San Francisco food truck opening pop-up shop thanks to downtown revitalization
A program that seeks to revitalize downtown San Francisco by activating vacant spaces is expanding this summer.
One of the recipients is a popular taco truck that will get a pop-up in the Union Square area.
Al Pastor Papi was once received honors for 'Top Bay Area Burrito'. They offer Mexico City-style tacos and flavor.
SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco's Vacant to Vibrant program is expanding once more with plans for a Union Square restaurant and other businesses that will fill once-vacant properties in the city's downtown. One of the recipients is bringing their authentic tacos to the area in their first brick and mortar.
The revitalization effort, which is a partnership between the nonprofit SF New Deal that supports small businesses and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, seeks to transform downtown and boost the economy.
Vacant to Vibrant started in 2023. This week, officials behind this partnership said this summer's openings will mark a significant milestone for the program. They've seen their 21st storefront opening since the program's launch and another 25 businesses are slated to open over the next year, they said.
Miguel Escobedo, founder and chef of Al Pastor Papi, is one of the recipients of the program.
He's no stranger to the Bay Area's culinary scene. In 1999, he and his brother founded Papalote. That endeavor put him on the map and got him exposure on the Food Network.
"I left that in 2017," he said. His brother still runs Papalote, but Escobedo went on to run Al Pastor Papi, founding the food truck in 2018. "I was a food truck for six years," said Escobedo.
He went on to get recognized by the San Francisco Chronicle as having the "Top Bay Area Burrito." KTVU caught up with Escobedo back in 2022 where he demonstrated what it takes to make his burrito. At the time, he told us he went to a culinary institute in Mexico City to learn the art of al pastor. He was born in Mexico City.
He said Mexico City-style tacos got a little lost in the whole birria craze (those are the cheesy, juicy tacos you dip in a consome.) He reminds us of this very important detail: "The original Mexico City-style taco is a corn tortilla, protein, onion, cilantro and salsa."
He says 'El Trompo', the vertical spit roast, makes all the difference to his al pastor, the spit-roasted pork used in his dishes.
The turnaround in getting this brick and mortar opportunity is pretty fast. Escobedo said Vacant to Vibrant reached out to him in early March. The space for his pop-up is reportedly in a former Chipotle franchise.
"We're truly a block from Union Square. That was the beauty of the project," said Escobedo. "This is a unique experience for both of us. They were looking for an established brand in San Francisco."
He said he's seeing tremendous support from SF New Deal.
"Vacant to Vibrant is a movement that proves small businesses are the heartbeat of a thriving city," said Simon Bertrang, executive director of SF New Deal, the nonprofit that runs Vacant to Vibrant.
He said they are working hand in hand with local small businesses, property owners and key partners like JPMorganChase on building a downtown that reflects the diverse spirit of San Francisco.
"These long-term leases downtown and new pop-ups in Union Square signal real momentum, showing that when we invest in small businesses, we invest in the future of our city," Bertrang said.
Escobedo said it's an honor to bring his authentic flavor to what he undeniably considers an "iconic neighborhood." He was enthused to be just two blocks from the Powell Street Cable Car Turnaround.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said the Vacant to Vibrant program is reinvigorating downtown.
"Every time a new business takes over a vacant space, it breathes new life into our commercial corridors," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "By breaking down barriers for small business owners, Vacant to Vibrant is fueling San Francisco's comeback.
Lurie thanked JPMorganChase for their support of the public-private partnership. The firm is furthering its commitment to the program with an additional $500,000 in funding. One of their representatives said they believe small and mid-sized businesses are the backbone of the economy.
What's next
You can expect Al Pastor Papi to make its debut at 232 O'Farrell Street near Union Square this summer.
Other downtown pop-ups included in this summer's Vacant to Vibrant expansion include: Nooworks, a Mission-based apparel brand, at 236 Powell Street in the Union Square area. Craftivity, a hands-on arts and crafts studio that specializes in team-building experiences and creative group events, will pop-up at 215 Fremont Suite 1.
In addition to new pop-ups, four businesses that opened last summer through the program will get long-term leases. Businesses that have now signed multi-year lease agreements include: Hungry Crumbs at 215 Fremont Street, 5B, Koolfi Creamery at 50 Fremont Street, Paper Son Cafe at 303 2nd Street, N102, and Studio Aurora at 302 Valencia Street.
These businesses join seven others that were previous recipients of the Vacant to Vibrant program in securing long-term leases.
Andre Torrez is a digital content producer for KTVU. Email Andre at andre.torrez@fox.com or call him at 510-874-0579.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
3 hours ago
- Epoch Times
America's Defense Hinges on Making It Here
When the U.S. unleashed 14 of its massive 30,000-pound Massive Ordinance Penetrator (MOP) bombs on Iran, I couldn't help but think: we could use them all up before they can be replaced. Having spent 27 years in the Navy to include during two major wars, I've seen this story before—military operations often chew through hardware faster than we can keep up. The fix isn't just more money; it's a CHIPS Act-style plan to build what we need, here and now.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Young San Franciscans aren't going to bars. They're hanging at the library
It's no secret that young people in San Francisco don't frequent bars and nightclubs the way they once did. This has left many perplexed. If the city's dwindling population of 20-somethings isn't drinking and dancing, what are they doing? This 20-something has spent much of her time this summer at the San Francisco Public Library. And based on my observations, plenty of other young adults have, too. No, we aren't geeks. The library is cool. To start, it's a free third space — a perk that cannot be overstated in this ridiculously expensive city. I recently visited the Chinatown library shortly before it closed at 8 p.m. There was barely an empty seat in the house. And it was impossible not to notice the sizable number of young adults. Is it any surprise we'd forgo a moody bar when a glass of wine can set you back $20 these days? Meanwhile, the library's marketing and community engagement teams have made concerted efforts to capture the attention of millennial and Gen-Z audiences. Their smart gamification strategy is working. The library offers a tote bag as a prize for completing its Summer Stride program — which challenges residents to complete 20 hours of reading from June through August. I was already excited to see the design. Then I discovered the library would also be offering a Trader Joe's-style mini tote this summer. 'We really got on board with the idea that we needed to try and compete with Trader Joe's,' Michelle Jeffers, the library's chief of community programs and partnerships, recently told me, laughing. The grocery chain's $3 mini tote bags became a viral social-media sensation this year, with people waiting for hours in line for the chance to snag one. The bags sold out in minutes and are now being hawked online with asking prices as high as $49,000. Library Community Engagement Manager Alejandro Gallegos told me he was 'skeptical' of the mini tote plan at first, but as soon as he saw the tiny bags, he was sold. San Francisco readers are, too. When I talked with Jeffers and Gallegos in late July, almost all of the library branches had already run out of the mini totes. It's a sign that, despite the prevailing winds of our digital age, libraries can still succeed at getting people of all ages to engage with that most analog of pleasures: reading books. Since the pandemic, the number of people completing the Summer Stride challenge has steadily increased. In the 2022 fiscal year, 10,515 people claimed their tote bags, a nearly 328% increase from the prior year, according to the library's annual report. By 2024, the total had boomed to 18,300 people — a 14% increase from the year before. So much for the idea that summer reading challenges are just a way to incentivize kids to crack open books when they aren't in school. In recent years, a growing number of libraries, bookstores and literary groups have begun letting adults in on the fun — a sign of their craving for authentic community following years of isolation and the app-ification of relationships. The San Francisco Public Library expanded its summer-reading challenge to include teenagers and adults around 2008, when officials discovered 'that a lot of people that weren't kids wanted to participate,' Jeffers told me. It turns out that when you offer 'something really fun and exciting' with 'no barriers' to entry, people will sign up in droves, Jeffers said. I wasn't thinking of these admirably democratic arguments last year, when I first learned about Summer Stride. I was focused on getting my hands on the adorable tote hanging over the check-out counter — with 'READ' emblazoned in puffy blue cloud-like letters above a pigeon clutching an open book in its talons. Yes, I already had a not insignificant tote-bag collection. But there was no way I was going to leave without this one. When I asked the librarian if it was for sale, she smiled and said it could be mine for free: I just needed to track 20 hours of reading across the next few months. So that's what I did — with a level of fervor I hadn't displayed since elementary school, when my fifth-grade class participated in a challenge sponsored by the San Jose Sharks hockey team called 'Reading is Cool.' Whoever read the most books each month won a Sharks-branded medal with a vibrant teal ribbon. (Yes, I made nabbing those medals my entire personality.) This summer, my pursuit of the coveted mini tote helped me realize how libraries can be a refuge from the crush and cynicism of contemporary society. Anyone can sit down and read in their cool and quiet embrace. No one is judging you for your age or aesthetic or your drinking choices. And the incredible amenities — a daily printing allowance, access to major publications and streaming services, job training, museum and park passes — cost you nothing. There's also a surprisingly comfortable and peaceful companionship that comes from browsing the shelves with other readers or working quietly alongside others at long tables. You don't need to talk, but if you do, it doesn't feel like approaching a stranger. You intrinsically know you're part of a larger community. Is it any wonder that so many of us are choosing the library over other social spaces? Emily Hoeven is a columnist and editorial writer for the Opinion section.
Los Angeles Times
17 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Luke's Lobster, popular East Coast chain, is rolling into Newport Beach
Buttery lobster rolls are making their way to Balboa Island later this month. That's when Luke's Lobster, a popular family-owned restaurant chain anchored in Maine, is aiming to open its first Orange County location. For the uninitiated, Luke's Lobster began in 2009 as the creation of Luke Holden, a third-generation lobsterman from Portland, Maine. Since then, the restaurant has served up its New England-style chilled lobster rolls to satiate seafood cravings. O.C. will soon acquaint itself with the East Coast eatery's rolls made Luke's Way — toasted, buttered split-top buns stuffed with wild-caught lobster, crab or shrimp, a dab of mayonnaise, a splash of lemon butter and a seasoning blend sprinkled in. Can't decide on what seafood stuffing? Fret not. The rolls can also be ordered as a flight. Additionally, the Balboa Island location is primed to serve other menu staples like New England clam chowder, Cape Cod potato chips and craft sodas. With summer winding down, customers can expect counter service from the Luke's Lobster shack, allowing for them to grab a bite before heading to the beach. Besides the food, what also sets Luke's Lobster apart is its commitment to food-chain transparency and sustainable-sourced seafood practices, which has led it to be a Certified B corporation concerned with social and environmental goals since 2018. In the meantime, the chain has expanded to 30 locations across the U.S. and internationally. The Newport Beach location follows one opened in Santa Monica last year. A spokesperson for the restaurant didn't have an opening date to share just yet, but the chain is planning to introduce itself to O.C. with giveaways and charitable donations. The website for Luke's Lobster announced that the first 100 patrons who order a select six-ounce lobster roll will get a free promotional beach towel. All throughout its first week of business, the restaurant plans to donate $1 from every lobster roll sold to Serving People in Need, a longtime Costa Mesa-based nonprofit dedicated to helping people experiencing homeless through a number of programs and services. Once up and running, Luke's Lobster at Balboa Island will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for lunch and dinner at 329 Marine Ave., Newport Beach.
