The Lodge, a neighborhood bar on Piedmont Avenue, has officially been taken over under new ownership in Oakland at 3758 Piedmont Avenue.
The bar was officially set to close on January 31, 2026, after operating for nearly 10 years, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Former owner Alexeis Filipello previously announced the closure on Instagram in November 2025, citing ongoing financial struggles following the COVID-19 pandemic. What Now earlier reported on the bar’s unexpected closure and the community response surrounding it. Filipello said business had not rebounded after the pandemic and that the bar had been struggling for months leading up to the closure.
“Like many small businesses in the Bay Area, we have barely been able to make ends meet,” according to a GoFundMe started by the company. “We were hit hard during the pandemic, and our business just hasn’t bounced back. It’s the last thing we want to do, but we just can’t sustain ourselves. you know the story…..rising costs, lack of customers, blah blah blah. We had a good run, but it’s time to say goodbye. We will be closing our doors in January and having a huge auction and fundraiser to pay our closing costs, etc., so if you have had your eye on anything, let us know!!
One day after closing, Filipello announced that the Lodge would reopen under new ownership. The transition came together quickly after interested operators reached out and were later connected with the landlord. The new owners are Chris Cashin, owner of Boathouse, and Kris Gordon, a longtime bartender at Lucky 13. After learning the Lodge was closing, Cashin and Gordon contacted Filipello to explore taking over the space. The pair plan to retain as much of the existing staff as possible.
The owners intend to keep the bar largely the same, with a few operational updates. Planned changes include adding an in-house food menu and opening during daytime hours for the first time. During the day, the Lodge will offer lighter items such as salads, sandwiches, juices, and nonalcoholic drinks, while heartier food options are planned for dinner service.
The bar will continue hosting food popups, though less frequently than before, and will allow children during daytime hours before returning to a 21-and-up policy around 8 p.m. The only interior update planned is the addition of banquettes to increase seating. The new owners are aiming to reopen the Lodge in March or April 2026.
