Blacksmith Square is located at 21 South Livermore Avenue in Livermore, California
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| Blacksmith Square Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
Blacksmith Square is a Downtown Livermore Gem
Located at the corner of South Livermore and Railroad Avenues, Blacksmith Square is the perfect starting point for a Livermore Valley wine tasting experience.
The blacksmith shop has been gone for more than 80 years, and the brick buildings accommodated a number of farm equipment and automobile repair businesses up until the close of V&G Mufflers—The Oldest Muffler Company in the Tri-Valley!
I must have walked past the nondescript muffler shop a thousand times while growing up in Livermore. Its brick walls were painted white and the building itself had very few architectural features, unless you count roll-up garage doors.
A major renovation of Blacksmith Square was initiated in November 2004, and occupation of the shops began in the summer of 2006. The buildings were sandblasted, which unveiled locally made red bricks that were installed more than a century before when the original blacksmith shop was constructed.
Blacksmith Square Residents in the Past
Former occupants of Blacksmith Square include Red Skye Winery, Battaion Cellars, Hidden Creek Wine, Retzlaff Vineyard, Big White House Winery, John Evan Cellars, Thomas Coyne Winery, John Christopher Cellars, and Victorine Valley Farms.
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| Watercolor Illustration by Rich Sigberman |
Blacksmith Square History
The site dates back to Livermore's early days in the late 19th century. An 1889 drawing of the town shows a blacksmith shop and related structures in that location, near the Southern Pacific railroad tracks, reflecting the area's industrial and transportation role during the town's growth as an agricultural and rail hub in Alameda County.
By the early 20th century, the buildings included a south structure dating to around 1915, and the site operated as a blacksmith shop into at least the 1920s–1930s. By 1932, the blacksmith operations had transitioned to an automobile repair shop, adapting to the rise of cars. In later decades, the property became V&G Mufflers, as seen in 1960s aerial photos and other records.
A Pictorial History of Blacksmith Square
Administered by Bill Nale, eLivermore.com is a labor of love, the ultimate Livermore, Pleasanton, and Tri-Valley California guide.
- Blacksmith Square History
- Blacksmith Square Historical Photos
- Blacksmith Square Renovation Photos 1
- Blacksmith Square Renovation Photos 2
- Blacksmith Square Renovation Photos 3
- Blacksmith Square Before and After Photos
Wine Map Images Courtesy of MapCo Marketing
Early Livermore (Images of America)
by Livermore Heritage Guild
Early Livermore (Images of America)
Tracing roots from Robert Livermore's 1822 desertion of his ship to his vast 40,000-acre Las Positas land grant, it chronicles the gold rush influx and the town's 1869 founding by William Mendenhall as a hub for hay, grain, wine grapes, and ranching—the pioneering infrastructure that shaped the Bay Area's Tri-Valley.
Swirl on the Square
21 South Livermore Avenue, Suite 105
Today, Blacksmith Square is prominently occupied by Swirl on the Square, a popular wine bar offering local and international wines, small plates, live music, and a casual atmosphere. The area is frequently described as part of Livermore's historic downtown, with ongoing expansions (including additional retail, restaurant space, and a brewery component) adding thousands of square feet while retaining and referencing the original historic building on the corner.
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| Swirl on the Square Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
Livermore Chardonnay
Travel Poster Reproduction
Travel Poster Reproduction
Victorine Valley Farms
Former occupant Victorine Valley Farms offered a wide variety of olive oil and balsamic vinegar products, along with olive oil soaps, accessories, and gift packages. It was always a pleasure to stop by the tasting room to sample estate grown Livermore Valley olive oil, selected extra virgin olive oils, flavored olive oils, and unique balsamic vinegars.
.jpg "Victorine Valley Farms") |
| Victorine Valley Farms Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
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| Victorine Valley Farms Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
.jpg "Victorine Valley Farms") |
| Victorine Valley Farms Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
.jpg "Victorine Valley Farms") |
| Victorine Valley Farms Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
.jpg "Victorine Valley Farms") |
| Victorine Valley Farms Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
Livermore Merlot
Travel Poster Reproduction
Travel Poster Reproduction
Lap Steel at Blacksmith Square
Livermore Wine Country Purple and Green Grapes
See the Livermore Wine Country Purple and Green Grapes Collection
Livermore Wine Country Purple and Green Grapes with Stripes Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Livermore Wine Country Purple and Green Grapes with Stripes Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Visit the Livermore Valley Wine Country
Livermore Valley Wine Country Shopping
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