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San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Pizzeria calls it quits after 17 years, plus more Bay Area restaurant closings
The following is a list of notable Bay Area restaurants that closed in June. Click here for a list of May closings. Rotten City Pizza has closed following a 17-year run in Emeryville, E'Ville Eye reports. Owner Jonas Bernstein confirmed the closing to the outlet, blaming the current economics of running a restaurant. Workers have launched a crowdfunding campaign to keep the pizzeria alive. Oakland's hip French restaurant the Rendez-Vous is unexpectedly closing. In an Instagram post, its owners wrote that "unforeseen circumstances' forced the sudden decision but did not elaborate. The chic restaurant, which the Chronicle named one of the Bay Area's most beautiful new restaurants in 2022, served French dishes like a Nicoise salad with tuna loin, a classic coq au vin and beet-cured halibut. Bay Area barbecue chain Armadillo Willy's unexpectedly shut down three of its final four locations in mid-June, SFGATE reported. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but operate independently). The brand announced via Instagram that its San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale locations were officially closed. The post thanked patrons and staff for their support for more than 40 years. The sole remaining location in San Mateo will continue to carry the company's legacy onward. Khana Peena has served its final northern Indian plates, East Bay Nosh reported. The neighborhood restaurant was a popular fixture on Berkeley's stretch of Solano Avenue. You can still find the sought-after tandoori chicken legs and chapati at the restaurant's sibling location in North Oakland. It's a wrap, at least locally, for the wildly popular Basuku Cheesecakes. Owner and baker Charles Chen and his unimaginably creamy cheesecakes made their final appearance at Palo Alto's Vina Enoteca after he announced the end of his baking project earlier this year. Chen told the Chronicle that he was moving to Asia to focus on his restaurant consulting work. The Ferry Building's Grande Crêperie, a popular Parisian-style café, shut down when its lease expired on June 30. Owners Patrick and Joanna Ascaso told the Chronicle the closure was unexpected and had hoped to renew their lease; in a statement to the Chronicle, Ferry Building management said they were letting the lease expire. Grand Crêperie specialized in sourdough crepes, pastries and coffee, all of which lured long lines of customers. Walnut Creek's Nusantaran restaurant has closed for good after months of inactivity. SanDai owner Nora Haron officially put an end to her Singaporean-Indonesian project in June. The restaurant was regularly packed during weekend dinner service, but midweek business was ultimately insufficient. Dishes included beef rendang topped with pineapple, fish fried rice and a raviolo stuffed with tiger prawn in a red broth. Its joint coffee shop, Kopi Bar, has also shut down, though Haron is looking at opening more cafés in the future. One Market, the 32-year-old restaurant at the end of Market Street on the Embarcadero, closed June 11. Co-founder Michael Dellar told the Chronicle the decision was due in part to his retirement, but also to a slow pandemic recovery downtown. There were plans to sell the restaurant to current management, but the deal didn't materialize and a different buyer wasn't found. The restaurant held a Michelin star from 2008 through 2012.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Fourth of July 2025: The best parades, festivals and fireworks across the Bay Area
Light up the sparklers! Whether the fog rolls in or not, San Francisco's official Fourth of July fireworks display off of Pier 39 is scheduled to go on, starting around 9:30 p.m. on Friday. Arrive early to watch the city's pyrotechnical display at Fisherman's Wharf, the Ferry Building, along the Marina Green or Tunnel Tops park. Or avoid the big city crowds by attending one of the many local fireworks and lit drone shows happening outside of San Francisco. Not interested in the big booms? With pancake breakfasts and parades, fairs, live music in parks and more to choose from, there are many ways to celebrate. Check out the fun with the Chronicle's regional guide to Independence Day events. Fourth of July Celebration: Steel Beach BBQ Relax on the flight deck with live DJ sets from Dave Stebbins, games, barbecue and nonalcoholic drinks. View a flyover by the Memorial Squadron and explore the site and its Apollo artifacts and exhibits. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, July 4. $20-$38.77. USS Hornet Museum, 707 W. Hornet Ave., Alameda. 510-521-8448. Enjoy an old-fashioned neighborhood parade and party at the city's newest oceanfront park. The route makes its way from Noriega to Kirkham streets with marching bands, fire trucks, community groups and more. Post-parade festivities at Kirkham Street will include children's activities, live music, food and drinks. Golden Gate Park Band: American as Apple Pie, Ribs and Tacos Celebrate all things American as German Gonzalez conducts the band in an Independence Day pops program. 1 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Golden Gate Park Music Concourse, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, S.F. 415-596-1741. S.F. Mime Troupe's 'Disruption: A Musical Farce' Michael Gene Sullivan directs the 66th incarnation of the left-leaning musical theater group's traveling summer production, which poses the political question: As the U.S. moves toward authoritarianism, will San Francisco resist, or become a 'suburb of Silicon Valley'? Written by Sullivan and Marie Cartier, with music by Daniel Savio. 2 p.m. Friday, July 4. Continuing at various Bay Area locations through Sunday, Aug. 3. Free-$20. Dolores Park, 19th and Dolores streets, S.F. 415-285-1717. Queer as Fourth: Radical Resistance fundraiser Celebrate queer joy, resistance and liberation at a party set to include live DJ sets from Charles Hawthorne, Hauna Bauna and Nice 4 Life, food, and sexy dancers. A portion of proceeds will benefit Lyric SF center for LGBTQ+ youth. 3-8 p.m. Friday, July 4. $10-$20. El Rio, 3158 Mission St., S.F. 415-282-3325. S.F. Fourth of July Pub Crawls and Hot Dog Eating Contest The lower Polk Street-centered pub crawl will include stops at Westwood, Silver Cloud, Wizards & Wands, Comet Club, and others. Pie and hot dog eating contests will be held at Jaxson. 4-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 4-5. $5-$38.09. Check-in at Rick and Roxy's, 2125 Lombard St., S.F. Dockside Fireworks viewing aboard the SS Jeremiah O'Brien Celebrate 249 years of American independence with a front-row view of the fireworks from the deck of the World War II Liberty ship, berthed in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf. 7-10:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. $25-$45, reservations required. SS Jeremiah O'Brien, Pier 35, S.F. 415-544-0100. Blue and Gold Fleet fireworks cruises Celebrate Independence Day with views of San Francisco landmarks and fireworks during a cruise on the bay. 8:20, 8:25, 8:30 and 8:30 p.m. departures Friday, July 4. $79-$109; reservations required. Pier 41, S.F. 415-705-8200. East Bay City of Richmond's annual third of July fireworks An evening of live music, family-friendly activities, food trucks and vendors. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:15 p.m. 5-10 p.m. Thursday, July 3. Free. Marina Bay Park, Regatta Blvd. and Marina Bay Pkwy., Richmond. 510-620-6793. Riggers Loft July 3rd Fireworks and Dance Party Enjoy live music with Andre Thierry, food and drinks, arcade games, and an evening finale watching the Richmond fireworks display from the venue's outdoor area. 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3. $15-$45. Rigger's Loft, 1325 Canal Blvd., Richmond. 510-234-8477. Benicia's Torchlight Parade and fireworks Downtown Benicia's First Street will host a lighted evening parade featuring floats and live entertainment on Thursday, July 3. On Friday, lay out a blanket along the marina green and enjoy the town's annual waterfront pyrotechnic display. Torchlight parade from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, July 3; Fireworks 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. First Street and Marina Green Park, Benicia. 707-745-9791. Martinez Fourth of July Parade and fireworks Cheer on the downtown parade and nighttime fireworks display. USS Potomac Fourth of July fireworks cruise Enjoy a three-hour bay cruise with great fireworks views. Snacks and beverages available. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. $160, reservations required. USS Potomac, 540 Water St., Oakland. 510-627-1215. Orinda Fourth of July: Carnival in the Park Early risers can enjoy a burrito breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and fun run at 7:55 a.m. The parade begins at 10 a.m. followed by a carnival with live music, community activities, food trucks and more at 11:30 a.m. 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Orinda Community Park, 28 Orinda Way, Orinda. 925-254-0800. Pleasant Hill Fourth of July celebration A firecracker 5K run begins the day's activities at 7:45 a.m. The parade is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Route map available online. A festival with live music, food vendors and a children's zone will take place following the parade. There will be a fireworks watch party as the sun sets at College Park High school. Parade and festival 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill; fireworks viewing event 6:30-10 p.m. Friday, July 4 at College Park High School, 201 Viking Drive, Pleasant Hill. 925-357-5850. Celebrate Concord Fourth of July Get an early start at 8 a.m. with a Stars and Stripes 5K fun run/walk, followed by Concord's annual holiday parade. A community festival with live music and entertainment, carnival, vendors, food trucks and fireworks viewing follows. Parade at 10 a.m. Free. Todos Santos Plaza, Salvio and Grant streets, Concord. Festival 4-10 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Mount Diablo High School, 2450 Grant St., Concord. 925-695-7268. Alameda Fourth of July Parade and 5K run Choose a spot along the 3-mile parade route to cheer for marching bands, floats, equestrian displays and more. Get an early start with a 5K run/walk along the parade route, starting at 8:30 a.m. Parade at 10 a.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Begins at Lincoln Avenue and Park Street, Alameda. 510-747-7400. El Cerrito WorldOne Festival Enjoy live music from Gamelan Sekar Jaya, Sister Carol, La Gente SF and Luv Phenomena, carnival rides, a family fun zone, classic car show, vendors, food, drinks, and more. 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 3; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free admission. Cerrito Vista Park, 950 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. 510-215-4300. Moraga Fourth of July celebration Festivities will include a dog parade, family activities, community booths, food and drinks, live entertainment, music, and a fireworks display. Parade at 11 a.m.; Festival from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Moraga Commons Park, Moraga. 925-888-7050. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Star Spangled Nights Enjoy lighted drone shows each evening after a festive day in the park. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 4-5. $39-$80. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, 1001 Fairgrounds Drive SW, Vallejo. 707-644-4000. Jack London Square Summer Fun on the Fourth The event includes live entertainment, including music from Splick da'Groove and the Everyday People, a trivia contest, craft activities, giveaways and more. 5-8 p.m. Free. Ferry Lawn, Jack London Square, Water Street, Oakland. 510-645-9292. San Ramon Independence Day concert There will be a patriotic music presentation and a tribute to veterans, followed by live music from Billy Nation and food vendors. Get energized for the day with a Fourth of July run/walk event at 8 a.m. 5-8 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Central Park Amphitheater, 12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. 925-973-3200. Mare Island Spirit Ship celebration A drone light show, food trucks, craft cocktail and mocktail lounge, children's area, live DJ sets, and magic performances are scheduled for the July Fourth party. 5:30-9:30 p.m Friday, July 4. $5-$10. Mare Island Promenade, 860 Nimitz Ave., Vallejo. North Bay Marin County Fair: Bug-tastic Set on Frank Lloyd Wright-designed grounds, the fair offers exhibitions, farm animals, carnival rides, "Star Wars" characters, a food and vendor marketplace, a community stage, roaming entertainment, and mainstage concerts from the Legendary Wailers, the Skatalites, TLC, Petty Theft, Zepparalla, Chris Housman and others. Fireworks shows occur nightly around 9:30 p.m. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, July 2-6. Free-$30. Marin County Fair, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 415-473-6400. Sausalito Fourth of July A downtown parade will be followed by a picnic featuring family activities and live music in Dunphy Park. Gather at Gabrielson Park in the evening for live music, food trucks and fireworks. Parade at 10 a.m.; picnic noon-4 p.m.; evening festival 6:30-9:45 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Dunphy and Gabrielson Parks, Sausalito. 415-289-4152. Novato Fourth of July Parade: The Greatest Town on Earth The annual parade is set to feature floats, marching bands, vintage vehicles, horses and more. Enjoy pre-parade entertainment 9-10 a.m. 10 a.m. Friday, July 4. Free-$10. Reichert and Grant avenues, downtown Novato. Sonoma Fourth of July: 'American Road Trip' A parade around the historic plaza will be followed by a festival with vendors, family-friendly activities, live music and a fireworks display sponsored by the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association. Festival 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; parade at 10 a.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. First Street, Sonoma. Corte Madera/Larkspur Fourth of July Parade and Festival The 10:30 a.m. parade will feature a marching battle of the bands, floats, community groups and more. A festival in Town Park is set to include live music, entertainment, an art fair, children's activities, and food and drinks vendors. Festival 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Corte Madera Town Park, 498 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera. Parade at 10:30 a.m. kicks off from Redwood High School, 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur. 415-924-0441. Calistoga Star-Spangled Parade and Social: American Dream The festivities begin with a morning parade followed by a festival that's set to include a maker's market, children's activities, food trucks, live music, magic and an after-dark laser lights show. Parade begins at 11 a.m.; festival 2-8 p.m.; live music 2-10 p.m. $15-$25. Pioneer Park, 1308 Cedar St., Calistoga. 707-403-5024. Call of the Sea Independence Day Sails Enjoy an afternoon or evening fireworks sail aboard the 132-foot-long wooden brigantine Matthew Turner tall ship, decorated in patriotic colors. 3:30-6 p.m. and 7:15-10 p.m. Friday, July 4. $49-$195, reservations required. Bay Model Visitor Center, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415-331-3214. S.F. Sail on the Bay cruise Board the 80-foot gaff-rigged coastal Schooner Freda B, for an afternoon or a sunset fireworks viewing cruise on the bay. Onboard bar with refreshments available. 3:45 and 7:15 p.m. Friday, July 4. $99-$316.63, reservations required. Schooner Freda B, Slip 465, 100 Bay St., Sausalito. 415-331-0444. Green Music Center Fourth of July Spectacular Troy Quinn will conduct a pops concert featuring the Santa Rosa Symphony and Transcendence Theatre Company followed by a fireworks display. A family festival with carnival games, children's zone, food vendors and more begins at 4:30 p.m. Indoor and outdoor seating options available. 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, July 4. $46-$76. Weill Hall and Lawn, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. 707-664-4246. South Bay Half Moon Bay Ol' Fashioned Fourth of July Parade and Party The parade is set to include horses, floats, classic cars, community groups and marching bands. There will be a pancake breakfast at City Hall from 8-11:30 a.m. as well as a festival with live music, vendors, kids' activities, barbecue and more, beginning at 10 a.m. Parade at noon; festival 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Main Street, Half Moon Bay. 650-726-5705. Redwood City Fourth of July: Celebrate California Since 1939, the Redwood city Independence Day celebration has been one of Northern California's largest. It's set to include a pancake breakfast, parade, classic cars, a festival and patriotic drone show. Festival 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; parade at 10 a.m.; drone show at 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Courthouse Square area, Redwood City. 650-365-1825. Saratoga Independence Day Celebration Enjoy live patriotic music from the McCartysville Volunteer Band. Historical outfits encouraged. Lawn seating — bring blankets and umbrellas. 9:30-11 a.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Kevin Moran Park, 12415 Scully Ave., Saratoga. California's Great America Fourth of July celebration After an afternoon of amusement and water park fun, enjoy barbecue and a fireworks show, complemented by a patriotic soundtrack. 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Friday, July 4. $57-$65. California's Great America, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara. 408-988-1776. Pacifica Fourth of July The city of Pacifica will host its annual Independence Day picnic with live music, carnival rides, games and family-friendly activities. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Frontierland Park, 900 Yosemite Drive, Pacifica. 650-738-7300. Palo Alto Fourth of July Festival and Chili Cook-off Enjoy free chili tasting, live music, food trucks and children's activities during the town's annual festival and cook-off. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Mitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive, Palo Alto. 650-463-4900. San Mateo Fourth of July Concert Join the city of San Mateo's holiday celebration with family-friendly activities and live music from Club 90. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, July 4. Free. Central Park, 50 E. Fifth Ave., San Mateo. San Francisco Symphony Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular Edwin Outwater is scheduled to conduct the orchestra in a program of patriotic and theatrical works, featuring vocal soloist-ukulele virtuoso Taimane. The event includes a post concert fireworks display. Gates 7 p.m.; concert 8 p.m. Friday, July 4. $26-$138. Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Way, Mountain View. 415-864-6000. Sacramento A's versus Giants with after-game fireworks The A's are scheduled to duke it out with the San Francisco Giants on Independence Day, followed by a fireworks display and drone lights show in honor of the holiday. 7 p.m. Friday, July 4. $206-$303. Sutter Health Park, 400 Ballpark Driv., West Sacramento.
Eater
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Here Are the Bay Area's Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings for Summer 2025
We're halfway through 2025, and the San Francisco Bay Area has seen a parade of exciting restaurant and bar openings spice up the food and beverage scene. But now that summer is here, a new roster of restaurants is readying to join the fray, perfect for sun-filled outings with your besties. Explore Filipino cuisine from a French Laundry alum, or grab some pastries from a new bakery by the Michelin-starred team at Sorrel. Meanwhile, a modern Chinese pop-up is perfecting its new Hayes Valley restaurant space, and a Marina bar flips into a restaurant inspired by New York- and New Jersey-style Jewish delis. There's a lot to explore this summer, and here's your guide to the hottest places opening in the next few months. Chef Jade Cunningham is a pop-up veteran bringing Filipino food to a new permanent spot in Napa with the opening of Carabao. Cunningham grew up in the Philippines, helping with her aunt's eatery in Bulacan, but when she set out for her culinary internship in the United States, she settled in Napa, landing at the Meritage Resort before later joining three-Michelin-starred The French Laundry. At Carabao, Cunningham promises familiar Filipino flavors, but done up with local produce and techniques from her culinary background. The menu will feature items such as Filipino favorite sisig, as well as squid adobo, lumpia, and more. 145 C Gasser Drive, Napa. . Opening: Parachute opens in July, Arquet opens in August The minds behind Michelin-starred Sorrel have doubled down on the Ferry Building, opening not one, but two projects on San Francisco's waterfront. Set to open first is Parachute, a new bakery led by executive pastry chef Nasir Zainulabadinand, highlighting laminated treats. That bakery will be connected to the larger Arquet, a new restaurant from chef Alex Hong that's taken over the former Slanted Door space at the Ferry Building. There, Hong will serve a 'seasonal ingredient menu rooted in the bounty of the California coastline,' per a press release, utilizing wood-fire cooking techniques. 1 Ferry Building, Suite 5, San Francisco. and . Chef James Yeun Leong Parry has been touring the Happy Crane concept as a pop-up since 2023, showing off his personal style of contemporary Chinese cuisine at Rich Table, Nisei, Pacific Cocktail Haven, and more. But now the chef has finally put down roots in Hayes Valley, taking over the former Monsieur Benjamin space and renovating it for the Happy Crane's summer debut. Diners can expect a menu that is a culmination of Parry's extensive cooking background of working at restaurants in Hong Kong and Tokyo, as well as Benu and Palette Tea House. Think roasted meats such as char siu, noodles made in-house, plus a 'playful selection' of dim sum and small plates, per a press release. 451 Gough Street, San Francisco. . The Causwells team is close to opening their take on classic New York and New Jersey Jewish delis, plopped into the heart of the Marina. Chef Adam Rosenblum and beverage director Elmer Mejicanos have closed down their low-proof bar Lilah and are set to install Super Mensch in its place, highlighting comfort food deli classics such as house-cured and smoked pastrami, as well as latkes, Reubens on rye, and more. Not to be left out of the equation, Mejicanos is readying a deli-worthy cocktail menu thanks to a new, full liquor license, with flavors such as egg cream and celery soda at the heart of its drinks. 2336 Chestnut Street, San Francisco. . The new permanent spot for Chicano Nuevo has been in the works for the last two years, but its time to shine is nearly here; chef Abraham Nuñez is close to opening the doors to his Bernal Heights restaurant in late August to early September. It's a happy ending that's been a long time coming, from the restaurant's residency days at Broken Record to Nuñez's stints at Cockscomb and State Bird Provisions. Nuñez's partner, Courtney Fujita, is also an industry pro who is working toward the restaurant's opening at the end of the summer. No menu details yet, but diners can expect the same big flavors the pop-up has touted all these years, such as a tamale negro stunner that landed as a Best Dish in 2024. 3355 Mission Street, San Francisco. . Chisme is the brainchild of chef Manuel Bonilla, where he's taken dive bar food and amped it up with Filipino and Salvadoran flavors. Chisme took up residency at Oakland's Low Bar last year, but it recently decamped to start over as Bar Chisme, taking on the former Kon-Tiki space at 347 14th Street in Oakland. It's a full-circle moment for Bonilla, who pioneered the popular burger at that beloved tiki bar, but he's reimagining the space as his own with a (likely) playful menu to boot. Expect some of the favorite dishes that built the Chisme name at Low Bar, but with the added bonus of a smash burger, Crunchwrap Tuesdays, and a tight list of cocktails to wash it all down. 347 14th Street, Oakland. . See More: San Francisco Restaurant Openings
Eater
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
This Titanic Polk Street Gay Bar Just Got Pulled Back from the Brink
Polk Street, where the first San Francisco Pride parade marched in 1970, just got great news: The last remaining gay bar in Polk Gulch got a big stimulus injection from a new owner. The Cinch Saloon, an icon in the area alongside the Grubstake Diner, opened in 1974. Now it'll get a second life from Scott Taylor, a beverage director at nearby Harris' Restaurant for 23 years. The news is more than just timely, given Pride. According to the San Francisco Chronicle , rumors had been in the air that the Cinch would close any day. One of the two former owners died in 2023. This Tuesday, June 3 announcement gives a spark of hope to the area that, once upon a time, was just as important a gayborhood as the Castro. Drag main character Juanita More told the paper she'd help Taylor keep the Cinch around 'for a hundred years.' New Oakland restaurant event debuts this summer The Oakland Restaurant Collective — a new-ish collection of business owners in the Town including chef Nelson German of alaMar Dominican Kitchen and the teams behind Jaji and the Caffè by Mr. Espresso — is about to run its first Summer Affair. The event runs all of June and is meant to highlight the some 30 restaurants in the cadre who will host special, restaurant-week-esque menus. There are a ton of events at participating restaurants to peep, too. Ferry Building croissant favorite set to shutter Back across the water, Grande Creperie on the waterfront is in jeopardy. The business, which opened in 2022, was informed its lease will end on June 30, 2025. The San Francisco Standard reports owners Patrick and Joanna Ascaso were told in January they'd have an extended lease. They say they were told by building management their outfit no longer fits the 'cultural mix' of the Ferry Building. Michelin star-holding restaurant rolls out affordable menu One of the city's newest additions to the ol' tire guide has just unveiled a plan to bring in diners on those nights that are decidedly less special occasion-y. On Monday, June 2 the team at 7 Adams released its 7 at 7 menu. In an Instagram post, the business owners said the idea is to offer a nightly, $127 seven-course menu somewhere between the $87 five-course menu and the $157 chef's counter experience. Sign up for our newsletter.
San Francisco Chronicle
04-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F. Ferry Building cafe will close in ‘sudden and unexpected' move
A popular French cafe is closing at San Francisco's Ferry Building, the latest tenant to say they were suddenly forced to close by management of the famed landmark. Grand Crêperie, from San Francisco's popular Le Marais Bakery, will close June 30, owners Patrick and Joanna Ascaso announced Tuesday. The closure was 'sudden and unexpected,' they said, and came after attempts to keep the business open. They said Hudson Pacific Properties, which leases the Ferry Building from the Port of San Francisco, discussed a lease extension for Grand Crêperie in a January phone call, but did not provide a written agreement. Then, in March, Ferry Building management informed them that their three-year lease would not be renewed. In a March 10 email shared with the Chronicle, Joanna Ascaso wrote to Hudson Pacific Properties that a leasing agent on the January call said she would be sending them a lease and a 'clear commitment was made to renew us.' The Ferry Building declined to answer specific questions about what happened but wrote in an emailed statement that Grand Crêperie's lease was 'always presented' as short term and 'we are simply letting it expire rather than renewing it.' 'One of the Ferry Building management's ongoing priorities to enhance the building is to make it more accessible in the evenings, and we are looking forward to announcing a new tenant for the space shortly which will have longer hours and support those efforts,' Ferry Building general manager Jane Connors said in the statement. The situation echoes the recent departure of popular Arab bakery Reem's, whose owner also claimed its closure was 'sudden.'The Ferry Building similarly attributed that decision to a push for more nighttime, full-service dining options. The nearby Red Bay Coffee also closed (though it later returned as a popup coffee van parked outside). The two vacant spaces will be combined and renovated to make way for a new tenant that has yet to be announced. Grand Crêperie opened at the Ferry Building in 2022, when the landmark was still struggling to recover from the pandemic. The crêperie is a primarily daytime business, focused on sourdough crepes, French pastries (including a viral, giant croissant) and coffee, but recently expanded its hours until 5 p.m. three days a week in response to management's desire for more evening options, Patrick Ascaso said. In January, the Ferry Building had agreed at the Ascasos' request to help the business secure a beer and wine license, they said. The owners also later offered to add cocktails, expand the food menu and redesign the space. The 500-square-feet crêperie is busy, often with a line out the door, Patrick Ascaso said. It brought in $1.3 million in revenue last year. Patrick Ascaso alleged that management said on a phone call that Grand Crêperie doesn't fit the 'cultural mix' of the Ferry Building. A Ferry Building spokesperson declined to respond to Ascaso's comment on the record. 'We built a beautiful space, and we entered the building at a period of significant vacancy and were told repeatedly that we were part of bringing it back to life, a flagpole local business,' Joanna Ascaso wrote in the March 10 email to Hudson Pacific Properties. 'We cannot understand why then you would call us out of the blue, three weeks before the end of our current term, when we had upheld everything that was ever asked of us, and the only reason you seem to offer is that we are no longer part of your mix?' They hope to find a new home for Grand Crêperie. Le Marais has five locations in San Francisco, Mill Valley and Marin. The Ferry Building has seen major turnover since the pandemic, with new arrivals including Cambodian star Lunette and knife shop Bernal Cutlery. On Wednesday, burger chain Gott's Roadside opened a new cookie counter, an idea which 'came to life from a conversation with the Ferry Building management team,' who wanted to 'activate' the north side of the building, Gott's president Clay Walker said in a press release. More openings are coming soon: Michelin-star restaurant Sorrel is opening a full-service restaurant and bakery in the former Slanted Door space this year, while San Francisco's famed Nopa and premier fishmonger Water2Table are gearing up to debut a seafood restaurant and market.
