Toronado

Tornado: Legendary Beer Bar Might Not Be Getting Sold to a ‘Crypto Bro’ | Eater SF

"This longtime Haight Street beer bar, opened in 1987 by an owner who founded the Barleywine Festival, is an old-school neighborhood institution known for its traditional approach (it doesn’t accept credit cards). The owner’s planned retirement prompted a contentious $1.75 million sale to a prospective buyer—an ex-Raytheon employee turned crypto entrepreneur—whose proposals (including a branded crypto token and a 3,000-square-foot rooftop bar, plus redevelopment of the neighboring space) drew strong resistance from regulars. The transfer has stalled amid disputes over contingency waivers and missing paperwork, a fraught on-site visit that left staff and patrons angry, and the seller’s insistence that he remains in control, leaving the bar’s future uncertain." - Paolo Bicchieri