Long-vacant Mission District spaces are being filled by newcomers, and others are leaving after serving their last fare.
Mission Local put together a list of recent business closings and openings, including the departure of a Nicaraguan eatery that served residents for generations, a switch from hand-rolled sushi to hamburgers on Guerrero Street, and a new tenant in the vacant former Doc’s Clock space.
And Beauty Bar may really, finally be reopening?
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If we missed any businesses, let us know by sending an email to oscar.palma@missionlocal.com.
Restaurante Las Tinajas serves its final gallo pinto
Las Tinajas has served its last gallo pinto (traditional Nicaraguan fried rice and beans), its last baho (cassava, plantain and beef wrapped in banana leaves), and its last plate of nacatamales (Nicaraguan tamales). The Mission establishment, open at 2338 Mission St. for 39 years, closed at the end of September.
It is unclear why the restaurant closed.
“I’m very sad that it closed. Las Tinajas has been a staple of the Mission District, especially with so many Nicaraguans that have been here since the ’50s,” said Mission resident and president of the lowrider council Roberto Hernandez, whose parents are from Nicaragua.
Hernandez said the restaurant was a personal destination for his family, when they’d celebrate special occasions, like birthdays.
“You’d bring your abuelita there, and you’d always run into people that you knew from the community,” Hernandez said, remembering that Las Tinajas’ owners always supported Nicaraguan traditions like La Purisima, a national Catholic celebration.
Las Tinajas’ reach went beyond the Mission District. Former Giants outfielder and Nicaraguan national, Marvin Benard, was a regular at the restaurant. A 2002 San Francisco Chronicle article by Joan Ryan recounted Benard bringing food from Las Tinajas to the clubhouse.
“Benard sometimes spreads out carne asada, rice and beans and plantains from Las Tinajas, the Nicaraguan restaurant on Mission Street that has been a hub for Latin ballplayers for years,” it read.
Hernandez also remembers Giants legends Orlando Cepeda and Juan Marichal being customers there in the ’90s. “Orlando used to love their yucca,” Hernandez recalled with a soft smile.
More recently, in May of last year, Mission residents filled Las Tinajas to the brim to meet the 2023 Nicaraguan Miss Universe, Sheynnis Lacayo. Hernandez described the occasion as his fondest memory at the restaurant, one he will never forget.
A Guatemalan restaurant is expected to take over the space, but it is unclear when.
New restaurant coming to original Doc’s Clock space on Mission
The former Doc’s Clock at 2575 Mission St. has been vacant since 2017, when the legacy bar moved down the street to 2417 Mission St. But, last month, the building owners received a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission to merge the space with the adjacent storefront.
The new space will be nearly 4,000 square feet, big enough to host a Mexican restaurant and bar.
“It’s gonna be a little more upscale, a place where people can dine in and hear a little bit of music,” said Leticia Luna, the owner of the building and future restaurant.
Luna owns Roccapulco, a music venue and club at 3140 Mission St., and has opened other restaurants in the city. The space in the Mission, however, will be her first food venture in the neighborhood where she grew up.
“It makes me feel good,” said Luna. “I’m involved in the Mission neighborhood. I’m part of Carnaval, and I have my hands on a lot of things there.”
Luna said opening day has not yet been set, and that there’s no name for the restaurant yet. She also plans to rent it out for private celebrations.
Mandi House will bring Yemeni food to Valencia
A little piece of Yemen is what Adel Alghazali wants to bring to the corner of Valencia and 18th streets: He’s opening a new restaurant called Mandi House at the site of the former Petra Mediterranean.
“The minute you walk in, you’re not going to think you are in America. It’d be a totally different place,” said Alghazali, who plans to have decor brought straight from his native Yemen to create ambiance for his clients.
Mandi House is expected to open in late November at 680 Valencia St. The name is a tribute to a Yemeni dish consisting of meat and rice cooked in a pit.
Once open, Alghazali said customers can expect fresh and organic products with halal meats cooked with spices, also brought directly from Yemen.
Hamburgers replacing sushi on Guerrero
Handroll Project, a sushi and handroll restaurant, closed its doors in August after three years at 598 Guerrero St. at the intersection with 18th Street. A sign for the new “Hamburger Project” now sits above the front door of the building.
The original Hamburger Project opened at 808 Divisadero St. in December and sold more than 1,000 burgers in its first two days. After rapid success, a social media scandal broke when one of the chefs messaged a food influencer after she described the burgers as “not great.”
The chef, Greoffrey Lee, lost his job as a result.
It is unclear when the Guerrero Street Hamburger Project will open.
Fried Chicken Palace
A new business called Fried Chicken Palace registered with the city on Sept. 1 at 2240 Mission St., the former home of Wes Burgers, which closed in July after 13 years in the Mission.
Mission Local reached out numerous times to business owners, but they did not reply to a request for comment.
Taqueria Los Altos takes over now-empty Taqueria San Jose space
For the first time in years, Mission residents will see a taqueria other than Taqueria San Jose at 2830 Mission St., right off the 24th Street BART plaza. Taqueria Los Altos is taking over the space left empty by Taqueria San Jose, which moved across the street in July.
A construction worker said Friday morning that the business is expected to open late this month. Mission Local could not reach the business owners.
The return of Beauty Bar — maybe? Finally?
Jahaziel Garay, owner of Beauty Bar, confirmed Friday morning that the bar’s return is closer than ever. The business closed its doors last April after its previous owners sold the business.
Garay said that, after unexpected delays, Beauty Bar is set to reopen in late October or early November. Its reopening has been pushed back before, however: It was originally slated for the end of 2024, and then again this April.
Corey’s Pizza still without permits
Corey Rogers, a longtime bartender at the 500 Club, hoped to open Corey’s Pizza later this year at the former home of Turner’s Kitchen at 3505 17th St., which closed in January. The process of getting permits, however, has proven more challenging than anticipated, leaving him without an opening date.
Rogers’ three previous attempts to get the permits for the restaurant build-out have been unsuccessful, though it is unclear why. On Friday, he was on his way to a fourth attempt to get them approved.
Once open, Rogers said he hoped to create a business reminiscent of his childhood.
He wrote in an Instagram message on Friday morning that he imagines the new place will be like the ones he grew up with: A takeout place for a grab-and-go slice. It will have a counter and a small seating area. Customers will be able to bring their food to the 500 Club.
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Oscar Palma
Reporting from the Mission District and other District 9 neighborhoods. Some of his personal interests are bicycles, film, and both Latin American literature and punk. Oscar’s work has previously appeared in KQED, The Frisc, El Tecolote, and Golden Gate Xpress.More by Oscar Palma
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