Latest news with #BrandonGillis
Eater
22-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
Why a San Francisco Mini-Chain of Italian Restaurants Just Filed for Bankruptcy
Have no fear: Though two Fiorella locations in San Francisco just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, they're not going anywhere. The popular Italian restaurant mini-chain's co-owner Brandon Gillis told the San Francisco Chronicle the decision was 'calculated.' The two outposts in question are the Clement Street restaurant and the Ninth Avenue Sunset spot. Operations at the two restaurants, and the two other Fiorellas in San Francisco, remain unchanged. The Clement Street restaurant filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday, May 20, and the Sunset restaurant on Tuesday, April 1. Court documents reviewed by the Chronicle show the Richmond District restaurant owes 'just over $1 million to creditors including wine distributors, meat purveyors and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.' The Sunset outpost's 'total liabilities were between $500,000 and $1 million.' New fancy steakhouse bound for Levi's Stadium The Clara District, San Jose's still-being-built neighborhood next to the home of the Sharks, just received confirmation of its first anchor restaurant. An unnamed 'Italian-style steakhouse' is en route before Super Bowl 2026, which will be hosted at Levi's Stadium. The Mercury News reports the business comes from the same team behind Saratoga restaurants Hero Ranch Kitchen and Flowers. It'll go inside the AVE Santa Clara upscale apartments, a new development that will eventually house thousands of residents. Baklava cafe opening in Upper Haight There's something in the water outside Buena Vista Park (no, nothing like that). Across the street from newcomer Coffee Llama — in the former Ritual Coffee location — Cafe Velora is set to open any day now. The business will be open seven days a week, selling coffee, sandwiches, bagels, and baklava. Velora takes over the dormant 1317 Haight Street lease, next to the former Central Haight Cafe. Solo chef-driven pop-up announces summer dates Tartufino, which debuted last fall, is run by chef-owner Shawn Phillips and is a no-joke operation. In a city awash with pop-ups, this one comes with a top-tier pedigree: Phillips cooked at the French Laundry, Saison, and Atelier Crenn, to name a few. His new-ish operation is busy this summer, taking over Tal Palo in Los Altos on June 7, 14, 21, and 28. In the city, he'll cook at Birba on June 8, 15, 22, and 29. Follow Tartufino's Instagram for more details. Sign up for our newsletter.
San Francisco Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Popular S.F. Italian restaurants file for bankruptcy
A San Francisco favorite for wood-fired pizza has filed for bankruptcy at two of its four locations. Fiorella entered filings for its Richmond District and Sunset District locations, each operated by different limited liability corporations, for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing type allows owners to continue operating a business while restructuring debt. Co-owner Brandon Gillis emphasized that the two restaurants would not be closing. 'These are calculated decisions that were made based on keeping our great team and continuing to feed people,' Gillis said. Fiorella filed for bankruptcy for the Richmond District location, at 2339 Clement Ave., on Tuesday. Court documents show Project Pizza, LLC, which owns the location, owes just over $1 million to creditors including wine distributors, meat purveyors and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Documents show the company has $78,855 in assets. The operator of Fiorella's Sunset location at 1240 Ninth Ave., Project Pizza Sunset LLC, filed for bankruptcy on April 1; it held $499,481.74 in assets, according to the filing, while its total liabilities were between $500,000 and $1 million at the time of the filing. Fiorella operates another two San Francisco locations under separate LLCs: one in Russian Hill, 2238 Polk St., and its latest in Noe Valley, at 4042 24th St. The restaurants share similar menus, with pizza and pastas plus specials. Co-owners Boris Nemchenok and Gillis founded the first Fiorella in the Richmond a decade ago. Gillis is hopeful for the future of his restaurants. 'I'm a really strong believer in San Francisco and I feel like the city is starting to reach a place where we can rebound,' he said.
