When the Lodge, an Oakland dive bar known for its friendly neighborhood vibe and cozy hunting lodge decor, reopened April 17 after a monthslong closure, its new owners didn’t make announcements beyond telling some friends.
But word quickly spread through the neighborhood. At one point, the bar at 3758 Piedmont Ave. was packed, co-owner Kris Gordon said. “There was a lady who drove by and yelled at the top of her lungs, ‘Oh, my God, the Lodge is open, f— yeah! ’” he said.
The Lodge had been a mainstay for almost 10 years when its previous owner, Alexeis Filipello, closed it in January, citing financial struggles. Then two members of the East Bay bar scene, Gordon, a bartender at Lucky 13 in Alameda, and Chris Cashin, the owner of Boathouse in Alameda, put in a successful bid to take it over — in part by promising not to change the soul of the place, including its taxidermy-rich, wood-paneled interior…