San Francisco, CA

SF’s storied queer bar, the Stud, ‘rises from the ashes’ in SoMa

Published

1 year ago

September 6, 2023

SF’s storied queer bar, the Stud, ‘rises from the ashes’ in SoMa

Stud collective members pose in front of the queer bar’s new home at 1123 Folsom St. in San Francisco on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023.

Amanda Bartlett/SFGATE

The rhinestones on the decades-old sign glinted in the Tuesday morning sunlight at the corner of Folsom and Langton streets in SoMa, surrounded by a bustling crowd of city politicians, drag performers and TV reporters.

Its message, “Welcome Home Stud,” harkened back to when it once welcomed patrons into San Francisco’s oldest cooperatively owned queer bar. But it also celebrated the famed nightlife venue’s future, as members of the Stud collective announced the Stud’s long-awaited reopening, which is slated for early 2024 at 1123 Folsom St.

“As many of you know, we have been waiting for years to bring the Stud back,” Honey Mahogany, a member of the Stud collective and chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, said during the press conference Tuesday, calling it “one of San Francisco’s most iconic venues.”

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FILE: Signage for the Stud in its original location on 9th Street.
Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

In May 2020, the 57-year-old bar and legacy business shuttered its previous physical space three blocks away on 9th Street, where it had been operating since 1987. At the time, members of the Stud collective — which bought the bar and revived it as a co-op in 2017, saving it after a massive rent hike — said the difficult decision, brought on by a lack of revenue during the pandemic, helped them avoid accruing debt that would have made it impossible for them to eventually reopen at a new location.

In the meantime, the bar lived on through virtual drag shows and its “Stud Stories” history podcast. Collective members fundraised for the bar’s hopeful future by selling T-shirts and other merchandise as they scouted vacant warehouses, car repair shops, coffee roasteries and other available locations for the Stud’s third home in the neighborhood. (The Stud first opened as a country western-themed gay bar at 1535 Folsom St. in 1966, where it carved out a place for gender-nonconforming individuals and drag queens, at a time when many of them were not welcomed in gay bars, as SFGATE previously reported.)

Stud collective member and SF Democratic Party chair Honey Mahogany speaks during a press conference in front of the Stud's new location at 1123 Folsom St. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. — Stud collective member and SF Democratic Party chair Honey Mahogany speaks during a press conference in front of the Stud’s new location at 1123 Folsom St. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023.
Amanda Bartlett/SFGATE

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“We looked long and hard to find a place that was worthy of the Stud’s legacy,” Mahogany said. “We all have heard the stories of the doom loop; the South of Market and mid-Market area has been really, really negatively impacted by the pandemic … But now this is an opportunity to rebuild and build back better. We are the city where our emblem is the phoenix which rises from the ashes, and just as the Stud closed almost four years ago, now, we are about to reopen and start on a new journey.”

Last month, Stud collective members signed the lease on 1123 Folsom St., which previously housed Julie’s Supper Club, sports bar Trademark and the pop-up “Golden Girls” Kitchen. The new location has a capacity of just under 300 and is twice the size of the Stud’s former space, with room for a future stage, a patio and twice as many bathrooms, said Stud collective president and bar manager Rachel Ryan. They envision the space will be adorned by “a treasure trove” of historical ephemera from the Stud’s past lives, including hundreds of old photographs, a pin archive, a contract for legendary R&B singer Etta James, which had been written on a napkin when she performed there in the ’70s, and the aforementioned rhinestone sign, which was “hiding under a dusty sheet in the back of the basement,” Ryan said.

A sign for the Jack N Juice Immersive Bar, which will operate at 1123 Folsom St. until the Stud begins to transform the space in late fall 2023.
Amanda Bartlett/SFGATE

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It’s too soon to say what the Stud’s programming will look like, but Mahogany said the collective plans to preserve preserve its legacy of hosting DJ nights and showcasing alternative drag in a similar vein to T-Shack, a club spearheaded by the late drag legend Heklina in the ’90s. Known in later iterations as Mother, the raucous, DIY punk spectacle of a drag show was held every Tuesday at the Stud for several years and changed the art form forever.

“We want a lot of new drag queens to come,” Mahogany said, “and try new things and be weird and strange and San Franciscan.”

But a long road lies ahead as collective members jump through permitting and licensing hoops and prepare for the construction of all-new dressing rooms, a dance floor and DJ booths, as well as install a sound system. To help offset costs, they recently launched a crowdfunding campaign with a goal of $500,000, more than $30,000 of which had been raised as of Tuesday.

“It takes a lot to re/open a bar these days—and we want to remain among the most accessible (and cheapest), serving a community that can’t afford other places or doesn’t feel welcome, and is holding on by a thread,” wrote Marke Bieschke, publisher of 48 Hills and a member of the Stud collective.

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San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks during a press conference in front of the Stud's new location at 1123 Folsom St. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. — San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks during a press conference in front of the Stud’s new location at 1123 Folsom St. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023.
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Amanda Bartlett/SFGATE

The collective certainly seems to have the city’s support: San Francisco Mayor London Breed, district supervisors Matt Dorsey, Rafael Mandelman, Connie Chan and Ahsha Safaí, and state senator Scott Wiener were all in attendance at Tuesday’s press conference. Several of them aided in the efforts to change the zoning for the building, which was no longer eligible for new nighttime use, Mahogany said.

“We’re here to signify how important this is,” Breed said during the conference. “The collective here came together and said this institution, the Stud, is needed. It’s needed now more than ever in light of the pandemic, where we could not come together, especially in places like the Stud, where it wasn’t just about partying. It was a place that was about being together with friends, with families.”

San Francisco drag laureate and Oasis owner D’Arcy Drollinger, who cut her teeth doing drag at the Stud, said its closure “felt like we were losing part of San Francisco.”

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A decades-old sign from the Stud will soon be displayed at its new location on 1123 Folsom St., which is slated to open in early 2024.
Amanda Bartlett/SFGATE

“Now we have the opportunity to help rebuild it,” Drollinger said. “Today is that day where we get to stand together and look at the beautiful little new sprout that is coming up in this time that has been so dark … Here’s to keeping San Francisco fabulous, and keeping San Francisco queer.”

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San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Giants Seen as Top Trade Partner for Chicago Cubs Superstar

Published

3 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

San Francisco Giants Seen as Top Trade Partner for Chicago Cubs Superstar

The San Francisco Giants are expected to swing big this offseason as they look to get themselves back into playoff contention.

A pitch to superstar slugger Juan Soto is considered to be that first big swing, although they are not expected to end up landing him.

Assuming the Giants end up missing on Soto, there are plenty of other fallback options that they could consider.

Pete Alonso and Anthony Santander are two other free agents that the Giants have been connected to. However, there is also a potential trade target that has been linked to San Francisco.

Looking at the needs the Giants have, they could use more starting pitching, especially if Blake Snell ends up leaving town in free agency. But San Francisco could also use more offensive firepower. They need a big bat to plug into their lineup.

With that in mind, Chicago Cubs star outfielder and first baseman Cody Bellinger has come up as a potential option.

Zach Pressnell of Newsweek has named the Giants as one of the top potential trade suitors for Bellinger if the Cubs end up trading him. Reports have come out that Chicago would like to trade their star this offseason. With new leadership in San Francisco, after the hiring of Bustery Posey as president of baseball operations, there is a chance the former All-Star catcher would listen on a deal for the slugger.

“San Francisco has to chase the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres in its own division before it can worry about coming home with the World Series title,” Pressnell wrote. “A move for Bellinger would push the Giants in the right direction without breaking the bank.”

Bellinger would certainly be an intriguing option for San Francisco. He’s set to make $27.5 million in 2025 and then will have another choice to make before the 2026 season, as his current deal has another option year. There is a chance that he could opt into another year of his deal at $25 million.

During the 2024 MLB season, Bellinger produced lower numbers than expected. However, he dealt with some injury issues and the Cubs as a whole played under expectations.

He played in 130 total games, hitting 18 home runs to go along with 78 RBI. Bellinger also recorded a slash line of .266/.325/.426.

Just one year previously in 2023, Bellinger had a much stronger season. He hit .307/.356/.525 to go along with 26 home runs and 97 RBI. He was also named the National League Comeback Player of the Year award winner.

All of that being said, the former National League MVP would be an excellent addition for the Giants. Depending on what Chicago is asking for in return, San Francisco should strongly consider making a push to acquire him.

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San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Giants Named Potential Landing Spot for All-Star Slugger

Published

11 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

San Francisco Giants Named Potential Landing Spot for All-Star Slugger

The San Francisco Giants are heading into free agency hoping to finally make a splash after missing out in recent years.

It was another mediocre season for the Giants in 2024, as they finished just under .500 and hovered around that record for most of the year. Besides a couple of outlier years, San Francisco has struggled for most of the decade.

Now, former catcher Buster Posey has taken over as president of baseball operations, and hopes to change the trajectory of the franchise.

Over the past few winters, the Giants have consistently missed out on the top free agents. The hope is that Posey will bring some credibility to San Francisco and help convince free agents to come.

Heading into the offseason, one of the most glaring needs for the Giants is to improve the offense. Recently, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report spoke about San Francisco as a good landing spot for Baltimore Orioles slugger, Anthony Santander.

While the Giants play in one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the league, their lack of power has really held the team back. San Francisco has not had a home run hitter since Barry Bonds, who was the last Giants player to hit 30 home runs for the team — back in 2024.

The Giants have swung and missed on top free agents like Giancarlo Stanton, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani in recent years. An agreement with infielder Carlos Correa went up in smoke after his physical revealed a concerning injury and nixed that deal.

Santander is in the superstar category. But, last year with the Orioles was able to total 44 home runs and 102 RBIs.

That type of offensive production is exactly what San Francisco needs in the middle of the order, as he would pair nice with Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos in the lineup. Also, he would provide the Giants with a switch hitter to help diversify their lineup.

In the spacious outfield of San Francisco, Santander might be a tad exposed defensively, but he could slide into the designated hitter slot a majority of the time. Santander usually played right field in Baltimore.

While the Giants want to bring in some good talent, they are also trying to build sustainable success for the future.

Adding a player the caliber of Santander would fix one problems in the lineup for San Francisco, but more work would still need to be done.

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San Francisco, CA

Gang of young punks, including 12-year-old, charged in $84K San Francisco robbery spree

Published

19 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Gang of young punks, including 12-year-old, charged in K San Francisco robbery spree

A cadre of 10 juvenile delinquents — including a 12-year-old — were arrested for allegedly committing nearly two dozen retail thefts in San Francisco, racking up $84,000 in stolen merchandise during the spree, according to police.

The pint-sized punks had been causing mayhem across the city by the bay for months — with police linking them to a string of robberies that began back in August, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, citing cops.

The San Francisco Police Department was able to tie the members of the group — which includes an 18-year-old, one 12-year-old, three 14-year-olds, and three 15-year-olds — to robberies that mostly targeted pharmacy chains, the outlet reported.

The Burglary and Organized Crime Unit first noticed a pattern when a group allegedly turned-over a Walgreens on Sept. 23, which included a violent assault on an employee, the Chronicle reported.

That worker suffered “a serious head injury,” according to SFPD.

Investigators were then able to connect the group to several other similar smash-and-grabs.

In one robbery on Sept. 29, some in the group robbed a store on Castro Street of $15,000 in merchandise. A couple hours later, the group returned for another raid and pilfered $12,000 more in goods, according to the Chronicle.

Officials say the group is also linked to some higher-profile incidents.

In a Sept. 9 incident, one of the 14-year-olds flashed a gun at a store security guard at a shop on Mission Street as the group stole a cash register, cops say. That bad seed faces an assault with a deadly weapons charge.

Cops say a pair of the ne’er-do-wells — a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old — are responsible for a carjacking that took place on Nov. 5.

The 12-year-old is facing a slew of charges including assault likely to produce great bodily injury, three counts of second-degree robbery, seven counts of second-degree burglary, seven counts of grand theft, 10 counts of organized retail theft, and four counts of petty theft.

Brandon McClain, 18, is charged with four counts of second degree burglary, four counts of grand theft, and four counts of organized retail theft.

McClain is being held without bail, according to the Chronicle.

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