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San Francisco’s Iconic Phoenix Hotel to Close on January 1, 2026

The closure follows years of pandemic losses alongside an expiring land lease, leaving redevelopment plans by the new Baking Institute owner unclear.

The Phoenix Hotel, in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, has a lore of attracting rock musicians, including Kurk Cobain, into its rooms.
People pass by the Phoenix Hotel on Eddy Street in San Francisco in 2024.
FILE: San Francisco’s Phoenix Hotel in the Tenderloin.
Chip Conley poses for a portrait at the Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco in 2024. Conley, who owns the hotel, said it will be closing.

Overview

  • The Phoenix Hotel will cease operations on January 1, 2026, when its long-term land lease expires.
  • Operator Chip Conley says the hotel has run at a loss since the pandemic due to chaotic Tenderloin street conditions and a weak hospitality market.
  • Michel Suas’s San Francisco Baking Institute purchased the property in 2024 for $9.1 million but has yet to outline repurposing plans.
  • Conley and his partners retain ownership of the Phoenix name and brand, meaning the new owner would need to buy naming rights to continue under the iconic moniker.
  • Throughout 2025, the hotel is hosting a series of farewell events and parties celebrating its counterculture and music heritage.