The Athletic Club Oakland is reopening just in time for the World Cup
Just months after shutting down, a popular Oakland sports bar is reopening under a consortium of sports-loving locals.
The Athletic Club Oakland had closed in February, with blame going toward the lingering effects of the pandemic and professional sports teams leaving Oakland. But recently, a group of new owners took to Instagram to announce the rebirth of the club, located at 59 Grand Ave. near Lake Merritt.
"We're six Oakland residents who couldn't watch this block stay dark," they write. "When the Athletic Club Oakland closed on Super Bowl Sunday, we mourned the loss alongside all of you. Then we made some calls. Then we made a decision to bet on Oakland."
The new owners include people with ties to Oakland businesses such as the bar Drexl, former restaurant Chop Bar and clothing company Oaklandish, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. They hope to have the club open and running in time for the World Cup, which kicks off June 11 in Mexico City.
There is one small change – the name has been rejiggered to be the Oakland Athletic Club. But aside from that, a lot of stuff will remain the same, including the pain and joy of Oakland’s sports drama, psychically ingrained in the walls. (Maybe they should burn some sage for that.)
"The sports-bar soul, the screens, the sound, the energy, the supporter groups that made this room theirs - all of it stays," the owners write. "To the 68s, East Bay Gooners, Dub Nation: your home base is still here. The room where rival fans shared a toast. That doesn't go away."
Among the few things that will change is a revamped food program that’s aimed not just toward sportos and game-day visitors but also toward everyday diners. There will be a new drinks program, plus a private-events room and a VIP room in the mezzanine.
The owners concluded their announcement by promising the club will be a "place where you can grab lunch on a Tuesday or pack in shoulder to shoulder on a playoff night. That's what 59 Grand was at its best. That's what we're building, with you."
Details: Planned reopening in June at 59 Grand Ave., Oakland; theacoakland.com, instagram.com/theacoakland
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 9:10 AM.