Fisherman's Wharf facelift plans means Alioto's gets bulldozed
It involves bulldozing one famous restaurant, possibly rehabbing two others, creating a new pedestrian plaza and making historic fishing boats the centerpiece.
What we know
First and foremost, the plan calls for tearing down the long-closed Alioto's Restaurant and converting the space into an open-air portal with spectacular western-facing vistas within a year.
Sal Alioto, captain of the fishing boat Golden Gate, is a member of the famed Alioto family.
"So, once they open up the total view of Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge and visualize the sunset at night this will be a gorgeous view," said Alioto.
"It's always sad to lose something that's iconic and Alioto's the first restaurant on the wharf, the first building on the wharf," said third-generation San Francisco Lana Costantini of the SF Historical Society. She adds, "I think it gives us an opportunity to rethink parts of our city and how we reuse it and how we engage with the space there."
Another major goal, is to vastly improve the Inner Lagoon docks and lighting for historical fishing vessels; one of the wharf's most iconic attractions and the largest fishing center on the California coast.
"And that's what the port wants to do is to keep it viable. They want people to come down here and buy fresh fish off the boats which is a good thing," said Alioto.
Another goal: improve business conditions and requirements to get both long-term and pop-up businesses to attract tourists and locals to the wharf.
Don McFarland is one of five generations who own and operate Salbella and Latorre Italian Restaurant and crab stand, and says the wharf can again be a dining mecca.
"In the heyday, we used to generate over 30% of revenue for the city just on this block from Gardino's down to Grotto's place," said McFarland.
Historic Fisherman's Grotto and Tarantino's could find new owners. But it all must maintain the Fisherman's Wharf legacy.
"If they're gonna keep the history, it will be wonderful. It's all about keeping the history of Fisherman's Wharf," said Alioto.
With Alioto's, Fisherman's Grotto and Tarantino's all empty now, The Port of San Francisco and the City of San Francisco have an enormous opportunity to turn this into something unimaginably successful in the center of one of the most important tourist areas on Earth.
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Planned Bulldozing of Alioto's Seafood Restaurant Called 'Sad'
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Fisherman's Wharf facelift plans means Alioto's gets bulldozed
San Francisco, California - The San Francisco Port Commission officially received the Port's proposal to remake the very heart of Fisherman's Wharf into a more viable and attractive center of the world-famous tourist site. It involves bulldozing one famous restaurant, possibly rehabbing two others, creating a new pedestrian plaza and making historic fishing boats the centerpiece. What we know First and foremost, the plan calls for tearing down the long-closed Alioto's Restaurant and converting the space into an open-air portal with spectacular western-facing vistas within a year. Sal Alioto, captain of the fishing boat Golden Gate, is a member of the famed Alioto family. "So, once they open up the total view of Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge and visualize the sunset at night this will be a gorgeous view," said Alioto. "It's always sad to lose something that's iconic and Alioto's the first restaurant on the wharf, the first building on the wharf," said third-generation San Francisco Lana Costantini of the SF Historical Society. She adds, "I think it gives us an opportunity to rethink parts of our city and how we reuse it and how we engage with the space there." Another major goal, is to vastly improve the Inner Lagoon docks and lighting for historical fishing vessels; one of the wharf's most iconic attractions and the largest fishing center on the California coast. "And that's what the port wants to do is to keep it viable. They want people to come down here and buy fresh fish off the boats which is a good thing," said Alioto. Another goal: improve business conditions and requirements to get both long-term and pop-up businesses to attract tourists and locals to the wharf. Don McFarland is one of five generations who own and operate Salbella and Latorre Italian Restaurant and crab stand, and says the wharf can again be a dining mecca. "In the heyday, we used to generate over 30% of revenue for the city just on this block from Gardino's down to Grotto's place," said McFarland. Historic Fisherman's Grotto and Tarantino's could find new owners. But it all must maintain the Fisherman's Wharf legacy. "If they're gonna keep the history, it will be wonderful. It's all about keeping the history of Fisherman's Wharf," said Alioto. With Alioto's, Fisherman's Grotto and Tarantino's all empty now, The Port of San Francisco and the City of San Francisco have an enormous opportunity to turn this into something unimaginably successful in the center of one of the most important tourist areas on Earth.
