Local Tap Taking Over Former Zeke's Space in SoMa

October 10 was a sad day for the loyal patrons of Zeke's Diamond Bar as the SoMa dive/sports bar was forced to close its doors due to an accidental oversight that allowed the lease to expire. Today, Hoodline reports that Paul Cardinale, the former director of operations for Golden Bear Restaurant Corporation (Pete's Tavern, Pedro's Cantina, MoMo's) is taking over the space on the corner of Third and Brannan with plans to give it a subtle update.

The new bar will be called Local Tap and Cardinale says there will be about 20 beers on draft and a brand new menu, but that the dive bar vibe and inexpensive prices aren't going anywhere. In other words, those rumors about a fancy craft cocktail bar coming in were just that: rumors. Cardinale tells Hoodline, "I'm not some new kid or techie with lots of money trying to start a bar," emphasizing that it will remain a neighborhood bar he hopes Zeke's regulars will continue to patronize.

Cardinale says he hopes to have Local Tap open by mid-December. Stay tuned for updates.