After a few years of it hanging in the balance, a new proprietor will finally take over the space of famed Palo Alto bar Antonio’s Nut House .
Back in August 2020, the almost 50-year-old dive bar that was known for peanut shells on the ground and a quirky vibe closed permanently, citing financial losses and an uncertain post-pandemic future. In 2026, the space is slated for a total transformation into a trendy bakery with glass cases covering technique-driven croissants, as first reported by Palo Alto Online .
Croissanté Bakery, which was founded in Santa Clara in 2023, is known for its viral cube croissant : quite literally a croissant in the shape of a cube. The brand, which imports flour and butter directly from France to achieve the flaky bliss of its pastries, has expanded in recent years. In December 2024, Croissanté opened its second location in Los Gatos. The Palo Alto bakery at 321 California Ave. is slated to be its third outpost, and is to feature an array of classic French pastries and bread.
Antonio’s Nut House was a local hangout for Stanford students and locals alike. Mark Zuckerberg was also known to frequent the bar in the early days of Facebook, now Meta. It was founded in 1972 by Tony Montooth and went through multiple concepts, including a hofbrau, an Italian restaurant and a French restaurant. When a rugby team came in one fateful night to drink without ordering any food, Montooth had the idea to downsize and expand the bar — while adding free peanuts…