Iconic SF Castro gay bar closes suddenly after 27 years – SFGATE
Jan. 23, 2023
Harvey’s, at 500 Castro St., San Francisco, has closed.
Barbara Z. via Yelp
Harvey’s, a longtime staple of the Castro, abruptly closed its doors on Sunday. The restaurant and bar posted a photo on Instagram of a handwritten sign reading, “This is our last day being open. What is next? We don’t know, but we know we will miss all of you!”
Harvey’s, which is named after San Francisco Supervisor and LGBTQ activist Harvey Milk, first opened in 1996. Before then, it opened in 1974 as a gay bar and restaurant called the Elephant Walk, which Milk praised as “a place where the gay community could meet, feel safe and secure while at the same time be visible to the whole world,” according to the Harvey’s website.
After Milk’s assassination and a fire that nearly destroyed the building in 1988, the owner rebranded and reopened the restaurant in Milk’s memory. Historic photos and other memorabilia of the Castro neighborhood’s storied LGBTQ history decorated the walls of the bar to this day.
“Harvey’s is an iconic restaurant & location in the Castro,” state Sen. Scott Wiener shared on Twitter. “As a 25 year resident of the neighborhood, I’m heartbroken it’s closing & hope it’ll reopen soon as a new restaurant or bar. My office will be available to the laid off workers to help them obtain unemployment benefits.”
Harvey’s, which opened in 1996, was named after Supervisor Harvey Milk.
Christy M. via Yelp
Many fans of the bar also reacted to the sudden closure with dismay. Harvey’s did not respond to SFGATE’s request for comment in time for publication.
“Harvey’s helped me fall completely in love with SF and was woven into the fabric of my 5+ years living there,” commented one patron on the Instagram announcement. “Thank you for all the memories. I’ll miss you.”
The reason for the closure, as manager David Facer told the San Francisco Chronicle, was due to the challenges of operating during the pandemic over the past few years. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)
“Harvey’s is an anchor business and home to countless memories for so many Castro residents,” wrote District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman on Twitter. “This is a huge loss for the neighborhood and I hope to see a new gay bar or restaurant open there soon.”
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