Ginger’s Triumphantly Returns to San Francisco’s Financial District

Just over a month after Dana Marinelli joined the Future Bars team as a general manager, she approached the owners of the bar group with an idea that would need to be pulled off in a mere six weeks. What if they could resurrect Ginger’s, one of the Financial District’s last remaining queer bars, in time for San Francisco’s Pride weekend?

“Ginger’s is such an iconic queer space and the only queer space in the Financial District,” Marinelli says. “So I made a very, very passionate presentation to the CEO about reopening it for Pride.” Ginger’s has remained closed since the onset of the pandemic, when bars and restaurants were forced to close in March 2020. The bar underwent a renovation but has mostly sat dormant since, save for an occasional private party booking. Meanwhile, downtown San Francisco and the neighboring Financial District struggled to bounce back, especially with high office vacancy rates. But Marinelli says with other queer spaces reopening, such as the Stud in SoMa, and the increased focus on bringing business back to downtown, it seemed like a “natural, organic time” for the bar to make its return.

Ownership agreed, giving Marinelli the go-ahead to relaunch Ginger’s on Friday, June 28.

Future Bars is known for its strong cocktail program across its properties, including Bourbon and Branch, Pagan Idol, Dawn Club, and Lark Bar, among others. Ginger’s is no different. “This is the most stellar cocktail program I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of,” Marinelli says. Queen Bee features tequila mixed with passionfruit, peach, vanilla, and a touch of habanero tincture for heat. Gina’s Diamonds is a drink dedicated to Gina LaDivina, a regular performer at Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, the Stud, and Oasis, who died on June 4. That drink spotlights peaflower gin, with hints of elderflower and lavender. Meanwhile, a drink named for Sister Bubbles Bathory of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is made with a nonalcoholic aperitif by Lyre, fassionola syrup, sparkling water, and “disco dust,” or, edible glitter. A portion of the drink’s proceeds will go towards supporting the sisters and their mission.

Bill Adams

Bill Adams

Bill Adams

Marinelli has a full slate of events for the weekend, starting with a blessing and ribbon cutting by Sister Bubbles Bathory, at 6 p.m. on opening day. The following party will be hosted by Miss Shugana and Madd-Dogg 20/20, with special guest performances throughout the night by Kylie Minono, MGM Grande, Laundra Tyme, and more, with food by Jungle Dog. On Saturday, June 29, doors will open at 9 p.m. with a party hosted by Teresa Giudcoochie and Tony OMFG of Iconique, with drag performances by Raya Light, Bionka Simone, and DJ Spazatron, also known as Suppositori Spelling. For Sunday, the day of the Pride parade, Ginger’s will open at 2 p.m. with a party hosted by Beloved San Francisco Drag Queen Elsa Touche (as her tagline states), with drag performances on the hour, and food by Emeli’s Pupusas. “I just feel so passionate about queer spaces,” Marinelli says. “I’m bringing drag back and burlesque back, and the program that I’m working on for Ginger’s for Pride is heavily BIPOC, queer POC, drag kings, drag queens — I’m feeling just so wonderful about the inclusivity.”

While Marinelli plans for a “very packed, spectacular weekend” for Ginger’s grand reopening, she does acknowledge that it’s not going to be a big production every day. “It’s always been an after-work place where you can chill and play pool and get a drink, and not have it be insane,” Marinelli says. “So I’d love to honor that, especially for the regulars that used to just come down for a beer.”

Ginger’s has long been a downtown institution that has evolved over the years, as Bay Area Reporter explains. First opening as Ginger’s Trois in December 1991, it changed ownership and name at various points, reborn as Ginger’s Too and eventually Ginger’s under the Future Bars group. Ginger’s eventually closed in 2008, and the original space changed into Rickhouse, with Ginger’s later relocating to the basement and reopening in 2017 before closing again in 2020.

With Marinelli leading Ginger’s comeback, she says the Future Bars team and many locals are excited about the revival. “Everyone just feels such a special way about it,” Marinelli says. “So I really want to pay homage to the history.”

Bill Adams

Ginger’s (86 Hardie Place) reopens on Friday, June 28, at 6 p.m. Tickets for events during Pride weekend can be found through Ginger’s Instagram, @gingerssf. Ginger’s regular hours of operation are to be announced via Instagram or through their website, Gingers.bar.