane, who has managed the Sportsman for 11 years and worked there for 20, moves seamlessly between the two areas.

“We’re not a bunch of yahoos shooting up the town,” Kane said. “It’s a serious business and we take it seriously.”

The store’s founder, Vic Filiberti, opened the Sportsman in 1947, choosing Sonora for its strategic location. “It was the perfect spot for an outdoors store,” Kane explained. “Highways converge here, leading to Yosemite, Gold Country, and the High Sierra. Visitors pass through constantly, and locals love having a friendly, familiar place to meet.”

The Sportsman retains its original Type 40 liquor license, which allows beer sales but not wine. Minors can enter, and snacks like chips and sandwiches are available. Adjacent to shelves of bullets behind the bar, Frito-Lay chips sit ready for customers who might want a casual bite with their drink.

For San Jose visitors like Dawn Schiavo, the Sportsman offers more than merchandise—it provides a unique, historic California experience. “It’s not just a store or a bar—it’s a little community,” Schiavo observed. “Stopping here before Yosemite made our trip unforgettable.”

Whether buying a firearm, having a beer, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, the Sportsman stands out as a singular landmark in California—a blend of tradition, commerce, and local culture.

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