One of the Castro's most prominent vacancies is set to be filled with a new restaurant and bar later this year.
Hoodline is the first to report that Bar 49 owner Colm O'Brien will soon open NOVA, a new restaurant and bar, in the former Eureka Restaurant & Lounge space at 4063 18th Street.
Eureka Restaurant closed in 2019 after 12 years and has remained vacant ever since.
Nearly two years ago, O'Brien opened Bar 49 at the former Bagdad Café space, and the restaurant has been a popular neighborhood hangout ever since.
Colm O'Brien will open Nova at 4063 18th St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Now O'Brien is planning to open his second Castro business, with the goal of opening Nova in Fall 2026.
Nova, meaning "a star showing a sudden increase in brightness before slowly returning to its original state," explains O'Brien will pay homage and respect to the legacy of Eureka Restaurant while creating a new identity for itself.
Similar to transforming the former Bagdad Café space to Bar 49, O'Brien says he "loves watching a venue come to life and seeing the community embrace it."
“I love this neighborhood. Castro welcomed me with open arms over a decade ago when I moved from Ireland,” said O’Brien. “It’s a home away from home. Castro embraced me as a
young bartender when I started out over a decade ago, and it still does today."
Bar 49 owner Colm O'Brien will soon open NOVA. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
"For the last two years, Bar 49’s customers and staff have become family, and I am humbled by their support," added O'Brien, who previously worked at Hi Tops and Lookout.
The menu at Nova is expected to feature some of Bar 49's favorites while focusing on seasonal, rotating shareables and entrees. O'Brien tells Hoodline that they are still working on a full food and drink menu.
“The space and menu items will feel elevated, but without an elevated price,” said O'Brien. “I believe we can offer high-quality drinks and unique food options without overcharging customers.”
Bar 49 opened in the former Bagdad Café space. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Sitting vacant for seven years, the entire two-story space will be reimagined from top to bottom.
The downstairs dining room will feature a new bar, and guests will be able to enjoy the outdoor patio, complete with firepits and heaters.
The upstairs lounge will see the original bar fully restored with couches, additional seating, and tables.
"It will be a more refined, cocktail-forward setting designed to feel intimate, stylish, and a little above an everyday experience," says O'Brien.
Inside Eureka Restaurant & Lounge, which closed in 2019. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Currently, O'Brien is working on securing a full liquor license for the space. The previous license held by Eureka Restaurant was sold to SoMa sports bar and tavern BuzzWorks, in 2020.
The remodel will also include necessary upgrades to get the space up to code, including new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant downstairs bathrooms.
Construction is expected to start in the coming weeks and last approximately six months. Public records indicate that construction costs are estimated at $120,000.
Having signed a 10-year lease, O'Brien tells Hoodline that he's made an agreement with the landlord to offset some of the upgrade costs.
Inside the former Eureka Restaurant & Lounge space during the holiday season (2015). | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
O'Brien plans to take advantage of the new momentum and foot traffic from the Castro Theatre reopening earlier this month.
"It’s a perfect spot to gather before or after a performance for drinks, to meet friends on the patio during the day, or have a nightcap upstairs at the bar," said O'Brien.
Thinking about taking over the once popular Eureka space, O'Brien says, "I feel the weight of honoring Eureka’s past while creating Nova's future." From 1972 to 1988, the space was home to Neon Chicken.
“It’s a privilege to breathe life back into places that hold so many memories. Like Bar 49, my team and I are going to pour ourselves into this space to create something unique for the neighborhood," added O'Brien.
