Lovers of quirky little diners will be sorry to hear that SUSIE’S CAFE in SoMa is closing (after 84 years!) on April 30th to make way for, you guessed it, condos. My pal Luke Lightning (how’s THAT for a name?) said the landlord decided to sell the funky little shack—it’s right by the Concourse, which is also slated to be converted into condos. Also being sold: everything in the joint, so if you want to pick up a little vintage memorabilia, you should swing by. 603 7th St. at Brannan, 415-431-2177.
Last week, The New Fillmore posted quite an in-depth article about all the changes coming to Upper Divisadero, including the news that the 44-year-old KING OF FALAFEL will be closing in January 2015 when its lease runs out. Sadness. The building’s new owner, Rick Howard (of Harry’s Bar on Fillmore Street), will be renovating the building and giving it a seismic upgrade, and then deciding what to do next (lease the space to a new tenant, or open his own project). There’s a lot more to read in the piece, sure to be of interest to anyone who lives nearby. 1801 Divisadero St. at Bush.
One more item in the article was that the owner of TORTILLA HEIGHTS, Paul Owens, was on the brink of selling it, and one of the interested buyers was Ezra Berman of The Corner Store on Masonic. Ends up Berman (and Miles Palliser) did in fact get the space—Scoop notes that Tortilla Heights has suddenly closed and said farewell on their Facebook page. Alas, the queso creek and margarita river have stopped after a nine-year run. Stand by for what’s next in the space. 1750 Divisadero St. at Bush.
One more piece of tortilla-related news: in case you’re headed into the Macy’s Cellar Marketplace at Union Square and all ready to get your Rick Bayless Frontera Fresco eats on, you’ll discover that it has been replaced with TORTILLA KITCHEN.
The old-school atmo at Susie’s Cafe. Yelp photo by Bill W.