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San Francisco Chronicle​

Long-vacant Clay Theater in S.F.'s Pacific Heights to finally undergo renovation

The historic Clay Theater, which has sat vacant for five years, will undergo a renovation starting later this year, good news for San Francisco's Upper Fillmore retail corridor. The Clay is one of a string of aging properties on Upper Fillmore that tech investor Neil Mehta bought roughly a year ago with grand plans to revitalize them. Mehta has said that he plans to bring in new retail tenants and improve a stretch of the corridor between Pine and Clay Streets that, in his view, had been falling short of its potential. One longstanding business shuttered as a result of the ownership change, one of a half dozen storefronts now owned by Mehta that remain vacant. The Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project, as Mehta's bid to improve the area is called, has appointed Ted Gerike as director and chief creative officer leading the theater's reboot. Gerike is the founder of Now Instant, a 'Los Angeles cinema-bookstore hybrid' and previously led digital content for New York's Metrograph theater, Mehta's team said in a statement. 'I envision The Clay as both a home for local voices and a bridge connecting San Francisco to the wider world of cinema and ideas,' Gerike said. At the Clay, he will oversee a 'dynamic slate of programming at the historic theater, including first-run premieres, repertory classics, filmmaker talks, and cinema-focused events,' according to UFRP. The theater at 2261 Fillmore St. will remain known as the Clay, and its landmarked sign and marquee will remain. A timeline for the renovation work was not given, but it will likely stretch into next year: the revitalization project said that it plans to submit plans to the city later this year and that the building requires 'extensive rehabilitation and modernization.' The plan is to preserve the theater's 'architectural heritage while outfitting it for 21st-century audiences.' Architectural firm Page & Turnbull will spearhead the rehabilitation work, along with Min Design. Design studio Perron-Roettinger has been tapped for the Clay's interior design, and global engineering and design firm Arup will serve as the acoustic, audiovisual, and theater consultant. Planned upgrades include 4K digital projection, 35mm film capabilities, new acoustics and handicap accessibility and fire safety improvements, Mehta's team said. Once completed, the 5,000-square-foot theater space is expected to feature 200 seats and host more than 500 film screenings annually. 'Our approach to this storied theater is emblematic of our broader vision: we aim to support unique and experiential small business entrepreneurs who will bring something new and special to the neighborhood we live in and love,' said Cody Allen, UFRP's executive director. Mehta, who is the managing partner of Greenoaks Capital and also lives in Pacific Heights, was initially accused of a ' hostile takeover ' of the area by former Supervisor Aaron Peskin and several small business owners who said he was pushing them out by not renewing their leases. Mysterious shell companies connected to Mehta spent some $40 million acquiring the Fillmore Street buildings. The string of subsequent business closures in connection with expiring leases caused friction in the community, which initially welcomed the fresh investment, the Chronicle first reported last year. The 46-year-old sushi restaurant Ten Ichi shuttered its doors after Mehta bought its building at 2235 Fillmore St. — owner Steve Amano accused the venture capitalist of displacing the business, which had been operating on a month-to-month lease. He said that his prior landlord told him he had to vacate the space when the building was in escrow to Mehta. Mehta pushed back on allegations that he displaced the family-run restaurant, stating that the parties came to an agreement that involved forgiving back-rent owed by Amano. 'I'm still looking for a new space,' Amano told the Chronicle in an email last month. Across the street, Mediterranean restaurant La Mediterranee late last year won its fight to remain in its home of more than four decades after Mehta agreed to extend its lease through 2028. The deal came after community members and city officials pressured Mehta. A Starbucks that operated at 2222 Fillmore St. for more than three decades also closed after its building was sold to Mehta and its lease expired last year. Noosh, a restaurant at 2001 Fillmore St., also closed for mechanical repairs after its building was sold to Mehta last year and never reopened. Mehta has described the revitalization project as a 'deeply personal' effort to boost the neighborhood where he grew up. During a podcast interview earlier this year, Mehta revealed plans to restore the theater and open an all-day diner on Upper Fillmore without sharing specifics. He also promised to lease the retail spaces in his building at below market rates. While Mehta's storefronts remain empty, the neighborhood appears to be in a better place than a year ago. 'The return of the Clay Theater is more than the reopening of a beloved movie house — it's the revival of a cultural cornerstone that has shaped the soul of Pacific Heights for generations. Since its closure in 2020, our community has deeply felt its absence,' the Fillmore Merchants Association said in a statement. 'Its return signals not just a nod to our past, but an investment in the vibrant, connected future of our neighborhood.' Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, who represents the area, said he's 'ecstatic' that 'this cherished landmark will remain a theater and cinematic centerpiece.' Allen, of UFRP, declined to provide updates on the team's plans for the other buildings, but said that more announcements are planned in the coming months.