24-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Former Lucca Ravioli site in San Francisco's Mission to become Square business hub
Square is taking over the long-vacant site of the beloved Lucca Ravioli Co. in San Francisco's Mission District — at least for now.
The Jack Dorsey-led financial technology company, which operates under parent company Block, plans to open the Corner Store, a temporary community and business hub, next week inside the historic building at the corner of 22nd and Valencia streets.
The space, once home to the 94-year-old Italian deli that closed in 2019, will be transformed into a resource center for local entrepreneurs.
Where clerks once served salami sandwiches in paper hats and fresh pasta was made in the back, visitors will now find Square's sleek payment devices and in-house consultants — more tech boutique than traditional deli.
First reported by the San Francisco Business Times, the new venture will operate as a daytime storefront for small business support and product sales.
A curated selection of products from Mission-based Square sellers will be available, alongside Square hardware — including the newly announced Square Handheld — for purchase on-site.
In the evenings, the space will host a series of community events — from panels on launching a local business to neighborhood mixers and industry talks.
'As a corner store owner myself, I know how important these establishments are to creating connection and fostering community,' Ramzi Budayr, owner of Dolores Deluxe and host of the 'Forever Neighborhood' podcast, said in a statement. 'Square is continuing to show up as a meaningful partner to local businesses, and setting up shop in the heart of the Mission really drives that accessibility and deep connection home.'
The calendar includes a launch party on Tuesday, May 27, a restaurant-themed night and invite-only sessions with partners such as Sysco and OpenTable. Events run through June, with topics ranging from AI for small business to the immigrant stories that helped shape the Mission.
The building, damaged in a 2023 police chase and left in disrepair for years, was recently restored. It remains available for long-term lease.
The property, consisting of three buildings, was sold by Lucca Ravioli's owners in 2019 for approximately $7 million. A planned artist studio at the site never materialized.
