Introduction
-
A landmark restaurant on San Francisco’s waterfront has closed after 56 years in business.
-
The waterfront opened at Pier 7 in 1969.
-
The restaurant has hosted celebrities including Tony Bennett, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
san francisco – An iconic dining destination that has drawn locals and tourists to San Francisco’s Embarcadero for more than half a century has suddenly closed its doors.
Pier 7’s waterfront restaurants closed on Dec. 31, according to the Port of San Francisco.
The historic restaurant unexpectedly announced it was closing and posted a sign on the door.
A reporter called the restaurant and received a message: “Thank you for your patronage over the past 56 years. Unfortunately, we will be closing permanently. Thank you.”
Dig deeper
“The restaurant has a month-to-month agreement with the port after the lease expires in December 2024,” Port of San Francisco Communications Director Eric Young explained in a statement to KTVU.
what we don’t know
There is no word yet on what led to the closure.
Despite signs that the area is recovering and rebounding, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many businesses in the area and nearby downtown communities.
KTVU attempted to contact the owners of The Waterfront for comment but did not receive a response.
Backstory
Historic Pier 7, a former industrial port that has housed restaurants since 1969, has undergone significant changes, transforming into a popular tourist destination and bustling public market district centered around the nearby Ferry Building.
The restaurant has hosted some important figures over the years, including Tony Bennett, President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama.
SF Legacy Business Registry
Back in September, The Waterfront Restaurant was nominated by District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter to be listed on the San Francisco Heritage Business Register. As of Monday, the restaurant was on the registration map.
As the San Francisco Planning website states, the city’s Heritage Business Registry works to “save businesses that have long served the community and are often considered valuable cultural assets.”
As part of the registration application, Sauter praised owners Al and Cheryl Falchi for their commitment to preserving the restaurant building’s history.
“After a fire in 1973 and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Al and Cheryl rebuilt and restored the restaurant while respecting its maritime heritage. Their resilience and commitment to Embarcadero’s success is admirable,” Sauter wrote in a letter to Katie Tang, director of the San Francisco Office of Small Business.
The waterfront said in its application that it is a symbol of the city’s resilience and diversity and a testament to San Francisco’s maritime history.
See also:Benihana plans to open 10 new restaurants in Bay Area
“It enriches the community’s history and bears witness to the transformation of the Embarcadero,” the restaurant wrote.
With its fresh seafood, farm-to-table cuisine and stunning bay views, the company also describes the waterfront as “a landmark that is an integral part of San Francisco’s waterfront image.”
The application for heritage status, signed by Cheryl Falchi, not only looks back at the restaurant’s historical contributions but also looks optimistically toward the waterfront restaurant’s future in the city.
“The Waterfront Restaurant has been an iconic spot on the Embarcadero for decades, providing visitors and residents with delicious seafood and beautiful bay views. I look forward to seeing how the Waterfront Restaurant continues to grow in the years to come,” the co-owners wrote.
KTVU reached out to Supervisor Sauter’s office for comment on the closure but had not received a response as of the time of publication.
what’s next
The Port of San Francisco said it is currently working to prepare a new restaurant for the property to take over the space.
“Port staff are currently evaluating the building and are expected to bring the facility to the market in early 2026 for a new restaurateur,” Young explained.
San Francisco-based commercial real estate agency Maven Commercial will be responsible for finding new tenants, the communications director said.
“Unique opportunity”
The Port also acknowledged the significance of closing the historic restaurant, saying it creates a rare opening opportunity in a prominent area of the city.
“This marks the first time in decades that a waterfront restaurant site has been leased, providing a unique opportunity to reimagine a landmark building located between the Ferry Building and the Exploratorium in one of the most visited and visible areas of San Francisco’s waterfront,” Young said.
