The drunk mistake in a Bay Area bar that sent Apple into a frenzy

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On Thursday, March 18, 2010, a drunk Apple software engineer named Gray Powell left an iPhone 4 prototype on a barstool inside Redwood City’s Gourmet Haus Staudt beer hall — a seemingly innocuous act that would eventually result in a $5,000 cash purchase of stolen property, a police raid and accusations of extortion from then CEO Steve Jobs.

It also set off a media frenzy outside Volker Staudt’s German beer hall, a mere 20 miles from Apple’s Infinite Loop headquarters.

“We’d have news crews come from all around the world, and the only thing we told them is we’re not going to give interviews about the phone,” Staudt told SFGATE, sitting alongside his wife and co-owner Mary Ann in their backyard beer garden.

In fact, the Staudts have never talked about the iPhone incident, until today.

“It really brought Apple security down,” Volker said.

The sign outside the front of Gourmet Haus Staudt for the German speciality store and beer garden in Redwood Calif., on January 14, 2022.
The sign outside the front of Gourmet Haus Staudt for the German speciality store and beer garden in Redwood Calif., on January 14, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE
Michael Mandl (sitting, facing camera) enjoys a beer with his family at Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood Calif., on January 14, 2022.
Michael Mandl (sitting, facing camera) enjoys a beer with his family at Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood Calif., on January 14, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE
The German specialty store in the front section of Gourmet Haus Staudt is stocked with beers from Germany in Redwood Calif., on January 14, 2022.
The German specialty store in the front section of Gourmet Haus Staudt is stocked with beers from Germany in Redwood Calif., on January 14, 2022.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE
The German beer hall in the back of the building at Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood Calif., on January 14, 2022. The line visible on the ground is where the wall of the beer hall once stood before it was expanded.
The German beer hall in the back of the building at Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood Calif., on January 14, 2022. The line visible on the ground is where the wall of the beer hall once stood before it was expanded.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE


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