The Second Coming of Toad Hall?
During the filming of Gus van Sant's Milk, legendary Castro Street bar Toad Hall was recreated at its old address. Now, it appears that nostalgia has taken hold and another bar bearing the same name is going up around the corner. Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...
At least they replaced that god-awful rainbow awning that was up there forever on the vacant bar, but somehow I doubt this revision will open either.
Posted by: Michael | Jun 20, 2008 5:10:11 PM
Word to that. That rainbow awning and sign were offensively ugly. God-awful is right.
I hope this new bar has something to distinguish it from the others in the Castro. Frankly, I think it's high time for a country/cowboy bar in the Castro. (The old Badlands doesn't count.)
Posted by: Willo | Jun 20, 2008 5:23:02 PM
Didn't this used to be a bar for African American men and others seeking them? It was an oasis of diversity in the otherwise whiter-than-white Castro. Hope it doesn't turn into another Midnight Sun.
Posted by: Robert | Jun 20, 2008 5:38:48 PM
If it's like his "Patio" restaurant, it will sit idle for another eight years before Natali does anything with it. The Patio (on Castro Street, near 18th) used to be a lively place for brunch on the weekends, but it was shut down for remodeling around the turn of the millennium, and very little has been done to bring it back to life.
"The Pendulum" was a busy B&W bar for years, then when the um, incident (alleged discrimination) at his Badlands bar across the street from the Pendulum happened, that bar was suddenly put into "remodel" mode about 3 years ago. Work was done on the bar, and signs promised reopening soon. It's never happened. I'd say, changing it to "Toad Hall" will never finish either.
Badlands was remodeled some years ago, and the clientele shifted markedly younger. As an early 40-something I felt OLD going in there, and someone mentioned that when I was there (the bitch!) so they lost MY business.
But man, I'd love to have half the money Natali must be paying in rent/mortgages/taxes to have TWO empty places in the heart of the Castro. I could retire pretty darn happy! Heck, I might even be able to afford open a bar myself!
Posted by: I'm_Not_Old | Jun 20, 2008 5:56:06 PM
The URL on the awning toadhallbar.com leads to a placeholder page for the domain registrar. So no clues there. Meh...
Let's hope it just turns into something more than an empty space again.
Posted by: Bearotic | Jun 20, 2008 5:57:15 PM
Meh. The Castro is so tired. Maybe this will be an improvement but the whole place needs a chlorine flush.
Posted by: Tweety | Jun 20, 2008 7:09:54 PM
Oh, and The Patio is rumored to be the latest in "The Abbey" chain.
Posted by: Tweety | Jun 20, 2008 7:12:10 PM
Mr. Natali OWNS most of the real estate that his businesses are on so he can let them rot if he wants to. He came into that Castro neighborhood and realized that there was no need for fancy restaurants (drunks don’t care what they eat as long as it’s cheap). No need for trendy bars (drunks don’t care what a bar looks like as long as the drinks are STRONG and CHEAP!). SO now the Castro has become the shit hole of every one’s dreams. Fall down drunks 7 nights a week and all day Saturday and Sunday. Come watch the drunks destroy the community with litter, drunk driving and late night shrieking. Thanks Les!
Posted by: ggreen | Jun 20, 2008 8:20:30 PM
The Pendulum is closed! Oh My God! That was my favourite bar when I lived at Castro and 19th. I used to pull and be able to walk people around the corner home before they discovered they were on their way to a fuck at my place. I live in London now and haven't been back to San Francisco in 13 years. Oh, well, I do hope that things change around there and good bars replace bad ones.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 20, 2008 8:37:09 PM
That asshole Natali is just looking to capitalize on the MILK movie coming out.
Since Toad Hall will be prominently featured in the movie, tourists will come to town looking for that bar, which translates to instant free advertising and business.
Natali is a money hungry sleazebag.
Posted by: jd | Jun 21, 2008 6:38:34 PM
When I saw that Las Vegas had topped SF Castro as the #1 gay travel destination I knew something was wrong. The Castro nightlife has NOTHING to offer if you don’t drink. Really nothing unless you are a binge drinker. Most Castro bars are full of undesirable straights and fag hags (over 33% it is no longer a gay bar). The streets are filthy and littered with trash and aggressive homeless folks. Never any sign of the police anywhere.
Posted by: hootn | Jun 21, 2008 7:01:29 PM
agreed, the word is that thank god the "rainbow awning" is gone away. BTW, the "old Toad haal" was not as pictured. The bar pictured is now 44 castro, formally know as Daddy's. The former Toad hall is now a part of Walgreen's Phamacy. (for tohse of you living in the 'hood. it's the second floor).
Posted by: sftom0917 | Jun 22, 2008 3:14:57 PM