The email, signed by a Social Syndicate representative, was reportedly sent to at least some vendors of the downtown venue. The message cited "circumstances beyond our control" as the reason for the permanent closure and expressed regret over the impact on vendors, though it offered no clarity on whether or how any outstanding debts would be resolved.
The Local’s founder, Mina Desiderio, responded angrily when asked about the email, telling SanDiegoVille, "F--- you" followed by a series of insulting messages. She later insisted that the downtown bar was still operating, and accused coverage of the situation of harming her business by suggesting otherwise. Desiderio also claimed that she owns Social Syndicate, the group behind several high-profile venues in San Diego, including Wonderland Ocean Pub, Monarch Ocean Pub, and OB Surf Lodge.
Despite the emailed claim that the business would shutter at the end of June, The Local remains in operation. Meanwhile, Modern Times Beer is preparing to take over the downtown space with a new concept called Timestead - a retro-futurist venue expected to open in mid-August. Social Syndicate is also planning to open a new iteration of The Local at the former Bootlegger space in East Village under what appears to be a new LLC with a new liquor license, staff, and structure. It's unclear whether this constitutes a true relocation or simply the opening of an entirely new business with the same name.
Sources close to the situation, speaking off the record, indicated that the new East Village venture is legally distinct from the shuttering downtown location. Any outstanding vendor debts, they suggested, would likely be addressed through escrow or collections. "There’s no magic button or email that makes debt disappear," one person familiar with the process said.
Social Syndicate is also moving ahead with an ambitious new project at the Coronado Ferry Landing - a 7,500-square-foot restaurant and event space slated to open by 2027. At the same time, the group’s Pacific Beach outpost of The Local remains open and reportedly very profitable.
Sources close to the situation, speaking off the record, indicated that the new East Village venture is legally distinct from the shuttering downtown location. Any outstanding vendor debts, they suggested, would likely be addressed through escrow or collections. "There’s no magic button or email that makes debt disappear," one person familiar with the process said.
Social Syndicate is also moving ahead with an ambitious new project at the Coronado Ferry Landing - a 7,500-square-foot restaurant and event space slated to open by 2027. At the same time, the group’s Pacific Beach outpost of The Local remains open and reportedly very profitable.
Mina Desiderio has acknowledged that The Local's downtown location has faced ongoing challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic, with financial strain limiting her ability to offer staff raises and prompting the decision to pursue a more sustainable space. Desiderio, who originally opened The Local in 2003 with her mother, partnered with Resident Brewing in 2015, investing over $2 million in a remodel that revitalized the venue. Resident Brewing, founded by James Langley, Scott Dickson, and Robert Masterson in 2016, operated as an extension of The Local until its closure in January 2025, which also marked the end of Empress Capital Investments’ hospitality group, once known for operating multiple venues including Wokou Ramen and Death By Tequila.
While it's not known how many vendors received the June 30 closure email, or whether any payments have been missed, the lack of transparency has sparked questions about how business transitions are being handled - and what obligations remain to those who supported the bar during its 22-year run downtown.
While it's not known how many vendors received the June 30 closure email, or whether any payments have been missed, the lack of transparency has sparked questions about how business transitions are being handled - and what obligations remain to those who supported the bar during its 22-year run downtown.
The Local Eatery & Drinking Hole is located at 1065 Fourth Ave in Downtown San Diego. For more information, visit thelocalsandiego.com.
Originally published on July 7, 2025.
