Mona's opened on Union Street in San Francisco in 1934 to take advantage of the end of prohibition and the city's liberal attitude. Mona and Jimmie Sargeant moved the bar in 1936 to Columbus Avenue in North Beach and promoted it as a bohemian hangout for writers and artists.
They hired singing waitresses and some of the waitresses dressed in male drag. It was described as 'bohemian' in the San Francisco Chronicle's 'Cocktailing, Dancing, and Dining' guide, which at the time meant sexually unconventional. It became the first openly lesbian club and geared toward the local gay community. Mona's advertised itself as a place 'where girls can be boys'.
As it grew in popularity, the owners moved the bar to 440 Broadway Street and renamed it Mona's 440 Club.
In 1941, Babe Scott took control of the club and booked performers that kept the bar popular and popular.
Ann Dee took over Mona's 440 Club in the mid 1950s and changed the name to Ann's 440 Club. Although she still employed a lesbian waitstaff and lesbian clientele, its focus was on entertainment and not gay culture.
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