Marlena's bar to close, and that's sad

So there was much cry and rending of wigs at the news that the long-establish neighborhood and community bar Marlena's in Hayes Valley was sold is going to close. And then the news was updated to note that it's been bought by a trio of guys who run other bars and do plan to reopen it as a gay-ish bar. But it surely and sorely won't be the same.

The SFist: Why, God, Why: Marlena's Closing

It's a pretty amazing accomplishment to become noted as both a local, neighborhood bar and a San Francisco icon. I have loved Marlena's for years as not only a small neighborhood bar of character, but for it's seemingly diverse sets of regulars. Marlena's is home to four distinct sub-cultures and we all get along and bond surprisingly well. It is truly a family of sorts, with each child having its own strong personality and loves the the siblings. Marlena's is home to: older leather daddies, the Empress/ Emperor/ Coronation crowd, a few transgendered folks, and the rodeo cowboys.

Seriously.

And some regular, everyday guys and gals who live nearby.

More news is out via the Hayes Valley blog Hayeswire: Marlena’s New Owners Revealed

While the article contains a few actual details and is in fact well-written prose, all it says to me is "Local beloved institutions to be replaced with douchebags." Although granted I'm a little "Blah, blah, blah Ginger" on this one.

These are same guys that brought us Churchill. Ugh.

There are few things which annoy me more than consciously-pretentious cocktail snobs, and the douchebag straight boys advertising "crafted cocktails." Empirical data gathering has shown the results to include a less-genuine clientele, double drink prices, and ridiculously long waits to be served as each drink requires "crafting" time.  I do like a carefully crafted drink (but they also have their place and not), and proper cocktails are to be lauded and celebrated.  It's one of the reasons I appreciate Clock.  And the Blackbird.  But a well-made cocktail is a feature of a nice, slightly higher-end bar.  It's sort of like having cloth napkins at a finer restaurant—it's an expectation, not something to advertise.  When it is made the center feature, it becomes more Disney-fied; it becomes a stated sole attraction rather than an inherent quality that is part and parcel.  When a specialty cocktail is the marketed attraction, it attracts a different market.  Like bars that advertise on top 40 radio.  NPLU.  NOKD.  Just like people who are quality, they would never say so or bring attention to it.  People who claim to be popular usually really aren't.  The difference between show and tell.

Marlena's has been a community and welcoming space.  Diverse, and unpretentious. If these guys' track record is any indication, the baby will be thrown out with the tonic water.

I will miss Marlena's. As MoniStat has pointed out though, a lot of our niche, edge bars are being priced out of operation, and might not be if the hordes lamenting their closing patronized the bars more often (e.g. Deco, the Cinch).

And the drag shows are always super fun. I do hope they feature remains. And that Galilea can reign supreme.

And it is of course, where Miss Otis Regrets made her debut.