Tragic news on the Wharf: after 97 years of business, the iconic ALIOTO’S is closing permanently, after shuttering for the pandemic the past two years. SF Business Times reports they’re getting approval from the Port of San Francisco to get out of their lease (and the $770,000 in back rent owed). Since the Business Times article is paywalled, you can read more details in SFist here.
It’s truly a tragedy to lose one of San Francisco’s most longstanding restaurants, the site of so many memories, from locals going there for dinner for prom, to family gatherings, to tourists making their annual cioppino pilgrimage. Alioto’s first started as a fish stand in 1925 at stall No. 8, and the restaurant opened in 1938 (you can read more of the restaurant’s long history here). This is exactly why we need to put pressure on the Senate to refill the RRF (Restaurant Revitalization Fund), so we don’t keep having to watch otherwise-successful businesses close and lose our landmarks that have been open for almost a century. It’s a damn shame. Please take action on the Independent Restaurant Coalition page.
Another restaurant that couldn’t survive pandemic-related woes is LUPULANDIA, the three-year-old Mission brewpub from Anthony LaVia. You can read more about the ups and downs of the business as it fought to survive these past two years in this Mission Local piece. 2243 Mission St. at 18th St.
After 11 years of DJ nights and burgers and cocktails, ASIENTO in the Mission has closed. Hoodline mentions the business is reportedly being remodeled, with owner Debi Cohn stating in a Facebook post: “Bringing on a partner and remodeling/rebranding. A new bar is coming soon!” Stand by for details in the future on what the comeback is going to look like. 2730 21st St. at Bryant.
And Eater reports that longtime, Inner Sunset sister businesses TART TO TART and MEXICAN GRILL are closing their current locations on Irving Street due to an impending rent increase. Mexican Grill will be closing after 45 years in business, but Tart to Tart will live on and is moving to a smaller nearby location. 641 Irving St. at 8th Ave.
You’d think one of SF’s most well-known slice shops would be doing okay during these tough times, but even ARINELL PIZZA is on the precipice of closing due to reduced foot traffic (and the diminished number of people getting drunk in the Mission and needing a slice at 2am)—read more in this SFGate story. Owner Ron Demirdjian needs to see a bunch more customers to pull through this tough time, like, right now, so please, swing by as soon as you can and order a pizza, or at least a couple slices of their legit New York-style pizza. Help save this 33-year-old slice shop with our business and support. Arinell opened on Valencia in 1989, and the original opened in Berkeley in 1975—it has a long history that deserves to continue. Fortunately, the Berkeley shop is reportedly doing okay, but Valencia needs our business. Hours are Wed-Thu 3pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm, Sun 3pm-9pm. 509 Valencia St. at 16th St.
The new Lupulandia brewpub in the Mission. Photo courtesy of Lupulandia.
