San Diego is well-known for its vibrant array of restaurants, bars, clubs, and nightlife spaces. But, for many individuals that are sober, sober-curious, or in recovery, accessing and finding community in these physical places can often be challenging.

This was the case for couple Kaylee and Crystal Clark, who both felt that San Diego lacked physical spaces for those wanting to be in a substance-free environment while still socializing and fostering community.

So, in 2021, they came up with the idea for Good News Bar, a third space focused on inclusivity and connection that offers elevated alcohol-free cocktails. Since 2023, the pair have hosted and participated in countless pop-up events such as sober speakeasys, Pride Month celebrations, music socials, and other community-centered happenings.

The name “Good News” came from a song written by one of the couple’s favorite artists: Mac Miller, Kaylee said. “Although it is a song about addiction and mental illness, it has rays of hope and light that shine through. The lyrics of this song deeply resonated with us, emphasizing the strong hold addiction can have while also revealing the possibility of a hopeful future. Finding sobriety has brought a lot of positivity and good news to our lives, and we’re here to share that hope with others.”

While their narrative centers around recovery, Kaylee and Crystal’s aim is to provide a space for all, regardless of a sober or sober-curious lifestyle. “Creating an atmosphere where everyone can feel safe, included, and free to be their authentic selves without the pressure of substances is very important to us,” Crystal explained.

For many LGBTQ+ persons, having a safe, substance-free atmosphere is a necessity. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported in May that sexual and gender minorities are more likely to be disproportionately impacted by substance and alcohol abuse — often as a result of coping with stigma, discrimination, harassment, and traumatic experiences.

Good News Bar’s opening is taking place just two years after LGBTQ+-serving sobriety and recovery center Live and Let Live Alano Club (LLLAC) was closed after fundraising losses due to COVID-19. Similarly, the club was founded in 1983 due to a lack of social environments for LGBTQ+ persons that were not a nightclub or bar. The LLLAC offered recovery support to over 40,000 people annually.

Independent charity Drinkaware published their Alcohol use and harm in LGBTQ+ communities report in February 2024. Their findings additionally showed that “LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately affected by alcohol-related harm because of other people’s drinking.”

However, like Good News Bar, there is a growing number of sober spaces popping up around the U.S. and abroad for LGBTQ+ people to gather and connect — such as coffee shops, bookstores, club nights, and pride events.

Kaylee and Crystal explained that Good News Bar is on track for a grand opening in Hillcrest toward the end of 2024. Much like their pop-up events, the brick and mortar will include live music, trivia, dance nights, and other social activities for people of all ages to mingle during day hours. Come nighttime, the pair described the atmosphere as an elevated-cocktail-vibe for the 18-and-over crowd.

“By providing an alcohol-free space like Good News, we can work together as a community to create a safer and healthier environment for everyone,” Kaylee said.

Moreover, recognizing the needs of their diverse customers, they will offer a wide range of seasonal beverages Kaylee said, from coffee, tea, non-alcoholic beer, alcohol removed wine, spirit replacement cocktails, CBD/hemp products, functional adaptogenic elixirs, curated retail non-alcoholic bottles and ready-to-drink cans, and more.

For this year’s San Diego Pride festivities, Kaylee and Crystal will be serving alcohol-free beverages and exclusive merchandise at She Fest, located at 1500 University Ave., on July 13 from 12 – 6 p.m. This year the festival, which center 2SLGBTQIA+ women, non-binary people, and people who find community with the before mentioned identities, is celebrating their tenth anniversary.

Further information, event happenings, and more can be found at goodnewssd.com/.

Flashback

The Live and Let Live Alano Club was founded in 1983 as a place where queer people could be welcome in recovery meetings. It participated in many Pride Parades before shuttering in 2022. Past floats read “Gay, Sober and Proud.” (Photos courtesy Lambda Archives)