As we heard back in December, 25-year-old Financial District institution Gio’s (521 Commercial Street) is closing, and now the Chron announces that Friday will be their last day. The tucked-away boozy lunch spot in the shadow of the TransAmerica pyramid, also popular for after-work drinks, built its clientele among bankers and all those who were attracted to the Barbary Coast vibe cultivated by longtime owner and bartender Giovanni Costabile. The space has been a bar since at least before World War II, and Costabile says that while it wasn’t a speakeasy during Prohibition, he told the Examiner that they did make wine in the basement and sell it to customers who would take it home in a brown bag. After Friday, the owners of the nearby Irish Times will be taking over the space to open a new bar and restaurant, with a new name to be announced. [Chron, Earlier]
