The Tenderloin’s neon-lit, pool-centered rock-and-roll motel is taking a final bow. The Phoenix Hotel will close on Jan. 1, 2026, ending nearly 40 years as a reliable crash pad for touring bands and night-owl travelers. The 44-room spot will remain open for bookings and a series of farewell events through the end of this year, giving loyalists one last chance before the lights go out. For many, losing the Phoenix feels like saying goodbye to one of San Francisco’s last true rock-tour sanctuaries.
Lease, losses, and neighborhood concerns
Owner Chip Conley and his partners will not renew the land lease that expires Jan. 1, citing pandemic-era financial losses and worsening street conditions in the Tenderloin, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
A refuge for touring bands
The Phoenix made its name by rolling out the red carpet for road crews, think free tour-bus parking, late-night parties, and poolside raves. The guest list reads like a Rock Hall of Fame: David Bowie, Neil Young, Kurt Cobain, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, and plenty more. The lore even includes a grim epilogue: Cobain was said to be carrying Phoenix stationery after his death, a detail recounted in coverage of the hotel’s heyday by SFGATE.
One last run of parties
Expect a send-off worthy of the Phoenix’s social life: poetry readings, poolside DJs, and a block party are on the calendar through December and into New Year’s. The hotel will remain open for reservations through the end of its lease, according to AXIOS San Francisco.
Who now owns the land
The property’s parcel was sold in 2024 to the San Francisco Baking Institute, led by pastry chef Michel Suas, for roughly $9.1 million. Conley and his partners kept the Phoenix brand and explored lease terms with the new owner, but ultimately chose not to continue, as they sold the business to pastry chef Michel Suas, as cited by Hoodline.
Lawsuit and the Tenderloin’s troubles
The Phoenix also joined a 2024 lawsuit accusing the city of effectively creating a “containment zone” for drug activity in parts of the Tenderloin, conditions that owners say made it tougher to run a small, hospitality-focused business. The San Francisco Chronicle reported details of the filing and Conley’s comments…