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San Francisco Chronicle
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.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lucca Ravioli, beloved former Mission District deli, to be transformed into tech hub
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The site of a long-vacant, beloved former San Francisco deli is being transformed into a tech hub — at least temporarily. The deli, Lucca Ravioli in SF's Mission District, had its final day of service in 2019, after 94 years in business. The deli was a long-running favorite with locals and actor Danny Glover was among those who visited it on its final day. Now the site at 1100 Valencia Street is being transformed into 'The Corner Store,' a tech and commerce hub that will be operated by Square. Founded by Jack Dorsey, Square is one of several online payments platforms operated by parent company Block. Square plans to temporarily set up shop at the former deli for a month of 'events rooted in community, growth, and celebration,' according to the Corner Store web page. The events kick off Tuesday with a launch party. Meta reportedly targets 'low performers' again, stoking fears of layoffs The activation's other events include a neighborhood restaurant night, a local business night, a Sysco and Square night, and 'Local Legacies,' a night showcasing the stories of local small businesses. During daytime hours, The Corner Store will operate as a business resource center where local business owners can consult with Square employees and purchase devices like the new 'Square Handheld.' The initiative, according to Square, 'will provide hands-on support and educational resources to area merchants and create a point of connection where home-grown businesses can network and collaborate.' 'As a corner store owner myself, I know how important these establishments are to creating connection and fostering community,' said Ramzi Budayr, owner of Dolores Deluxe and host of the 'Forever Neighbor' podcast. 'I'm looking forward to the programming, events, and meeting more local businesses at the Corner Store, so we can continue to support each other and support the neighborhood we all live and work in.' The Square pop-up is temporary and will run through June. Currently, no long-term plans have been announced for the former Lucca Ravioli location. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign in to access your portfolio
Finextra
14-05-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Square introduces handheld POS device
Today, Square launched Square Handheld, its most powerful, portable point-of-sale device ever. Combining a sleek, durable design with comprehensive, versatile software, Square Handheld enables sellers to manage everything from payments to back-of-house operations right from their pocket. 0 Square's all-new, advanced handheld device adds powerful new dimension to the company's robust portfolio of hardware and software solutions for restaurants and retailers Square's all-new, advanced handheld device adds powerful new dimension to the company's robust portfolio of hardware and software solutions for restaurants and retailers Power Meets Portability Square Handheld is built for fast-moving and operationally complex businesses, offering an ergonomic, pocketable form factor — just 11 ounces and less than an inch thick. It's IP54-rated and designed for durability, standing up to water splashes and dust. Equipped with a large 6.2" Corning® Gorilla® Glass touchscreen and a battery built to power through a whole day, Square Handheld is packed with advanced features, including: Barcode scanningfor speedy checkouts, gift card scanning, and inventory management A16 MP camerafor capturing photos of newly stocked merchandise and updating item libraries Full payments functionalityto capture tap and dip transactions and seamless integration withSquare's ecosystem of software, making managing a business easier than ever It's portable, reliable, and powerful. With Square Handheld, sellers and their staff gain the mobility, speed, and efficiency essential to keep operations steady and deliver high-quality customer experiences — whether they're restaurateurs that need to take tableside orders and manage their floorplan from the palm of their hand, or retailers managing large inventories and letting shoppers check out anywhere on the store floor. Adaptable Software for Every Type of Business Square Handheld is powered by the new unified Square Point of Sale app, bringing years of commerce innovation and technology leadership into a single, powerful hub for running any size or type of business. The redesigned software provides sellers with seven different modes that lets them customize their experience with industry-specific features — such as Quick Service mode, Bar mode, and Retail mode — and the ability to easily add modes when their operations require different or expanded capabilities. Device-specific features like quick settings for easy adjustments and push alerts for timely notifications mean Square Handheld can fit into and improve any in-store workflow, especially for restaurants and retailers, which drove 50% of Square's gross payment volume (GPV) in 2024. From intimate neighborhood wine bars and bustling multi-location restaurants, to local pet shops and sprawling garden centers, Square Handheld gives sellers of all sizes a powerful solution to keep commerce moving. 'Square Handheld is just what we needed. It's tremendously helpful to place orders instantly at each table instead of waiting at a counter and entering multiple tables' orders at once, which introduces wait time to parties that placed their order earlier,' said Trevor Ledergerber, owner of Berkeley, CA's La Mediterranee. 'The device is reliable, comfortable to hold, and fits perfectly into our aprons. The battery is dependable, lasting through two service staff shifts, so we no longer need to worry about plugging it in between lunch and dinner. And we're saving on paper receipt costs, going from 100% print to 75% digital.' Designed to Drive Commerce Square Handheld builds on the company's legacy of hardware design excellence that began over a decade ago with the iconic 'little white reader' and permeates throughout Square's entire portfolio of devices - from two generations of Square Stand, to Square Register and Square Terminal. Representing the company's unique ability to elegantly marry form and function, Square Handheld is one of the thinnest and lightest handheld point-of-sale devices on the market, offering a purposefully engineered solution that's not only built for today's business needs, but designed to evolve and grow with sellers as commerce transforms in years to come. "Running a business, especially a restaurant or retail store, has never been more demanding: every second counts, every team member must find ways to be more productive, and every customer has increasingly higher expectations for when and how they're serviced," said Thomas Templeton, Block's Head of Hardware. "Square Handheld fuses Square's industry-leading design with powerful commerce software to deliver a dynamic device that empowers sellers to keep pace with the breakneck speed of modern business — whether they're a full-service restaurant looking to provide seamless tableside service across multiple dining areas, or a boutique looking to give its clients a refined checkout experience anywhere in-store.' Beginning today, Square Handheld is available for purchase online at Square Shop, starting at $399. And to help sellers get the most out of their Square Handheld, Square has partnered with industry-leading accessories manufacturer Belkin to offer premium protective cases at launch. The Belkin SheerForce cases, which will come in seven different colors, complement Square Handheld's sleek design, add further defense against accidental drops and scratches, and lets businesses match their brand identity to their device. Thoughtfully designed to improve device grip while maintaining Square Handheld's pocketable profile, the Belkin SheerForce case starts at $39 and can be purchased online at Square Shop. Square Handheld was launched today in conjunction with Square Releases — a new biannual product launch that delivers the most important, new Square features and tools — all at once. Born out of feedback from the seller community, Square Releases gives businesses a simple, consistent way to discover what's new, understand what's next, and take action to grow.
Tom's Guide
14-05-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Square Handheld is a waiter's dream come true — and it's something I wish I had 20 years ago
One of the hardest jobs I've had in my life was waiting tables. It taught me the art of putting on a poker face — and it also forced me to have better time management skills. That's because of the amount of back and forth time I've wasted taking orders, entering them into the POS (point of sale) terminal, and then delivering the orders. That's why the Square Handheld is the gadget I've dreamt about all these years. You've probably interacted with Square to some degree and don't realize it, as many businesses use its mobile payments solutions to process transactions for sales. It's very similar to Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and other mobile payments. The company's latest all-in-one mobile payments solution is the Square Handheld, which looks like a chonky smartphone, but can be used for an array of tasks. Not only does it handle payments via tap-to-pay with your phone, but it also serves as a tool to place orders, categorize inventory and seat guests. It's exactly the kind of thing I would've died to have on me serving tables over 20 years ago. Back then, I was already thinking forward and ended up using a Windows Pocket PC PDA that allowed me to jot down orders with a stylus — but the Square Handheld is that and much more. Square sells a range of processing terminals, but the Square Handheld is a mobile POS system that truly does everything that servers and waiters need to do their jobs effectively. If you've ever worked in the food industry like I did, you know that time is the most important commodity at getting a good tip because no one wants to wait long for their orders. First of all, it can be used to seat guests at specific tables through a system that essentially creates a floorplan — complete with table numbers and how many guests to seat. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Rather than wasting time taking orders and going back to a POS terminal to put them through the kitchen, you can use the Square Handheld to do everything right there. This is a big deal because you can even send drinks to the bartender to create and have it ready by the time you're done taking orders, all at the table. If you've ever worked in the food industry like I did, you know that time is the most important commodity at getting a good tip because no one wants to wait long for their orders. And finally, the Square Handheld can take payment in a number of ways — from tap-to-pay with your phone, or traditional credit card swipes. I can't tell you enough how this impacts the customer experience because how long it takes to process a payment could be the deal breaker that could get you good or bad tip. Instead of the extra time dropping off the check, taking the payment, and then processing it at a POS terminal, you can do everything right then and there with the Square Handheld. As much as I would've loved to use the Square Handheld during my server days, it has a purpose beyond restaurants. In fact, I think it offers a comprehensive solution for small businesses such as retail clothing shops, pop-up stores and much more. That's because the Square Handheld can be used to categorize products you might sell and inventory. With its integrated barcode scanner, you could easily add products to your inventory — so that you're not forced to manually do it on a terminal or computer. This makes it much easier to keep track of inventory stock, which could also be synchronized with sales from an online store they might set up. For salons or barber shops, this device can be used to create appointments with Square's own workflow system. This ensures that everything is synchronized, including customer data. Bouncers at bars or clubs could also use the Square Handheld to scan licenses to verify they're the proper age to enter by scanning the bar code found on the back of their drivers' licenses. You'll have to fork over $399 to pick up the Square Handheld, while an optional $39 cost that can get you a Belkin SheerForce Case to protect it. Thankfully, it has an IP54 rating on its own to protect it against dust and water splashes — but the case would help to cushion drops. While you could get away with using Square's free plans to handle the essentials, just know that transactions still incur fees to process payments. For example, an in-person payment fee consists of 2.6% + 15¢ per transaction. Additionally, if you need some of the more advanced functions to tailor to your business' needs, like the ability for restaurants to create floorplan layouts, you'll need to subscribe to one of Square's plans. For this exact feature, you'll have to subscribe to the Square Plus plan that costs $69 per location/month — but it also comes with more reporting and analytics for businesses to look at. Yes, it's an investment, but convenience comes at a cost. I can certainly appreciate it from a waiter's perspective, since it saves a lot of time and would allow for quicker transactions. If time travel were possible, I would absolutely bring this back and give it to my 20-year old self.
Fast Company
13-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Square introduces the Square Handheld, a multipurpose card reader that fits in your back pocket
Square, the popular business technology platform known for its Point of Sale (POS) systems, has launched a new device designed to allow sellers to ring up various kinds of purchases and perform other tasks without carrying around the extra weight of bulkier hardware. The Square Handheld, with a screen that is slightly bigger than a cellphone, is less than an inch thick, thin enough to fit in your back pocket. Handheld card readers currently on the market are bulkier, requiring sellers to use lanyards or handstraps to carry them around. The Square Handheld frees up hands for a more seamless integration into the user's workflows. The device supports a full range of payment options, includes a camera and barcode scanner, and is designed to last. The device is IP54-rated, meaning it can handle water splashes and dust. Users can further protect the device by purchasing a case, offered on the Square online shop and developed in partnership with Belkin. At a product event in New York City last week, businesses that have already trialed the Square Handheld discussed both the device's functionality and the connection to customers that the device helps facilitate. Staff at Cisco Brewers, originally established in Nantucket, Massachusetts, use the Square Handheld's barcode scanner to verify customers' IDs. Other restaurant owners say the device makes placing orders easier. 'It's tremendously helpful to place orders instantly at each table instead of waiting at a counter and entering multiple tables' orders at once,' said Trevor Ledergerber, owner of La Mediterranee, in Berkeley, California, via a press release. Sellers also say they appreciate the connection it creates between businesses and clientele. Maricia Du Plessis, owner of Polly's Cafe in Brooklyn, says that the device operates as a conversation starter as well as being convenient. 'It helps to be able to be superclose to our customers—quite literally—and connect more deeply with them and really understand who they are and what drives their behavior and how we can observe them over time,' Du Plessis said. The device is supported by Square's Point of Sale app, which features seven different modes of functionality, including Bar mode, Quick Service mode, and Retail mode, with the option to expand and customize features as a business grows. The Square Handheld includes customer profiles that businesses have already made with Square, and according to a press release, it can fit into any in-store workflow and is especially suited to restaurants and retailers. 'Square Handheld fuses Square's industry-leading design with powerful commerce software to deliver a dynamic device that empowers sellers to keep pace with the breakneck speed of modern business,' said Thomas Templeton, head of hardware for Block, Square's owner, in a press release.
