EAGLE TAVERN CLOSING CONTINUED

[cellboy]

Well after talking very briefly with manager Gary Kenyon, he said it's true. They are closing. And he knows not why.
When the Sack, Bag or Hemp factory closed years ago (which are now the condos next door to the patio), there was a scare then! For the patio, was a separate parcel ownership from the building, or the bar itself. That patio parcel was part of the bag factory. So if the bag factory sold, what would happen to the patio? The Eagle? Well the bag factory sold, condos went up, and the Eagle continued as usual. Many thought the patio was leased from the condo association. So I asked Gary "what of the patio?" He said the patio is owned by the same person that owns the bar. Bummer! That means all of it has sold. :(

The tradition of the large outdoor patio, beer bust that has gone on for so many years will be no longer. Where are there other venues in SF that can support such a theme. End Up? The Lone Star is always the place where many go to the after the Eagle beer bust. But already too crowded. There is always Toad Hall or the Mix in the Castro. But small patios also.

My friend Timur pointed out that Zietgeist, just around the corner from the Eagle, may be a place to start. Large patio, good sized interior bar. And they are very open to the gay crowd...... so let's see what happens (I always wanted to go there, and hear its pretty cool).

Today, at the bust, not too many seemed upset. But after April 29th, when we call our friends up, and can no longer say, meet you at the Eagle..... then it will be missed (I have been doing this since 1984! It was part of my coming out!) But life goes on. It's not the end of the world. We will adjust.

Joe My God:
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2011/04/sfs-eagle-tavern-to-close.html

Comments

[cellboy.livejournal.com]

I suppose so. But the large patio thing was such a great asset. The current owner is maybe ready to sell (at a good price) and not deal with a new bar or any bar (burn out). So then, who would have the funds to start a new one?

[fogbear.livejournal.com]

Well, the owners also own the Hole In The Wall, and are not at the mercy of a landlord there since they bought the whole building. My understanding has been that the landlord was not going to renew the current lease in a few years and would instead sell it for development.

I agree about the patio. It's perhaps the only bar in SF that doesn't make me feel claustrophobic, even indoors.

Whether they sell the name of the business to be used in another facility remains to be seen.

[fallenandlost76.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear, I guess it isn´t the only one which closed the last months, is it? I think you wrote about another bar closed some weeks/months ago.
I hope you all will find another good one to meet and have fun and spend your spare time. :-)

[cellboy.livejournal.com]

Well its just the huge patio thing. And historical nature of the place that is important. It is so rare to have a large patio such as this in SF. The other bar that was to close, was purchased and saved. Sorta of sad to be concerned about bars closing. But bars, as a friend pointed out to me, for the gay community have been the focal point of a social meeting place for it seems for centuries! LOL

[fallenandlost76.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear the the other bars was saved. I´m not a person who goes into bars, but I know many people does and I can understand that it´s a huge part of the gay community. As I was able to read at your other posting it´s just the proberty owner who doesn´t want it there anymore..that he rather would have a straight bar. Heaven, I thought time changed but it seems like nothing changes. :-( What´s the different? He get his money and fine.
I hope the Eeagle will be able to saved too, like the others. Keep my fingers crossed for you all. :-)

[dendren.livejournal.com]

there are so few bars left with a large patio. I really miss the big back patio at the old renegades too. You would think with the no smoking in bars thing there would be more patios but not so much anymore

[cellboy.livejournal.com]

...and one would think in areas outside of SF where the weather is warmer, more patio bars would exist :(

[dorisduke.livejournal.com]

most patio bars both gay and straight find a lot of problems with the surrounding business' and or residents concerning noise.