A long-established restaurant in San Francisco’s Fillmore district announces it has been forced to close.
The future of several family-owned businesses that have supported the San Francisco area for nearly half a century is in jeopardy. KTVU’s Betty Yu reports.
San Francisco – A popular Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant in San Francisco’s Upper Fillmore neighborhood signs a lease extension after the restaurant and other small businesses in the area were reportedly asked to relocate by their new landlord this summer did.
On Monday, it was announced that La Mediterranee, located at 2210 Fillmore St., has signed a new lease that runs through the summer of 2028. As part of negotiations with the Upper Fillmore revitalization project, diners looking for their chicken fix will be served again on Sundays with Cilicia fillo, hummus and other fine Mediterranean dishes. In addition, the restaurant plans to consider extending its operating hours over time in hopes of increasing foot traffic along the corridor.
The Upper Fillmore revitalization project is being solely funded by venture capitalist and “local native” Neil Mehta.
The group is run by “local resident” and restaurant entrepreneur Cody Allen, who claims to be a small business professional with a focus on locally owned establishments, according to a news release. The group hopes to help small businesses thrive again in Fillmore by “purchasing and renovating properties and offering below-market leases in an effort to reverse the decline of this once-vibrant neighborhood. “There are.”
The organization says on its website that it plans to revitalize the Clay Theater, which it purchased earlier this year. The Clay Theater was closed in 2020 by Landmark Theatres.
In August, we reported that La Mediterranee had nine months left on its lease. At the time, owner Banik der Bedrosian said he planned to vacate the cafe, which his father opened 45 years ago, after the lease ended. The owner’s tone was more upbeat on Monday. He said he is excited about the lease extension and looks forward to working with Mehta and Allen.
“We are pleased to continue serving our loyal customers and community,” Der Bedrosian said. Please look forward to Sunday dining service when it resumes in late January.
It remains to be seen whether this fully allays concerns that the new owners were strictly considering putting upscale retail on the portion of the Fillmore Street property they purchased. .
Mehta, founder of Greenoaks Capital, has committed $100 million to the revitalization project. According to a news release, all of his investment in the project has been donated to nonprofit organizations, and he does not own or have a financial interest in the property or may profit from it. That means no.
The group said many prime properties along the Fillmore Corridor have been taken over by large chain retailers in recent years. Starbucks, which the group purchased on the same lot, refused to extend its lease. The Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project said it sees this as an opportunity to lease property to small business owners and entrepreneurs.
