SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Tucked away on the trendy streets of Cole Valley, you'll find Reverie Cafe, a beloved neighborhood hotspot that's been a staple of its community since 2002.
"We've had a lot of events here over the years. We've had marriages, we've had baptisms," said Reverie Cafe's owner, Roger Soudah.
But on Sunday, Reverie will be closing its doors for the last time.
Driven out of business, its owner says, by disputes with the landlord over issues like rising rent and leasing conditions.
MORE: Beloved Oakland bakery A Taste of Denmark closes after 93 years: 'Sad to see them go'
But it's not just the Reverie Cafe.
Across San Francisco, small businesses continue to struggle.
"Our streets are tragically dirty, and we're short on police officers so enforcement is difficult," Soudah said.
Reverie's closure has even made waves at city hall.
Cole Valley's supervisor, Rafael Mandelman, posting on Facebook about the "worrying development" of storefronts in San Francisco neighborhoods.
The Golden Gate Restaurant Association says, in addition to the challenges that come with operating a business in the city, recent economic realities have hit the hospitality industry hard.
MORE: Popular SF clothing boutique to close Noe Valley location after over 2 decades in business
"Certainly other costs are raising. Food costs continue to go up. And then staffing costs have gone up. So it creates a lot of challenges," said Amy Cleary of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association.
Despite those very real obstacles, context is also key says the Bay Area Council.
Their data shows that more residential areas have actually flourished since the start of the pandemic, while places like downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods continue to suffer.
VIDEO: Love story: Oakland couple fell in love 15 years ago, opens 2nd café at business where they met
"Those places many more businesses closed than opened during the pandemic. But a lot of the southern sort of neighborhoods, actually saw more businesses open than close," said Abby Raisz.
But back at Reverie Cafe, they're just focused on the next few hours.
Trying to make the most out of the time they have left.
"I'm really going to miss my staff. The future is uncertain," Soudah said.
If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
Copyright © 2023 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
"cafe" - Google News
February 19, 2023 at 06:49AM
https://ift.tt/VfJARHX
Beloved Reverie Cafe closing its doors after nearly 21 years amid 'worrying trend' of shuttered businesses in San Francisco - KGO-TV
"cafe" - Google News
https://ift.tt/giPYNEj
https://ift.tt/hgeANMW
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25244079/4.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment