In an Instagram post this week, the bar assured loyal patrons that this is strictly a short-term closure, writing: “We might be covered in dust, but we’re doing it for the whiskey. Aero Club is getting a little love behind the bar - we’ll be back open November 26th and better than ever. See you soon, same whiskey soaked soul, just a few more bolts tightened.”
Photos shared by the bar show shelves stripped bare and hundreds of whiskey bottles temporarily removed from behind the bar - a rare sight at a place famed for its staggering collection of more than 1,200 labels. The message from the team is clear: this cleanup is about care, not change.
The update fits Aero Club’s long history of balancing tradition with subtle evolution. Originally opened in 1947 by pioneering pilot Mariam Profit as a watering hole for fellow aviators and aircraft workers, the bar has since become one of San Diego’s most iconic dives - best known for its aviation memorabilia, red leather booths, and whiskey selection that rivals any bar in the country.
After changing hands several times, Aero Club was taken over in 2018 by cousins Chad Cline and Jason “Rocky” Nichols - the third-generation operators of Little Italy’s historic Waterfront Bar & Grill, home to San Diego’s first post-Prohibition liquor license. Under their ownership, the bar has preserved its classic mid-century atmosphere while expanding its whiskey offerings and adding Dyno Bar, a retro arcade concept next door that opened in 2019.
While the owners haven’t detailed the exact scope of the current work, regulars can expect a refreshed space that maintains Aero’s signature charm. The brief closure is part of the team’s ongoing commitment to keeping San Diego’s dive bar culture alive - lovingly maintained, never over-polished.
Aero Club is located at 3365 India Street in San Diego’s Middletown neighborhood. The bar is expected to reopen Tuesday, November 26, 2025. For more information, visit aeroclubbar.com.
Originally published on November 2, 2025.
