After nearly two years with the lights off, Circle Bar, the Main Street dive where an oval bartop once packed in locals and the occasional celebrity, is getting ready to fire up the neon again in May. New operators say they plan to restore late-night weekend service, add upgraded sound and lighting, and still keep that familiar, dim, slightly rowdy Circle Bar feel. The beloved corner spot went dark in August 2023, leaving one of Main Street’s longest-running nightlife anchors sitting quietly on the block.
According to the Santa Monica Mirror, Circle Bar is expected to resume operations in May, with hours running Thursday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Operators told the outlet the refreshed room will lean on new sound and lighting systems while preserving the bar’s long-established character.
Historic Main Street Fixture
Circle Bar traces its roots to the postwar era and has long held its spot at 2926 Main Street, turning the address into a familiar stop on Santa Monica’s Main Street strip. Circle Bar lists the venue as "Est. 1949," and the Los Angeles Times profiled the bar in 1988, calling out its oval bar and tight dance floor as the neighborhood shifted around it.
Property Sale And New Ownership
Property records reported earlier this year show that the 1,700-square-foot building that houses Circle Bar sold in December 2025 for about $1.975 million. An application posted on the storefront lists a transfer to Circles LLC, and local reporting named Philippe Chicha as the buyer, according to Yo! Venice.
What Main Street Will Get Back
Neighbors and nearby businesses on Main Street have watched the corridor evolve in recent years, and the return of Circle Bar is set to plug a late-night hole in the lineup. The Ocean Park Association’s community roundup noted that city officials expect the venue to reopen soon, a detail reported by Santa Monica Next, and longtime patrons are already trading memories and speculation about the bar’s comeback online.
Operators have not released a firm grand opening date beyond the May timeline, and the usual city permitting and health inspections still stand between Circle Bar and its first last call. We will update as the owners share more details on opening, staffing, and, of course, when the neon flickers back on at 2926 Main Street.
