{"id":27533,"date":"2023-07-25T13:20:52","date_gmt":"2023-07-25T20:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=27533"},"modified":"2023-07-25T13:20:53","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T20:20:53","slug":"downtown-s-f-is-in-the-middle-of-a-bar-boom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2023\/07\/25\/downtown-s-f-is-in-the-middle-of-a-bar-boom\/","title":{"rendered":"Downtown S.F. is in the middle of a bar boom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/author\/mario-cortez\/\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/author\/mario-cortez\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mario Cortez<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>July 24, 2023 Updated: July 25, 2023 (SFChroncle.com)<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/feed?app_id=137086563877087&amp;link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfchronicle.com%2Ffood%2Frestaurants%2Farticle%2Fbars-downtown-sf-18215294.php%3Futm_campaign%3DCMS%2520Sharing%2520Tools%2520(Premium)%26utm_source%3Dfacebook.com%26utm_medium%3Dreferral&amp;name=Downtown%20S.F.%20is%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20a%20bar%20boom&amp;description=New%20bars%20keep%20opening%20downtown%2C%20even%20as%20retail%20and%20restaurants%20struggle.&amp;picture=https%3A%2F%2Fs.hdnux.com%2Fphotos%2F01%2F33%2F63%2F12%2F24064679%2F6%2FrawImage.jpg&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfchronicle.com%2Ffood%2Frestaurants%2Farticle%2Fbars-downtown-sf-18215294.php%3Futm_campaign%3DCMS%2520Sharing%2520Tools%2520(Premium)%26utm_source%3DUTMSOURCE%26utm_medium%3DUTMMEDIUM\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfchronicle.com%2Ffood%2Frestaurants%2Farticle%2Fbars-downtown-sf-18215294.php%3Futm_campaign%3DCMS%2520Sharing%2520Tools%2520(Premium)%26utm_source%3Dt.co%26utm_medium%3Dreferral&amp;text=Downtown%20S.F.%20is%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20a%20bar%20boom&amp;via=sfchronicle\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Your%20friend%20has%20shared%20a%20San%20Francisco%20Chronicle%20link%20with%20you%3A%20&amp;body=Downtown%20S.F.%20is%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20a%20bar%20boom%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfchronicle.com%2Ffood%2Frestaurants%2Farticle%2Fbars-downtown-sf-18215294.php%3Futm_campaign%3DCMS%2520Sharing%2520Tools%2520(Premium)%26utm_source%3Dshare-by-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%0A%0ANew%20bars%20keep%20opening%20downtown%2C%20even%20as%20retail%20and%20restaurants%20struggle.%0A%0AThis%20message%20was%20sent%20via%20San%20Francisco%20Chronicle\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"1-image-24064679\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.hdnux.com\/photos\/01\/33\/63\/12\/24064679\/6\/1200x0.jpg\" alt=\"Customers chat and drink at new bar the Felix in San Francisco.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Customers chat and drink at new bar the Felix in San Francisco.Felix Uribe \/ Special to The Chronicle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"2-image-24063178\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.hdnux.com\/photos\/01\/33\/62\/63\/24063178\/4\/1200x0.jpg\" alt=\"Cocktails at the Dawn Club in San Francisco. The new downtown bar offers drinks made with high-end spirits, as well as pours of rare whiskeys.\u00a0\u00a0\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"3-image-24064681\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.hdnux.com\/photos\/01\/33\/63\/12\/24064681\/3\/1200x0.jpg\" alt=\"Diners eat at Bodega SF. Owner Matt Ho said customers will often then proceed to his downstairs bar, the Felix.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy to miss&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/restaurants\/article\/felix-bar-san-francisco-17878730.php\">the Felix<\/a>, a hip speakeasy in Union Square with retro-cool decor and cocktails made with Asian spirits. But walk in through a hidden door on a Thursday or Friday at 9 p.m. and the bar is popping, even if the surrounding streets seem quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s generally a good crowd in here,\u201d owner Matt Ho said. \u201cWe\u2019re doing pretty well.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the constant news of businesses leaving downtown San Francisco and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/sf\/article\/downtown-s-f-still-has-north-america-s-weakest-17726176.php\">slow return<\/a>&nbsp;to pre-pandemic form, bars appear to be thriving in the area. Several&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/projects\/best-cocktail-bars-bay-area\/\">drinking establishments<\/a>&nbsp;have opened within the past year, from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/restaurants\/article\/harlan-records-japanese-cocktail-bar-open-17489855.php\">the vinyl-oriented Harlan Records<\/a>&nbsp;to a luxurious&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/projects\/best-wine-bars\/\">wine bar<\/a>&nbsp;called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/wine\/article\/mili-bar-sf-17751880.php\">Mili<\/a>. New venues continue to open, such as sports bar the Yerba Buena, which&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sf.eater.com\/2023\/7\/19\/23798040\/yerba-buena-sports-bar-new-soma-san-francisco\">arrived<\/a>&nbsp;last week. Owners say they\u2019re optimistic business will grow, challenging the narrative of a decaying downtown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ho debuted his bar in April just below his&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/projects\/best-vietnamese-food-restaurants-sf-bay-area\/\">Vietnamese restaurant<\/a>&nbsp;Bodega SF, which opened last year. Once he felt the restaurant had gained its footing, he launched the bar. He notes regular movement nearby, with Thai restaurant<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/restaurants\/article\/This-Michelin-starred-Thai-restaurant-has-been-17404888.php\">&nbsp;Kin Khao<\/a>&nbsp;drawing diners and activity at nearby bars like Bottle Club Pub and Lost Cat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have to give people a reason to come down this way,\u201d Ho said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the 1920s-inspired Harlequin on Fourth Street, business has been off to a strong start since opening in June. The new bar is seeing office workers for happy hour specials and company events, while nearby SoMa residents stop in for small bites over riffs on old-fashioneds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When owner Phil Chen first considered opening the bar, downtown activity was lower than pre-pandemic levels, though the \u201cdoom loop\u201d narrative hadn\u2019t completely set in. As time went on and downtown\u2019s forecast became bleaker, he still pressed forward with the project.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOnly people in the industry are crazy enough to look at all of this and take it head on,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to show our resilience and be more of a beacon to help people see the good in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Closer to the heart of the Financial District, prominent bar group<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/article\/As-reopening-stalls-a-big-SF-bar-group-is-15411334.php\">&nbsp;Future Bars<\/a>&nbsp;in May opened what could be its splashiest venue to date.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/food\/restaurants\/article\/dawn-club-bar-sf-18100924.php\">&nbsp;The Dawn Club<\/a>, a revived historic jazz hall, has been summoning guests with live music and an enviable collection of rare whiskeys. Future Bars CEO Brian Sheehy previously told The Chronicle that he is undeterred by talk of the self-perpetuating demise of San Francisco, referred to as a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/sf\/article\/city-economy-doom-loop-17846412.php\">doom loop<\/a>,\u201d although business has been uneven across his properties.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those doing well, proximity to hotels has been key. He argues there is a direct correlation between hotel occupancy and activity at the bars. Neighbors such as the Palace Hotel, the Ritz Carlton and the San Francisco Marriott Marquis refer guests to the Dawn Club and other Future Bars spots on the same block: the sporty Lark Bar and retro newspaper-themed Local Edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf somebody wants a real San Francisco experience, the concierge will send them to the Dawn Club. But, if they\u2019re in town for a Giants game, they\u2019ll recommend Lark Bar,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But even referrals cannot make up for the expected dips in business. Sheehy said his bars that rely on the 5 to 8 p.m. office crowd, like Rickhouse and Nightingale, are among his lowest performing. And activity is generally slower in July and August, due to locals taking vacations and a sparse convention schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But there are reasons for optimism. Lori Lincoln, vice president of SF Travel, the city\u2019s tourism board, said several conventions are coming downtown in the fall, including Salesforce\u2019s annual Dreamforce in September, as well as other tech industry events.&nbsp; \u201cThese all drive spending at our downtown businesses,\u201d she said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>International tourists are slowly&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/sf\/article\/international-tourism-china-recovery-18188305.php\">returning<\/a>&nbsp;to San Francisco, with forecasts for 2025 travel volume from countries like Mexico, South Korea and England expected to exceed 2019 figures. Tourism from China, which brought in $1.2 billion in 2019, is still far behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The boom in downtown bars isn\u2019t extending to restaurants, which have lower margins and higher overhead. \u201cWith a restaurant you\u2019re really taking a greater risk to make sure people like you and they actually come back to eat,\u201d Ho said. \u201cAt a bar you can be more creative and you have better profits.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some are trying to do both, adding substantial food to drinks-oriented businesses. Derrick Lee, for example, opened his SoMa bar Dragon Horse in February, betting on a combination of sake cocktails and sushi until 1 a.m.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople are hearing about it and hopefully things will pick up,\u201d Lee said, noting business has generally been steady from its 5 p.m. opening until closing time. Customers who come in for sushi end up ordering multiple cocktails, he said, and a karaoke room is gaining popularity for larger groups celebrating birthdays or looking for a private space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over at the Felix and Bodega SF, a symbiotic relationship has emerged between the businesses. Patrons often stop by for dinner before shuffling downstairs for drinks. But overall, Ho says downtown still needs more drinking options \u2014 and restaurants \u2014 open later to become a destination for nightlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere aren\u2019t too many bars that are lively until 2 a.m. like in the Mission or Dogpatch, so that\u2019s been a challenge,\u201d Ho said, adding that the Felix tends to clear out around midnight. \u201cIf we get more restaurants and bars in the area, it will be a really good look.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reach Mario Cortez:\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:mario.cortez@sfchronicle.com\">mario.cortez@sfchronicle.com<\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/author\/mario-cortez\/\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Written By <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/author\/mario-cortez\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mario Cortez<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/macortez619\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mario Cortez joined The Chronicle Food &amp; Wine team in 2022. He is originally from San Diego, where he contributed to local and online publications. He last worked at the Eureka Times-Standard, where he was sports editor and a staff reporter. Cortez was also a regular writer for Eater San Diego.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He likes analog photography, playing soccer and, naturally, great food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/img\/logos\/black\/logo.svg\" alt=\"San Francisco Chronicle Homepage - Site Logo\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sfchronicle.com\/img\/core\/hearst_newspapers_logo.svg\" alt=\"HEARST newspapers logo\">\u00a92023 Hearst Communications, Inc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mario Cortez July 24, 2023 Updated: July 25, 2023 (SFChroncle.com) It\u2019s easy to miss&nbsp;the Felix, a hip speakeasy in Union Square with retro-cool decor and cocktails made with Asian spirits. But walk in through a hidden door on a Thursday or Friday at 9 p.m. and the bar is popping,&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2023\/07\/25\/downtown-s-f-is-in-the-middle-of-a-bar-boom\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[475,848],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27533"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27533"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27534,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27533\/revisions\/27534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}