Black & Grey Atelier announced the handoff on Instagram last month describing the lounge as “officially handed over” to the “incredible new zero-proof bar” and emphasizing that the tattoo studio will continue operating independently “shoulder-to-shoulder” with the new concept. In the announcement, The Polished Pigeon positioned itself as a mission-driven gathering space built by sober founders who say they’re tired of social life revolving around “drinking culture and escaping from life,” and who want to prioritize “collaboration over competition” and “connection over isolation,” while insisting they never wanted to create a bar that “profits from the stories of people in recovery.”
On its face, The Polished Pigeon fits a growing trend in San Diego nightlife: alcohol-free venues and “sober-curious” events that cater to people who don’t drink for recovery, health, faith, or simple preference. The Clarks’ messaging also aims directly at community-building rather than mocktail gimmickry, describing the space as “acceptance,” “love,” and a “new wave” of people who believe they’re meant to be interconnected, with the bar’s identity rooted as much in belonging as it is in beverages.
But The Polished Pigeon’s opening isn’t happening in a vacuum, and the Clarks aren’t just another pair of founders entering the zero-proof space. They are the same duo who spent years building the identity and audience for Good News in Hillcrest, a bar that opened in mid-July 2025 to heavy buzz, a strong social media following, and a public narrative that cast the Clarks as the heart of a first-of-its-kind alcohol-free destination for San Diego’s recovery and queer communities.
That narrative detonated almost immediately after opening, evolving into an ongoing legal fight that both sides have framed in starkly different terms. Court filings in the dispute identify Good News Bar LLC as controlled by majority owner Ality Richardson (51%), with the Clarks holding the remaining stake (49%), and the case has included claims and counterclaims centered on ownership control, alleged broken promises, access to social accounts and brand assets, and accusations of misconduct and reputational sabotage, with the conflict playing out not only in filings but in social media posts, dueling Instagram identities, supporter campaigns, and fundraising efforts.
According to prior reporting and the parties’ claims as summarized in those filings, the Clarks have alleged they were promised day-to-day operational control and compensation tied to the concept they built, only to be removed from their roles weeks after launch. Richardson, in turn, has alleged the Clarks attempted to undermine her controlling stake and interfere with operations, including disputes over social media control and communications that played out publicly as the bar’s identity splintered across multiple accounts and narratives.
The result is that Good News, which opened as a feel-good sobriety story, became a cautionary tale almost overnight: a community-centered concept consumed by internal power struggles, public grievance posting, and an audience suddenly asked to choose sides in a business divorce. Whether someone viewed the saga as a founder betrayal or the predictable consequence of selling majority ownership, the story became less about alcohol-free nightlife and more about who “owned” the mission, the message, and the community that rallied behind it.
Now, with The Polished Pigeon, the Clarks appear to be stepping back into public-facing hospitality under a new banner, in a new neighborhood, with a new partner space, while the Good News legal fight remains part of the backdrop. And while the Polished Pigeon’s launch materials lean toward earnest, spiritual, community language, its origin story will inevitably be read through the lens of the Hillcrest fallout, especially by the same sober and queer communities that were mobilized during the Good News breakup.
Beyond the opening itself, The Polished Pigeon is already marketing events that signal what kind of venue it intends to be. One upcoming collaboration with Camp Bloom Coffee is billed as a Valentine’s-themed “Queer Valentine Wellness & Gathering,” blending Pilates and breathwork with non-alcoholic cocktails, DJ sets, and daytime social programming, alongside pop-ups like tarot readings, face painting, and a flower bar designed to support local vendors. It’s the kind of daytime-to-evening, lifestyle-forward community event that mirrors what Good News originally promised, but with a clear attempt to build a new identity outside the Hillcrest shadow.
The Polished Pigeon’s grand opening is scheduled for Friday, February 6, 2026, at 1450 Market Street in San Diego's East Village. For more information, follow @polishedpigeon.sd on Instagram.
Originally published on February 5, 2026.