The Mission District’s Beauty Bar Closes After 25 Years.
Here’s news that’s barely news anymore: a business in San Francisco has closed. I know it’s shocking because things stay open forever in San Francisco. The only thing more plentiful in the city than its many hills are the erections of successful entrepreneurs going over their balance sheets.
Sarcasm aside, receiving a manicure while getting trashed sounds sort of delightful. So delightful that the Beauty Bar has managed to stay afloat since 1998, and in a city like San Francisco that is quite an accomplishment. However, Beauty Bar was something of a national chain with locations in other power cities like New York and Los Angeles. This most recent closure follows closures in in other cities.
Owner Paul Devitt envisioned Beauty Bar as a fusion of the conviviality of a beauty salon and the social allure of a bar, catering to a demographic often overlooked in nightlife settings. Over the years, it played host to a myriad of events, from karaoke nights to beauty pageants, and pulsating dance parties featuring Reggaeton and Latin Jazz. Amidst the vibrancy, the venue experienced moments of darkness. Tragic incidents in 2016 (an abduction) and 2019 (a fatal shooting) cast shadows over its legacy.
Despite its rich history, Beauty Bar faced challenges in sustaining its allure, with dwindling revenues in recent times. Matt Stout, the former general manager, confirmed the closure, attributing it to the venue’s declining viability.
Efforts to buoy the establishment during the COVID-19 pandemic fell short, culminating in the closure of its doors. Today, Beauty Bar’s once-active communication channels lie dormant, marking the end of an era that captivated San Francisco for a quarter of a century. With locations in Brooklyn and Dallas having already bid adieu in previous years, Beauty Bar’s closure represents not just the end of a chapter for San Francisco but also the conclusion of a cherished cultural phenomenon spanning multiple cities.
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The closure of this place actually sounds sad because the concept is legitimately unique. While every business closure is essentially the conclusion of someone’s dream, it stings a little more when that business was actually something that contributed to the neighborhood. The Mission District remains one of San Francisco’s last strongholds of spontaneous expression. It doesn’t feel as curated and clean as other famous parts of the city. Businesses that offer well-established novel experiences are what lends to San Francisco’s reputation as a microcosm of eclectic, exciting experiences. That’s why people come. They don’t come to shop at Macy’s.
I apologize for downplaying the severity of the Macy’s closure. It is San Francisco’s 9/11 after all.
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