Cheswick’s West was named for the character Charles Cheswick from the movie “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”.
The movie was fittingly about an Insane Asylum where the patients rebel against a domineering tyrant by the name of Nurse Ratched.
Many years later patrons produced and starred in the play “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” at the OB Women’s Club, directed by Antonio Johnson.
The first Cheswick’s logo was a cartoon of a bird cage with an open door, outside sat a bewildered bird.
It was given the name by Linda Small, the wife of the first owner of the bar, John Small who was also the owner of the Sunshine Company Saloon.
Both John and Linda were from the East Coast, that is why West was added to the name.
Cheswick’s opened in 1983 and only sold beer and wine.
A few months after it opened the bar was sold to Dean Hall.
Before it was Cheswick’s, the bar was named The Cavern. The owner was rumored to have made a fortune by inventing plastic sunglasses that fit over regular glasses.
It was said that Charger players like quarterback Dan Fonts would frequent The Cavern because it was a great place to hide from fans.