“At the same time, I realize that it did have a long run - 58 years. “There’s no doubt that it saddens me,” said Mendoza, who bought the intimate Bankers Hill bar in 2003. The Caliph, with its Moorish motif mixed with disco lights, is known for its live piano entertainment, karaoke, fresh popcorn and, perhaps most importantly, its old-school neighborhood bar vibe. After last call, it will close permanently - ending a nearly 60-year run as one of San Diego’s most iconic gay bars. 31, as the calendar ushers in a new year, it will usher in a new chapter for Mendoza but the last chapter for the Caliph. Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, as the clock’s about to strike 12, Sherman Mendoza will steel himself to do something one last time: toast the new year with friends at the Caliph, the piano lounge and bar he’s owned for 15 years.
