In 2004, Gerry Griffin opened California Magic Club’s doors for the first time on April Fool’s Day. The venue in the Bay Area town of Martinez, however, is no joke for those who love magic. In its 22 years, the dinner-theater establishment has held over 1,900 performances for thousands of guests, with Gerry overseeing it all until November 2025. That month, he retired and John Gardenier took over ownership.
The venue has had other changes over the years—it moved locations, for one, and currently resides on the town’s main thoroughfare, which has helped business. But what hasn’t changed over the decades is its focus on creating an intimate magic experience for the 35 or so guests who visit on Friday and Saturday nights.
A memorable experience
Doors to the California Magic Club open at 7 p.m., and guests enjoy their selected three-course meal, included with their ticket purchase, starting at 7:30. When they walk in the theater, they can check out the small magic show near the entranceway before John escorts them to their seats for dinner, which is in the same space as their parlor-sized stage. The space is themed appropriately for a night of magic. “There’s not one square inch of the wall where there isn’t some type of magic memorabilia,” John said. Some items include things from those who have performed there, such as one of Eric Buss’ pogo sticks, a pair of Michael Finney’s Superman spandex underwear, and a hat signed by Dana Daniels, creating what John described as “a very eclectic combination of things.”
Guests often wander around the room to take a look at the items before or during the dinner portion of the night, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Between courses, two to five close-up magicians also head to the tables to entertain. Those magicians come from a stable of five or six local performers, while the headliner changes each weekend. The main show starts at 9 p.m., with John serving as the emcee, an opener doing about 20 minutes, and the main act performing a 40-minute show.
Starting in 2026, John also added a Sunday matinée that starts at 2 p.m. That experience doesn’t include a three-course meal, though food is still available for purchase. Unsurprisingly, that seating has more kids in it than the evening performances, though every show is family friendly.
A home for magic
Quality, parlor-style magic does well at California Magic Club, and when John books the space, he also wants to see how a magician interacts with audiences. “If you were interested in working here, I would want to see you interact with people in an uncut video,” he explained. “That’s how I get my biggest information about your personality… there’s a certain quality we’re looking for in terms of how you interact with people. We don’t want anyone that’s going to be abrasive.”
LEFT: Joel Paschall (Photo by Shana Whitford) RIGHT: Timothy James (Photo by John Gardenier)
The venue’s audience is largely a mix of locals (including those who bring their out-of-town friends and family members for a fun night out,) and tourists. There are plenty of people, John explained, to keep the venue busy. “We have the luxury of being in the Bay Area, which has 4.3 million people,” he said. “And in 22 years, if you did the math, we haven’t even seated 100,000 people.”
John is also hoping to make California Magic Club more of a hub for magic. He’s rolling out memberships for magicians and non-magicians, with perks like discounts on tickets and merchandise (for non-magicians) and the opportunity to attend lectures and have your act professionally filmed (for magicians). He’s also considering setting up a magic camp for kids. “Whatever we can do to enhance the world of magic is what I want to do,” John said. “My goal is to make an impact on the magic community for the better.”
California Magic Club
Live, up-close, and personal—California Magic Club is more than a show. It's an experience. Voted the Bay Area's best place to eat, drink, and be amazed, the Club offers magic the way it should be served—with dinner and a touch of wonder.