A watering hole and eatery beloved by a certain segment of downtown workers, once known for its collection of Tiffany lamps and suspended vintage motorcycles, is closing its doors at the end of June after its rent has tripled in the last six years.
Eddie Rickenbacker's is calling it quits and planning to relocate to a space in the Transbay Transit Center, and its space of 37 years at 133 Second Street is evidently going to be taken over by a higher-end restaurant and bar concept — one that can afford upwards of $25,000/month in rent, as the Chronicle reports.
Unlike some other legacy businesses that have been pushed out of existence in recent years, we're not likely to hear too much outcry about Eddie Rick's and how its (temporary?) demise is further evidence that San Francisco has lost its soul. This is a bar that landed on a list of the city's "douchiest" bars a few years back, and that was after some new owners took the place over and stripped it of its character (the aforementioned lamps and motorcycles) and added some chandeliers. Also, long gone is the fat orange cat named Mr. Higgins who used to reside there.
But co-owner Noelle Calixto tells the Chronicle that they're not shutting down for lack of business — it's just that rent hikes have cut majorly into their profits, and now it's not sustainable. The bar will serve its last beers on June 30.
We'll update you when we learn who the new tenant may be, or if there will actually be a new Eddie Rick's in the Transit Center.