Zeitgeist, now in its 40th year in the Mission, may soon be expanding.
An ABC notice recently posted in a front window indicates that the dive bar's owners, RBCC Inc., have applied to expand its liquor license.
The application was processed late last month and is under review. If approved, a new license could be issued in 60 to 90 days.
The additional space would include an adjacent area at 80 Duboce Ave., the parcel on the other side of the beer garden's wall that features a mural of dancing pink elephants.
Several media reports assert that the space, formerly a sheet metal shop, was purchased by Zeitgeist in 2016, but general manager Angela Scott said that building was purchased by a separate party in 2016.
Post-expansion, Scott said the bar will continue to be beer-focused and will be "an improvement of what Zeitgeist already is."
She said the team is currently working on the general concept of what the expansion will look like, but noted that it will likely involve cutting a doorway in the wall with the pink pachyderms.
The expansion zone—approximately equal in size to Zeitgeist's beer garden—will extend the bar's indoor square footage to create "a nice space for people to go into during the wintertime," said Scott.
"We are really hoping to come up with a concept that our friends and customers will really love," she said. "This end of Valencia Street could use a little livening up."
Scott said the expansion would be a way to celebrate some of the bar's recent successes, like winning a discretionary review to preserve sunlight in its beer garden and obtaining legacy business status.
"I think people really enjoy coming here," said Scott. "They love the beer selection and the backyard, and I can't see this as a bad thing. I only see this as a positive addition to our fun time here at Zeitgeist."
While waiting for the expansion, Scott said customers can enjoy a new change—as of yesterday, two pinball machines have returned due to popular demand: "Theater of Magic," and "Metallica."
