Goodbye, Beauty Bar. Hello, Til-Two

After four years in business, salon/watering hole the Beauty Bar in City Heights will be throwing their farewell party on September 26. While he declined to talk about specifics, Beauty bartender Peter Kalker notes that he has observed the scene at the bar shift from bustling hipster electro-dance nights to a more indie and rock-and-roll crowd. Many who once flocked to Beauty Bar to see Shark Attack, Adam Salter, Gabe Vega, and Corey Biggs now frequent newer (and more centrally located) venues such as Voyeur, El Dorado, and Fluxx.

“Ten or 15 years ago you had the Ken and the Casbah for live music,” says Kalker, who has worked at the Beauty Bar for the past two-and-a-half years. “Now, you have 15 or more venues besides the big ones.”

Past noteworthy shows at the chain bar (with locations in nine major cities) include Mickey Avalon, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, and Transfer. Owner Sara Knook was unavailable for comment.

Three blocks south, Tower Bar proprietor Mick Rossler describes his vision for the future of the space, which he bought under Ron Ro Enterprises, a partnership between Rossler and bartender Thaddeus Robles. They plan to replace the hair-drying chairs with booths, add a few taps, post a temporary liquor license, and open the doors October 1 as the Til-Two Club. The bar will be modeled after a venue of the same name that occupied the space in the 1940s.

Wearing a shirt that reads, “I support Boozefighters — San Diego,” Australian-born Rossler shows me a few photos of the old Til-Two Club on his website. He suspects the black-and-white tiles and square glass blocks constituting much of the front wall have been painted over, so he intends to unveil them. Live music is booked beginning October 9, including some performers originally slated to play the Beauty Bar. Rossler envisions “friendly bartenders, consistent drinks, just a comfortable place.”

The Til-Two Club will be throwing their grand-opening party on Halloween.