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Steins will no longer be filling its last stein on March 30 – a new buyer has saved the Mountain View beer garden from permanent closure.
Founder Ted Kim announced last month that his 12-year-old downtown business would be permanently closing at the end of March, citing rising costs and a decline in post-pandemic business. But since that announcement, he was “approached by several parties to buy the business,” he wrote in an email, one of which made a deal last weekend to take over Steins at the end of escrow. He wrote that he will continue to stay open until new ownership takes over, likely in June.
Kim won’t yet reveal the identity of the buyer, as the new lease hasn’t been finalized quite yet, but said it doesn’t seem like the new owner will try to change Steins too much.
“I think he recognizes it’s a very beloved concept,” Kim said. “One of my biggest concerns is what’s going to happen with the staff. And his intention is to keep everyone there.”
As for the Mountain View Oktoberfest, an annual event Kim founded in 2013, Steins is “currently working on transitioning everything for Oktoberfest over to the Chamber,” he wrote in an email.
Peter Katz, president and CEO of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce said the organization is “looking into taking on Oktoberfest so that our residents can continue to enjoy the celebration.”
Steins’ new owners have shown interest in partnering with the Chamber for Mountain View Oktoberfest, Kim said, although nothing is set in stone.
While Steins will continue to operate, Kim will be fully transitioning out of the restaurant, instead focusing on launching a new healthy quick-service food concept in the Bay Area.
“I will be visiting (Steins) frequently but only as a patron,” he wrote in an email. “Definitely bittersweet for me but I’m glad we won’t have to close at the end of the month!”
Steins Beer Garden, 895 Villa St., Mountain View; 650-963-9568, Instagram: @steinsbeergarden. Open Monday to Wednesday from 3-9 p.m., Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Great news! So happy to hear this