Two beloved Mission bars are up for sale

The future of two beloved Mission bars is up in the air.

Why it matters: The Make-Out Room and Latin American Club have been fixtures of our nightlife scene for decades, serving as gathering spots for musicians, artists and neighborhood regulars.

Driving the news: Owner Martin Rapalski is looking to sell both businesses after more than 30 years in the bar industry, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

• The Make-Out Room, which Rapalski opened in 1996, became a launching pad for local musicians and hosted early performances by artists including Norah Jones, Death Cab for Cutie, Tracy Chapman and the Decemberists.
• The venues built a reputation as community spaces where musicians also often worked behind the bar. Amy Morris Gibbs, who's managed both establishments for 18 years, told the Chronicle she estimates about 80% of their staff has been made up of working musicians.

The big picture: Losing either venue would be a major blow to San Francisco's independent music scene, which is already grappling with the uncertain futures of longtime institutions like Bottom of the Hill and Thee Parkside.

• Bottom of the Hill, which is for sale, will close at the end of the year after three decades. Thee Parkside announced its last day will be July 5.

Between the lines: Rapalski told the Chronicle he's ready to retire and move abroad. The venues remain profitable and have attracted several interested buyers, giving hope they'll survive under new ownership.

• The Make-Out Room is listed for $450,000. The Latin American Club: $350,000.

The bottom line: For many locals, the transition is yet another test of whether the city's independent music institutions can endure as the people who built them step away.

💭 My thought bubble: If there's one success story of a bar we can look to that faced a similar fate, it's Kilowatt. Here's to holding out hope.