Good News, San Diego’s First Alcohol-Free Bar In Hillcrest, Now Temporarily Closed After Cryptic Public Shake-Up

San Diego’s first dedicated alcohol-free bar, Good News, has only been open for a month, but the Hillcrest hotspot is already facing a shake-up. The bar's website now states it is "closed for now, but not for long," and it is listed as "temporarily closed" on Google. This comes after a series of cryptic Instagram posts, when the bar's most visible and widely publicized founders announced that they would "no longer be operating the bar" after a three-year journey to bring the project to life.

When Good News opened in Hillcrest in mid-July, the bar quickly earned attention for its colorful cocktails, curated playlists, and youthful energy. Local press outlets framed the narrative around Kaylee and Crystal Clark, who were portrayed as the creative duo behind the buzzy new spot. Coverage highlighted their design sense, hospitality background, and ties to the nightlife community.

But a closer look at public records tells a different story. California Secretary of State public records show that the sole manager of Good News Bar LLC was not either of the Clarks, but San Diego entrepreneur Ality Richardson. This connection was never mentioned in press articles about Good News, despite Richardson being the listed manager in all state public filings.

The Clarks, both former bartenders who left drinking culture behind after their own recoveries, were the face of the concept from the start - documenting its build-out on social media, speaking publicly about their sobriety, and championing San Diego’s sober-curious movement. Their sudden departure, paired with vague messaging, left many followers wondering if Good News was closing.

In a direct response to SanDiegoVille, the Good News Instagram clarified: "No, we’re not closing … Kaylee and I are no longer operating the bar." A later post confirmed that on August 19, following a successful first month, the pair were informed their roles operating the bar were no longer needed, effective immediately. While they remain minority owners, they stated they will no longer be present behind the bar.

Good News LLC's managing member Ality Richardson is the founder of lifestyle brand Ality Designs and a long-time advocate for sobriety and LGBTQ+ visibility. Richardson, who announced last year that Ality Designs would be opening a flagship retail presence inside Good News, is now believed to be the bar's principal operator. We reached out to Richardson for more information but did not receive a response.

The Hillcrest venue - hailed as San Diego’s first true non-alcoholic bar - has quickly built buzz by embracing the increasingly popular alcohol-free ethos and offering zero-proof cocktails, functional beverages, and lively events that encourage connection without booze. In their farewell announcement, the Clarks expressed gratitude to the community and shared hopes that Good News would continue to uphold its founding values. They described their exit as a "pivot" and said all questions about operations should now be directed to the on-site team.

Now, with the bar’s website signaling a pause in service - accompanied by a Mac Miller quote about smiling through life's changes - the future of Good News is unclear. Whether this is a short-term reset or the early end of a highly publicized concept remains to be seen.

What’s clear is that the bar is at a crossroads just weeks after its highly anticipated debut. With the spotlight now on Richardson, San Diego will be watching closely to see how Good News navigates this transition and whether it can maintain the same community-driven energy that fueled its launch.

Good News is located at 3821 Park Boulevard in San Diego's Hillcrest. For more information, visit goodnewssd.com.

Originally published on August 19, 2025. Updated on August 21, 2025.