The sidewalks may look nice now, but most of us remember the “improvement” process of a few months back when Valencia Street between 15th and 19th Street became a warren of plywood paths through the dirt, and an obstacle course for anyone in less-than-sensible shoes. The Times/Bay Citizen talked to the owner at Frjtz, Santiago Rodriguez, who says he lost 25% of his business during the construction process. And Grub Street spoke today with chef Christopher Kronner from Bar Tartine, who says that the whole mess “completely killed” their walk-in business, especially on weeknights.
“Where we would normally do 90 covers on Wednesday, we would do 60,” says Kronner. “On the other side of the street [where Frjtz is] it seems like they knocked it out a little faster, maybe in six weeks. But on our side it took months. It was painfully obvious how much slower things were.”
He’s glad it’s all over and looks forward to possibly adding a few sidewalk tables outside the restaurant, and outside their expanded digs next door, permits permitting. But he also notes that they lost street parking spaces in the process, which both hurts business and makes unloading vegetables from his thrice weekly farmers’ market trips a major pain in the ass.
Valencia Street Looks Better, but the Cost Was High [NYT]
Earlier: Chris Kronner Loves Sebo Almost as Much as Ryan Farr’s Burgers [Grub Street]
