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XL Bar liquor license becomes active at former Renegades address

XL Bar liquor license becomes active at former Renegades address

Rule Changes San Jose, CA local

California ABC records list a Type 48 on-sale license at 501 W Taylor St in San Jose

3 days ago: ABC license active for XL Bar

Overview

Updated 54 minutes ago

Renegades closed on May 8 after the death of longtime owner Luis Sarmiento. Six months later, California Alcoholic Beverage Control records show an active Type 48 license for XL Bar at the same 501 W Taylor St address.

The license allows on-site sale of beer, wine and spirits. It does not by itself show that XL Bar has opened or that it holds every approval it needs.

Why it matters

A new liquor license at the former Renegades site marks a tenant change, not a confirmed reopening.

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Key Indicators

48
California ABC license type
Type 48 is an on-sale general license for beer, wine and spirits at public premises.
1
Active ABC license record at 501 W Taylor St
One record was filed on November 10, 2026.
1,440
Square feet in the former Renegades room
The San Jose Blog reported the room size in September 2026.

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People Involved

ED
Erika Dominguez
Applicant for Type 48 license at 501 W Taylor St
Listed as applicant in a September 2026 report

Organizations Involved

CA
California Alcoholic Beverage Control
State agency
Issued active Type 48 license record at 501 W Taylor St

The state agency that licenses and regulates alcohol sales in California.
BA
XL Bar
Bar or tavern
Holds active Type 48 license at 501 W Taylor St; opening status not shown in record

A tavern-style business listed at the former Renegades address.
Renegades
Renegades
Former gay bar
Closed May 8, 2026

A San Jose gay bar that operated at 501 W Taylor St until May 2026.

Timeline

May 2026 November 2026

4 events Latest: 3 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. ABC license active for XL Bar

    Latest License

    California ABC records show an active Type 48 on-sale license at 501 W Taylor St.

  2. XL Bar reported as slated for address

    Business

    The San Jose Blog reported XL Bar was slated for the 1,440-square-foot room and named Erika Dominguez as applicant.

  3. Renegades closes after owner's death

    Closure

    Renegades closed at 501 W Taylor St after the death of longtime owner Luis Sarmiento.

  4. Landlords choose different tenant

    Statement

    A post from the bar’s account said the landlords had chosen a different tenant.

Scenarios

1

XL Bar begins serving customers at 501 W Taylor St

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: The San Jose Blog

The September 2026 report said foot traffic from nearby grocery stores could feed a neighborhood tavern if the license cleared and the doors opened. An active license is one regulatory record; it does not show staffing, inspections or a service date.

2

XL Bar holds license but does not begin public service by mid-2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: The San Jose Blog noted in September 2026 that a window permit still showed the space was not yet licensed to pour.

A license can remain active while a business works through build-out, inspections or operating decisions. The ABC record alone cannot show whether the room is serving customers.

3

ABC license lapses or is withdrawn before XL Bar serves customers

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: No public analysis; based on the ABC record status

The license could be surrendered, suspended or allowed to lapse. The November 10 record shows an active license, not a permanent entitlement.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1970s-2026

Renegades at 501 W Taylor St (1970s-2026)

Renegades operated as one of San Jose’s last dedicated gay bars, hosting karaoke, drag nights and softball teams. It closed May 8, 2026, after the death of longtime owner Luis Sarmiento.

Then

A May post from the bar’s account said the landlords had chosen a different tenant.

Now

The closure left Splash and Mac’s Club on Post Street as two remaining gay bars in the city, according to The San Jose Blog.

Why this matters now

XL Bar’s active license at the same address marks a tenant change at a site with a long LGBTQ+ nightlife history.

Earlier decades-2026

San Jose gay bar count decline (earlier decades-2026)

San Jose counted about 14 gay bars in earlier decades, according to The San Jose Blog. By 2026, Splash and Mac’s Club on Post Street still operated.

Then

The remaining bars carry more late-night weight for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors.

Now

The city’s queer nightlife map is thinner than it once was.

Why this matters now

The former Renegades room is now tied to a new license, while the Qmunity District retains the remaining cluster.

Sources

(2)
California Alcoholic Beverage Control The San Jose Blog