3 days ago
San Francisco Says Goodbye to 99-Year-Old Fisherman's Wharf Institution
A cornerstone of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is coming down. Alioto's, a 99-year-old Sicilian seafood restaurant that survived fires, earthquakes, and generations of diners, will be demolished as part of a sweeping $10 million renovation of the iconic waterfront.
Once the wharf's first permanent building, Alioto's began as a modest fish stand in 1925 before evolving into an 11,000-square-foot institution known for Dungeness crab and shrimp cocktails. Its founder, Italian immigrant Nunzio Alioto, carved out a legacy that weathered decades of change until the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the family-run restaurant for good in 2020.
SFGate reported that efforts to revive Alioto's failed, according to Port Director Elaine Forbes, who said the structure's age, deterioration, and costly repair needs scared off potential operators. So instead of another tenant, the site will become part of a new public plaza, complete with lighting installations and scenic overlooks.
The first phase of the project is scheduled to wrap by summer 2026. Plans include direct access to docked fishing boats, where visitors will once again be able to buy fresh fish and crab straight from the source.
Alioto's isn't the only lost legend. Longtime fixtures like Fishermen's Grotto and Tarantino's are also gone. But fresh names are moving in. Salvadoran spot Chasca Rio will open in the former Pompei's Grotto by year's end, and Everett & Jones barbecue will take over Lou's Fish Shack's old space on Jefferson Street.
The port's long-term plans stretch through the next 75 years, with a focus on climate resilience. Projects will strengthen seawalls, flood-proof buildings, modernize retail and public spaces, and support the fishing fleet that gives the wharf its name.
Fisherman's Wharf drew 10 million visitors in 2024, and San Francisco hopes these updates will keep that number climbing even as it says farewell to one of its oldest culinary Francisco Says Goodbye to 99-Year-Old Fisherman's Wharf Institution first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 9, 2025
