The Phoenix Hotel — a San Francisco hot spot where everyone from David Bowie to Pearl Jam once crashed — is closing at the end of the year, but not before a farewell party worthy of its legacy.
This month, the cultural landmark is hosting a string of live music events, from electronic artist Baynk on Sunday, Oct. 5 to tech house artist Westend on Oct. 18 and British DJ Culture Shock on Oct. 19.
The Phoenix will also continue the longstanding tradition of hosting the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation’s Pool Toss on Thursday, Oct. 9, welcoming guests to its iconic courtyard and pool area. The event, set for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., will see a range of local celebrities, leaders and philanthropists unite in support of the Tenderloin After School Program which assists with affordable housing and services for thousands of locals.
Then, on Nov. 13, the hotel plans to host the Tenderloin Block Party: a Love Letter to the Neighborhood. The free event, scheduled for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., promises live music, local vendors, art installations and a memory wall for attendees to bid farewell to the Phoenix. Part goodbye party and part community celebration, the block party will also feature some staff speeches.
Built in 1956 as the Caravan, Chip Conley purchased the Tenderloin motor lodge in 1987, following the advice of concert promoter Bill Graham. Conley attracted acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Neil Young and Kurt Cobain — who celebrated New Year’s Eve at the hotel on several occasions — by offering free tour bus parking and massages for tour managers.
Despite its history, however, Conley and his business partners decided not to renew its lease when it expires on Jan. 1, citing the hotel’s loss of revenue post-pandemic.
“To be quite honest, it’s not even just the lease terms, it’s the nature of the neighborhood,” he previously told the Chronicle, citing chaotic street conditions and the city’s weak hospitality sector.
As its permanent closure looms, Conley said he hopes customers who have a history or interest in the space will have the opportunity to party there for one last time.
“I think they are going to come out of the woodwork,” he said.
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