'It Was Worth The Fight': Popular SF Sports Bar Closes After 11 Years

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The San Francisco Athletic Club, an 11-year fixture on the corner of Divisadero and Bush Streets in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood, has shut its doors.

SF Athletic Club owners Miles Palliser and Ezra Berman posted a “Farewell” letter on their website, detailing the reasoning for their bar’s closing and expressing gratitude.

“It has been a tough road since the pandemic, but it was worth the fight,” they said. “Closing up shop has been one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make, mostly because we have not wanted to say goodbye to our incredible staff and amazing community.”

The bar was a hotspot for watching sports events while indulging in a drink or two, with menu faves such as margarita popcorn, Golden State nachos, “AC Famous” wings, and the SFAC burger.

“SFAC: Unofficially the Greatest Sports Bar of All Time,” its exterior marquee read.

Palliser and Berman confirmed that their now-unoccupied space at 1750 Divisadero St. will be in the hands of another operator, Mike Najjar, who plans to maintain the space as a sports bar.

“We have come to know Mike over the past few months and he is excited to bring his own version of a sports bar to the neighborhood. We wish him the best of luck,” they said.

In their letter, Palliser and Berman also thank their staff, their “super regulars,” and everyone else that has supported them over the years.

“We have had a truly incredible 11-year run, filled with excitement, laughter and some of the best moments in sports – all watched and celebrated together,” they said. “We end this chapter with a lifetime of memories we will cherish.”