Stereo 41 Brings Southern Cuisine to Walnut Creek
New restaurant and music lounge opens in a transformed former PG&E service station at 1535 Bonanza St.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Dining Out
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Restaurateurs Victor Ghaben and Berk Gibbs have officially opened Stereo 41, a new music lounge and dining destination in Walnut Creek. The venue features a menu focused on Southern cuisine, including dishes like fried chicken and short ribs.
Why it matters
The founders aim to offer a specialized nightlife venue that serves as a supper club experience, distinguishing it from traditional club environments. The space marks a transition from its previous life as a PG&E service station into a culinary and entertainment hub.
Stereo 41 is located at 1535 Bonanza St. and operates seven locations under the founders' previous venture, World Famous Hotboys. The kitchen currently offers both brunch and dinner menus under the direction of executive chef Jonathan De La Torre.
The players
Victor Ghaben
He is a co-founder of the restaurant group responsible for the World Famous Hotboys chain.
Berk Gibbs
He is a business partner who co-founded both World Famous Hotboys and the new Stereo 41 lounge.
Jonathan De La Torre
He serves as the executive chef for Stereo 41 and previously worked as an executive sous chef at Mourad.
The details
The founders renovated a historic service station to accommodate a restaurant and music lounge, with weekend entertainment provided by local DJs. Executive chef Jonathan De La Torre, formerly of Mourad, leads the kitchen in executing a Southern-influenced menu.
Timeline
2019: The first brick-and-mortar Hotboys location opened.
- 2026-10-20
Stereo 41 is confirmed as open for business.
Culture Shift
The conversion of the former service station into a premier lounge mirrors the growing urban movement of adaptive reuse for industrial spaces. This shift repurposes historical sites into social hubs, moving away from standard commercial development models.
Walnut Creek residents can now visit the lounge for brunch or dinner services to experience the new Southern-focused menu. The venue provides a local weekend destination for those seeking dining options paired with live DJ music.
The takeaway
Stereo 41 positions itself as a dual-purpose supper club that prioritizes a full dining experience alongside nightlife entertainment. Visitors should note the distinction between its restaurant-first business model and traditional nightlife venues in the area.
Further reading
Discover more new concepts in our guide to Walnut Creek Dining Out.
More information
View the current menu and reservations on the Stereo 41 website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by East Bay Express | Oakland, Berkeley & Alameda.
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Do you enjoy having supper clubs that combine live music with dining in your community?
