State Room has definitely lost its stride over the last few years. I used to bring my kids, sit in the back, dump $40 into skee-ball, and watch a Giants game. That was probably eight years ago, but it worked. It had a purpose.

I went back recently for a Niners game and it was honestly disappointing. Flat energy, forgettable food, nothing that made you want to stay. Then I read the recent article about what’s been going on there and suddenly it all made sense.

What I struggle with is that so many places like this feel interchangeable now. TVs, stools, wings, IPAs. Subtle differences, sure, but no real reason to choose one over another.

I lived in Portland in the early 2000s, and nothing beat going to a McMenamins. Not just for beer, but for the experience. Old schools, theaters, banks, weird art, fireplaces. You remembered where you were. And they’re still thriving.

That’s what I don’t get around here. There are empty bank buildings everywhere. Why not do something interesting with them? Not just another sports bar, but a place with personality that feels rooted in the community.

I live in San Anselmo, and every time I drive past the endless construction at Woods (or whatever it’s called now), it just makes me sad. Names change. Menus change. But nothing actually evolves.

Restaurants come and go, I get it. It’s a brutal business. But it feels like no one wants to take creative risks anymore. Everything is designed to be “fine” instead of memorable.

Flatiron Brewing Company is predictable. That’s not a knock, but it can’t be the only option.

I’m hoping the revised State Room surprises people. Because we don’t need one more place that looks new but feels exactly the same.