Harvey’s, the LGBTQ bar and restaurant that has welcomed tourists and patrons to the Castro for more than a quarter century, closed abruptly late Sunday, a blow to a queer neighborhood that has increasingly empty storefronts.
The restaurant pays tribute to late supervisor Harvey Milk, who promoted the neighborhood’s LGBTQ identity and built a business with him 50 years ago. Located at the key intersection of 18th and Castro Streets, its closure was marked as a sad milestone as it housed many Milk memorabilia in addition to his name.
“Harvey’s is both Castro’s iconic restaurant and place,” said Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), a gay man who represented Castro on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. “As someone who has lived in the neighborhood for 25 years, I am heartbroken that this store will close. could be used to help people obtain unemployment benefits.”
In the Milk Age, Harvey’s was called Elephant Walk and first opened in 1974. Disco Her Drag Her Queen songstress Sylvester performed there, and early on May 22, 1979, became the scene of retaliation when San Francisco police officers came and attacked patrons. The downtown White Nights riots were a response to milk murderer Dan White being sentenced to just seven years for his crimes (White said he served five years before committing suicide). .)
After most of it was destroyed by fire in the late 1980s, Elephant Walk needed a major makeover. Harvey’s was opened in this space in his 1996 by property owner Paul Langley, who refused to renew the lease on Elephant Walk.
Harvey’s closure was announced to the public early on Jan. 22 via a statement written on a chalkboard on the side of the business, where a happier message was common.
“This is our last working day,” the statement read. “What’s next? I don’t know, but I know I miss you all!”
A spokesperson for Harvey’s declined to comment to the Bay Area Reporter for this report, and issued a further statement about the closure.
Business closures have been a persistent problem at Castro for years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated it. A block away from Harvey’s, the Badlands nightclub he closed in 2020 and has not reopened. Also, the El Capitan Taqueria location at the intersection of 18th and Collingwood streets closed just a week before Harvey’s.
Rafael Mandelman, supervisor of the Castro Merchants Association and Gay District 8, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
Please help us keep the Bay Area Reporter active during this difficult time. Consider becoming a BAR member to support local independent LGBTQ journalism.
