The latest twist in the Good News drama? A new Instagram page, @goodnewssd.justice, demanding the reinstatement of Crystal and Kaylee - the duo once marketed as the "heart and soul" of Good News - after they were removed from bartending and day-to-day operations less than one month into the opening. Posts on the page accuse majority ownership of silencing critics, muting Instagram comments, and betraying the very community that helped propel the bar’s opening buzz.
"Return creative authority to Crystal and Kaylee," the account declares, promising to publish one community-written letter a day until the supposed injustice is corrected. The first letter reads like a middle school slam book entry: "The MAIN reason to go for us was because of their inspiration and being sober and relatable and rad. Why would they be taken out of that? It seems so selfish and unfair - ya know?" Signed, "The Good News Community."
The "Justice" page is now calling for a boycott, despite the fact that the Clarks reportedly gave up a controlling stake in the business before the first drink (or non-drink) was ever poured. Public records confirm the actual managing member of Good News Bar LLC is entrepreneur and lifestyle designer Ality Richardson, who has remained mostly quiet while the ousted bartenders and their supporters flood Instagram with emotional manifestos.
In the days after their removal, Good News temporarily closed and the Clarks launched a GoFundMe campaign, asking supporters to help them cover personal and financial expenses while they regroup. At the same time, they appear to have taken control of the original Good News Instagram account, renaming it (ironically to @goodvibes.sd) and using it to air their side of the story.
In the days after their removal, Good News temporarily closed and the Clarks launched a GoFundMe campaign, asking supporters to help them cover personal and financial expenses while they regroup. At the same time, they appear to have taken control of the original Good News Instagram account, renaming it (ironically to @goodvibes.sd) and using it to air their side of the story.
In response, Richardson launched a new page under the handle @goodnewsbarsd, where she issued a statement apologizing for the abrupt transition and reaffirming her commitment to the bar’s mission of sobriety, inclusion, and community support. The bar itself reopened late last month with Richardson at the helm, quoting Mac Miller on Instagram: "Life goes on, days get brighter."
The saga has become prime fodder for social media and Reddit, where locals have responded with more exasperation than sympathy. "These people sound insufferable," one commenter wrote, while another not-so-sensitively quipped: "Sounds like they all could use some alcohol." Others pointed out the obvious - when you sell the majority of your business, you lose control of it. One top comment summed it up bluntly: "The bartender/bar manager who owns 1% thinks they own the place."
For customers, the whole ordeal has overshadowed what Good News originally promised: a fun, alcohol-free space for people who don’t drink, whether for health, lifestyle, or personal reasons. Instead, patrons are now greeted with dueling Instagram feeds, boycotts, and donation requests.
In a city filled with great cocktail bars and breweries, Good News was supposed to be the sober alternative. Instead, it’s become a sobering reminder of how quickly community-driven ventures can collapse under the weight of personal grudges and overblown social media theatrics. And as some locals dryly observed, if it’s a non-alcoholic hangout you want, San Diego has a world-class coffee scene that never needed the drama.
Good News Bar is located at 3821 Park Boulevard in Hillcrest. For now, whether you show up for a zero-proof cocktail or steer clear out of solidarity depends less on your stance on alcohol and more on your tolerance for drama.
The saga has become prime fodder for social media and Reddit, where locals have responded with more exasperation than sympathy. "These people sound insufferable," one commenter wrote, while another not-so-sensitively quipped: "Sounds like they all could use some alcohol." Others pointed out the obvious - when you sell the majority of your business, you lose control of it. One top comment summed it up bluntly: "The bartender/bar manager who owns 1% thinks they own the place."
For customers, the whole ordeal has overshadowed what Good News originally promised: a fun, alcohol-free space for people who don’t drink, whether for health, lifestyle, or personal reasons. Instead, patrons are now greeted with dueling Instagram feeds, boycotts, and donation requests.
In a city filled with great cocktail bars and breweries, Good News was supposed to be the sober alternative. Instead, it’s become a sobering reminder of how quickly community-driven ventures can collapse under the weight of personal grudges and overblown social media theatrics. And as some locals dryly observed, if it’s a non-alcoholic hangout you want, San Diego has a world-class coffee scene that never needed the drama.
Good News Bar is located at 3821 Park Boulevard in Hillcrest. For now, whether you show up for a zero-proof cocktail or steer clear out of solidarity depends less on your stance on alcohol and more on your tolerance for drama.
Originally published on September 8, 2025.