Just weeks after the closure of the Eagle Tavern, another South of Market night spot is undergoing ownership changes.
The EndUp club is being sold, but those involved say there won't be major changes to the business, which has drawn people for almost 40 years.
In response to emailed questions, Sydney Leung said that Ynez Stiener, one of his current business partners, and others are buying out him and other existing investors.
"They will continue the EndUp and its legacy for the last 38 years going forward," he said. The name of the EndUp, which Leung has described as "the premiere house music club in the world," befits its purpose. Many people go after 2 a.m., when other venues have closed.
The club was listed in January 2010 for $1.8 million. Neither Leung nor Stiener would say for how much the business, which includes the liquor license and assets, is being sold.
Leung, who has owned the bar since 2005, said the bar is in escrow, pending liquor license transfer and entertainment permit applications.
Stiener, 41, and whose legal first name is Agnes, said she has already been part owner of the EndUp, and Leung said she has been in charge of producing events and some aspects of the club, which is at 401 Sixth Street, since 2005.
Stiener describes herself as "a big advocate of LGBT rights" and said anyone concerned about big changes has "nothing to worry about."
"We want to continue basically the same life," she said. " ... There's not going to be a whole lot of drastic changes, other than making it better for the community."
Stiener said she and others would work to make the club look "cleaner" and improvements would include better sound and lighting.
Concerns about bar changes have taken center stage in recent weeks, largely because of the closure of the Eagle, which had been in existence for 30 years. However, the situation at the EndUp is different, Stiener said.
"I know this is a sensitive issue for a lot of people," said Stiener.
"People care about the EndUp and they care about who ends up with it, understandably so, as I care about it very, very much," she said.
Along with Stiener, data on the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's website lists Kam Luen Cheung and Christian Morgenstern as members of Jook House Entertainment LLC, the group buying the EndUp.
Stiener, who is listed as the managing member, said Cheung and Morgenstern are investors who live outside the country. She wouldn't share their contact information.
She said property owner Carl Hanken is assigning the lease for the bar to her. She declined to say how much the rent would be. She also wouldn't say when the lease expires. Hanken couldn't be reached for comment.
Hints of disagreement
Leung said with the accomplishments that have been made over the last six years, including more efficient operation of the club, it's "the right time to hand over the reins to Ynez, who is passionate about the EndUp and music."
Stiener suggested last week there'd been some disagreement among management, but she didn't offer much detail.
"We all want to be able to make the place better," said Stiener. "Sometimes it's hard to do that when too many of us are making decisions or not making decisions."
Asked if Leung had gotten in the way of changes, she said, "No, not necessarily," and she added being in a partnership "means everybody's got to agree."
In response to emailed questions about Stiener's comments, Leung said, "As in all partnership and business, different viewpoints always arise, as you would expect naturally. We strive to make the EndUp a better and better place, and with different viewpoints, sometimes, decisions are bound to be deliberate."
Stiener expects the sale to be complete by July. She suspects a staffing shortage at the state ABC department is delaying the completion of the liquor license transfer.
ABC spokesman John Carr couldn't give specific reasons why the EndUp license transfer is still pending. Data from the department indicate the transfer has been on hold since March.
Asked about staff shortages, Carr said he didn't think the ABC is "much different than any other state organization."
"We certainly have some vacancies at the department we haven't filled, but we're trying to move as fast as we can with what we've got," Carr said.
Jocelyn Kane, executive director of San Francisco's Entertainment Commission, indicated she doesn't expect any problems with the EndUp getting a permit from the commission and said, "Ynez has been there forever, so we expect it to continue exactly how it's been."
In an April 19 letter to the Entertainment Commission, David Helton of Ghettodisco Promotions and Productions said Stiener "is one of the few people I look up to and respect in the nightlife industry. ... I am grateful to Ynez for all the work she has done. It's a thankless job. But her generosity to the LGBT community �" both in the form of monetary donations �" and in time and kindness are unmatched."
Stiener provided a copy of the letter to the Bay Area Reporter. Helton didn't respond to a request for comment.