Bottom of the Hill closing at the end of 2026 after 35 years

Bottom of the Hill, the legendary Potrero Hill rock club that's been a launching pad for emerging artists and a central hub for San Francisco's independent music scene, will close at the end of the year after three decades.

State of play: Owners Ramona Downey, Kathleen Owen and Lynn Schwarz confirmed the decision in a heartfelt Instagram post Friday evening, sharing that next New Year's Eve will be the venue's final show.

• In an interview with the new media outlet Coyote, they described the choice as one of the hardest they've ever made, citing a mix of personal reasons, operating challenges and the common refrain reiterated by too many live music venue owners nowadays: People aren't going out as much anymore.

The big picture: Its loss not only underscores the mounting pressures facing independent music spaces, but also signals a deeper erosion of the city's counterculture rock 'n' roll scene — a lineage already marked by the erasure of places like the Hemlock Tavern (RIP).

Over its 35-year run, Bottom of the Hill has hosted thousands of musicians and helped launch careers that would go on to redefine rock music.

• Shows from the '90s and early 2000s by Elliott Smith, Green Day, Oasis, Neutral Milk Hotel and The Strokes represent just a fraction of the acts that are now part of the venue's legacy — preserved on its walls in posters and pictures that double as a living archive — alongside countless local bands who cut their teeth on its low stage, sticky floors and stiff drinks.

Nadia's thought bubble: It's the end of an era, one that I don't want to end. There's uncertainty about what comes next, but a lingering hope remains that the space could still live on as a music venue.

• It could be saved as is with the right, trusted people taking over. The owner trio is also considering leasing the space to good intentioned folks seeking to revive it as a new venue. Many options (sans a developer bulldozing the historic building) are currently on the table.

What's next: Check out this year's upcoming lineup of farewell shows. If you've never attended a show here, don't miss an opportunity to do so before it's too late.