After two and half years in business, Castro cocktail lounge and restaurant Lobby Bar (4230 18th Street) has been sold to a new owner.
Lobby Bar was opened in 2022 by gay sports bar Hi Tops co-owner Jesse Woodward and business partner Blake Seely. Lobby Bar operates out of the ground floor of The Hotel Castro.
Public records indicate the new owner is Grace Huntley. Huntley plans to operate the business under the same name.
According to Huntley's LinkedIn profile, she is currently the director of engineering at Code For America. Huntley also serves on the board of LGBTQ senior services provider Openhouse.
Lobby Bar opened in 2022 at 4230 18th St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
"I saw Lobby Bar's potential to be a community connector in a time where the LGBT community needs to come together in strength," said Huntley. "The bar has great potential to fill gaps in the community."
Huntley declined to provide any further details about plans for the space. Woodward did not respond to Hoodline's request for comment.
Lobby Bar had been listed for sale since February but it took until now for the business to find a new owner. An active listing for the approximately 1,372-square-foot space indicates the monthly rent is $7,277.77 plus $1,444.86 in additional fees and taxes.
The space features a fully equipped kitchen with a Type 47 liquor license. The lease expires in 2036 with two five-year options to extend.
Lobby Bar operates below The Hotel Castro. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Lobby Bar offered customers a variety of craft cocktails, wine, beer, and spirits. Initially, Lobby Bar offered a full food menu but that was scaled back to a handful of bar bites.
Since opening the popular gay sports bar Hi Tops in 2012, this marks Woodward's second Castro business endeavor outside of Hi Tops to end. Hi Tops now also has two locations in Los Angeles, in West Hollywood and Los Feliz.
Woodward also ran Mexican restaurant Hecho, which operated at 2200 Market St. from 2014 to 2017.
Thanks to Hoodline tipster Christopher V. If you've seen something new (or closing) in the neighborhood, text your tips and photos to (415) 200-3233, or email [email protected]. If we use your info in a story, we'll give you credit.
