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San Francisco Chronicle
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Free outdoor movie nights bring classic films to San Francisco's Union Square
Imagine watching the opening scene of Alfred Hitchcock's ' The Birds,' with star Tippi Hedren crossing in front of San Francisco's Union Square as the title creatures begin to amass, while actually seated on Union Square. That will happen, thanks to 'Cinema on the Square,' a free three-film Saturday night outdoor movie series that begins Aug. 16 with ' Mrs. Doubtfire,' Chris Columbus ' 1993 San Francisco-shot comedy classic starring Robin Williams. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a preshow that includes a Mrs. Doubtfire look-alike contest. Other screenings include ' Big Hero 6 ' (2014), an animated robotics and tech movie set in 'San Fransokyo,' on Sept. 20; and 'The Birds' (1963), which was filmed mostly in Bodega Bay, on Oct. 4. Each screening will be preceded by a preshow featuring movie trivia, prizes and entertainment. For more information, go to The series is presented by Mayor Daniel Lurie, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Alamo Drafthouse and Biederman Redevelopment Ventures Corporation, a consulting firm tasked with programming and reimagining Union Square. 'Our administration is working every day to bring energy and vibrancy back to downtown, and events like Cinema on the Square are building on that momentum,' Lurie said in a statement. 'When downtown is dynamic, visitors come to our city and support our businesses and restaurants — that's how we support our economic recovery.' Cinema on the Square is billed as the latest in BRV's 200 days of programming in Union Square, part of Lurie's efforts to reinvigorate the beleaguered district, which the city says is visited by 10 million people a year and offers more than 4.8 million square feet of retail space. 'We want everyone to feel like there's something for them downtown. Whether you're a shopper, food-lover, or just enjoy people-watching — there's a lot of new energy in and around Union Square, and these free movie nights add another reason to make a day of it,' said OEWD Executive Director Anne Taupier in a statement. And watch out for those birds.
San Francisco Chronicle
11-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
This event delivered big when S.F. needed a win in 2023. Organizers canceled it for 2025
San Francisco's Sunset District night market — the wildly popular post-pandemic event launched by Supervisor Joel Engardio — will not return for its third year in 2025. Organizers confirmed that the market will not be held this year and blamed it on delayed reimbursements from the city for events held last year. Though one merchant contacted by the Chronicle said he supports the event, others reportedly have said they no longer support the market and have soured on Engardio, who faces a recall vote in September over the permanent closure of a portion of the Upper Great Highway. Egardio acknowledged the market is 'gone … because the recall campaign poisoned local politics.' The event will return in 2026, said organizer Lily Wong. 'Due to a series of circumstances beyond our control,' Wong said, organizers didn't receive reimbursements for two night markets last year until May of this year — eight months after the last market. 'With this delay in payment, we did not feel confident planning another night market until we were fully reimbursed for the previous markets,' Wong said in a separate statement. 'The Sunset Night Market Collaborative is committed to planning and producing night markets to ensure the continuity of its success.' Wong said organizers are working with the mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development to create a night market 'more in scale with our community, and something the Sunset can be proud to have.' The department told the Chronicle in a statement that reimbursements were delayed 'due to a staffing shortage' and the night market organizers' 'slow submission of required paperwork.' The organizers were paid in full for last year's program in May after some back-and-forth to get the necessary information, according to the agency. 'Conversations about a future activation are ongoing, and we're excited to support an event that champions local businesses and celebrates API culture,' said department director of external affairs Kate Patterson. Last year the night market drew massive crowds of over 10,000, Engardio told the Chronicle, and a second one held in September drew more than 20,000 people after organizers expanded the night market. First launched in 2023, the event was seen by city leaders as a success at a time they desperately needed one, as San Francisco emerged sluggishly from the economic and social effects of the pandemic. A similar series, also popular, was launched in Chinatown. Organizers had intended to host another market this summer, but after the reimbursement delay, they've decided not to. Instead, Wong said, they are working to 'learn from the previous events and improve and enhance any future night markets.' 'We want to create diversity and work to uplift our community,' Wong said. The cancellation comes amid considerable turmoil for Engardio in his westside district. The first-term supervisor could be recalled in September over his championing of Proposition K to permanently close to cars part of the Upper Great Highway, to create a park. The measure passed by 54% of the citywide vote but residents on the west side were livid over the loss of a 2-mile stretch of the city's westernmost coastal boulevard. A business owner in the Sunset, Albert Chow, a supporter of the recall campaign and owner of Great Wall Hardware, told the San Francisco Standard, which first reported the cancellation, that many in the business community in Sunset have soured on the night market and feel that 'Engardio lacks leadership.' Chow did not return messages from the Chronicle. Wong said such detractors aren't representative of the neighborhood because the Sunset night markets have been very popular among residents. Engardio agreed, but also said the recall effort was tied to merchant opposition against him. 'The sunset night market brought joy and customers to Irving Street,' Engardio posted on social media Thursday. 'Now it's gone — not because of lack of interest, but because the recall campaign poisoned local politics. When small businesses lose, we all lose.' Daniel Ramirez, who owns Smokin D's BBQ on Irving Street and 23rd Avenue, told the Chronicle the night market has been challenging to manage. But it's also been a highly successful community-driven event that most merchants are happy with. 'Make no mistake: the vast majority of merchants along the Irving corridor found the Sunset Night Market to be a fantastic event and are eager to see its return,' Ramirez said. 'We're currently working closely with fellow merchants, the community, and organizers to explore how we can bring back another amazing night market experience.' Ramirez added that the night market is a 'true collaboration' between the Sunset, the city and merchants to create a 'fun, family-friendly event' to bring people to the neighborhood post-pandemic. Since then, it has become 'a resounding success,' both drawing enthusiasm for the west side and has been a catalyst for other neighborhoods to launch their own night markets.
Axios
09-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
How a pop-up model is rewriting downtown San Francisco
Downtown San Francisco's experiment to place pop-ups in previously vacant spaces is fostering a fresh generation of local business owners. Why it matters: It marks a new strategy for longevity for Vacant to Vibrant, the grant program launched in 2023 to address the increase of empty spaces downtown. State of play: Vacant to Vibrant is expanding to Union Square this summer and betting on the area's reputation as a luxury retail district to deliver better success for its pop-ups. The organization aims to reach a point of launching two to four pop-ups per month. How it works: When the city partnered with the nonprofit SF New Deal to kickstart the program, both small businesses and downtown property owners were invited to apply on a rolling basis. The selected businesses received a three-month lease to operate with free rent, a grant of up to $8,000 for operating expenses and the option to extend the lease for another three months for free. The model "reduces the risk to both the small business owner to try an idea and also to the property owner to take a chance on a small business owner that might not be able to sign a long-term lease," SF New Deal executive director Simon Bertrang told Axios. Each pop-up also got a project manager to oversee the permitting process and help negotiate with the property owner or leasing company. Funding came from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development as well as corporate philanthropy. What they're saying: All of the grantees Axios spoke to said Vacant to Vibrant helped streamline the permitting process and lower costs. "They're like an incubator, accelerator and micro-investor all in one," Mo Abdelmeguid, owner of slow-bake cookie shop Hungry Crumbs, told Axios. What's typically a 6-8 month process took just two months, he added. What we're hearing: Despite negative perceptions of downtown vacancies, Devil's Teeth Bakery owner Hilary Passman said the demand is there — her pop-up was busy as soon as it launched in 2023 and eventually opened on weekends. Multimedia art studio GCS Agency owner Victor Gonzales, who signed onto a three-year lease during the first cohort, also noted that "activity breeds activity." He's been able to offer his studio as a space for neighboring organizations to use. By the numbers: Vacant to Vibrant has helped open 18 storefronts. A total of 11 have signed long-term leases. Three more pop-ups, including beloved taco purveyor Al Pastor Papi, were announced last month. Yes, but: Foot traffic is still not at pre-pandemic levels.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Celebrity chef's cafes close on Union Square
SAN FRANCISCO - Celebrity chef Tyler Florence has pulled out of two cafés on San Francisco's Union Square. The city confirmed that Miller & Lux closed on Union Square, now the city is looking to see who can fill those voids. Workers made trips in and out of the Miller & Lux bakery on the southwest corner of Union Square removing items from the now closed café. The Miller & Lux Provisions location across the square has a sign in the window that it's temporarily closed for repairs and renovations. It's now clear neither location will reopen. San Francisco's Recreation and Parks Department released a statement reading in part: "Miller & Lux stepped into the space with a pop-up during a critical time for the area, bringing energy and great food when it was needed most. While they've made the decision to move on, we're grateful for their time here and optimistic about the future of these café spaces." Tyler Florence opened the stores in 2023, at the time saying he'd signed a three-year lease, and wanted to be a part of the neighborhood's economic recovery. "We're all in this together to do what we can to bring San Francisco back," said Florence in November 2023. Former President of the Board of Supervisors Aaron Peskin said he worried about the deal with the Department of Recreation and Parks and the mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development as it was being made; saying a $440,000 grant to improve the area was intended to fill vacant businesses on Powell Street between Geary and Market. Now he said he hopes the city takes a valuable lesson from the closure of the celebrity chef's Union Square locations. "I hope that the mayor really holds Rec and Parks and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development accountable and asks tough questions and gets real answers and structure future leases in such a way that folks like Tyler Florence will be held accountable," said Peskin. The OEWD said it oversaw the $440,000 grant to expedite the opening of Florence's restaurant locations on Union Square, which were open in time for the 2023 holiday shopping season. The OEWD said Florence's Miller & Lux locations helped boost business in the area, and that a $2 million grant from the state for improvements to the café spaces will continue, and those spaces will be ready for the next tenant. Local bakery b. patisserie stepped in over the Chinese New Year and NBA All Star weekend. The Union Square Alliance thanked Florence for stepping in at a critical time, but is already preparing for the next tenant to fill these locations. "b. patisserie came in and enjoyed the wave of NBA All Star week," said Marisa Rodriguez from the Union Square Alliance. "So we're going to keep that energy moving and keep the location just as hot as it's ever been. So, we're excited." The Recreation and Parks Department has said the b. patisserie pop-up over the All Star weekend was a success, and they're looking forward to working with them on a longer-term deal.
