The Local's owners, part of the Social Syndicate group, recently sent an email to certain business vendors notifying them of their closure and stating they were unable to fulfill outstanding financial obligations. Although the email stated the restaurant would shutter on June 30, it still remains open. The shutdown, which was not announced on any of the company's social media channels, will mark the end of a 22-year run for the sports bar and pub, which had become a downtown staple since first opening in 2003. A copy of the email, reviewed by SanDiegoVille and copied below, shows that The Local cited "circumstances beyond our control."
Timestead will feature a full beverage program for the first time in Modern Times' history, thanks to a newly acquired liquor license. In addition to the brand's renowned craft beer and roasted coffee, the bar will offer creative coffee-forward cocktails like espresso martinis and Carajillos, along with new drinks that reinterpret classic Modern Times beer names through a cosmic lens. There will also be a full food menu that moves beyond the vegan-exclusive offerings that have become a staple at other locations.
The culinary program will mirror that of the revamped Modern Times Far West Lounge in Encinitas, which expanded beyond plant-based comfort food to include non-vegan sandwiches and flatbreads. The drink lineup will include guest beers and spirits from other local producers, with an emphasis on community collaboration and showcasing regional talent.
Sports will also play a larger role at Timestead than in any prior Modern Times location, but with a curated twist. The bar will embrace what it's calling the "Three Ps": Premier League, Padres, and Packers - paying homage to The Local's Green Bay ties, San Diego’s baseball loyalty, and the city’s growing interest in international soccer. Expect English Premier League matchdays, retro sports visuals, and a curated match calendar promoted via the newly launched @moderntimespubs social media hub. According to Ward, sports will be shown intentionally and inclusively during major matches, while screens will display static images and art at other times to maintain the laid-back vibe.
Beyond drinks and sports, Timestead is positioning itself as a cultural hub. The bar is collaborating with Hometown Wave, the San Diego brand behind San Diego FC’s away kit, on a limited-edition merch line that will be available onsite. Additionally, a partnership with Vinyl Record Rarities will bring a reel-to-reel vinyl system and analog music sessions to the space, including pop-up DJ sets and listening parties.
The former Resident Brewing back bar will be reborn as a flexible private event space, accessible via a possible speakeasy-style entrance. Modern Times is also exploring a revival of brewing operations on-site using the existing 10-barrel brewhouse left behind by Resident. A canning line may be added to enable to-go beer sales, and the underground footprint with extensive dry and cold storage will support the expanded operation.
On the outside, a large wheatpaste mural is in the works - merging decades of Modern Times can art with Padres imagery, vintage football posters, and sci-fi iconography, all wrapped into the Timestead theme. While the brand is now operated by Duncan Ward, a hospitality veteran with more than 30 restaurant and bar openings under his belt, Maui Brewing remains a silent equity holder following its acquisition of Modern Times in 2022. The coffee and hospitality divisions now fall under Ward’s Modern Times Pub arm, while day-to-day beer operations are led by Josh Landan of Wings & Arrow, in partnership with AleSmith Brewing for contract production.
This downtown opening comes as The Local relocates to the former Bootlegger spot in East Village, aiming for a more sustainable footprint. Meanwhile, Modern Times continues to evolve after closing its original Point Loma brewery in late 2024 and shifting operations to AleSmith in Miramar. Tasting rooms in North Park and Encinitas remain operational, and the brand’s Far West Lounge was recently reimagined under the new hospitality model.
Modern Times Timestead is expected to open in late summer 2025 at 1065 Fourth Avenue in downtown San Diego. For more information, visit moderntimesbeer.com.
Originally published on July 3, 2025.
