On Monday, March 25 the San Francisco Small Business Commission unanimously approved the 400th Legacy Business to the city’s Registry of longstanding, community-serving, and culturally vital businesses. This milestone comes as the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the San Francisco Legacy Business Assistance Program, which will allow rent stabilization grants to go toward both tenants and property owners that sign long term leases.
"Legacy Businesses exemplify the best of what San Francisco offers to the world and I’m proud that we were the first city in the nation to create a program to recognize them,” says Mayor London Breed. “As we continue to build on strategies to support businesses across the city, we celebrate how Legacy Businesses continue to enrich our culture and are essential to our local economy."
“The Legacy Business Program is full of ‘firsts’ and a testament to San Francisco’s innovative spirit,” said Cynthia Huie, President of the Small Business Commission. “From Black and Blue Tattoo, the city’s first woman-owned tattoo parlor; to Moby Dick, one of the Castro’s first gay bars; and now, Ristorante Ideale, one of the first restaurants to serve Roman cuisine. From firsts to icons, San Francisco is proud of our hundreds of Legacy Businesses.”
The city is celebrating the 400th legacy business nearly a decade from when voters established the first in the nation program in 2015 to officially celebrate and support legacy businesses as essential to San Francisco’s character, vibrancy, and economy. The newly adopted legislation enhances the Legacy Business Assistance Program so that property owners that are awarded a rent stabilization grant as an incentive to sign long-term leases must share at least 50% with their Legacy Business tenants.
“It’s been a decade since I was part of the team that created the Legacy Business Program, knowing how vital they are to the fabric of our communities and city,” said Supervisor Hillary Ronen. “It’s gratifying to be able to welcome the 400th business onto the Registry, and I look forward to continuing to welcome businesses into their ranks.”
“I’m proud to have been a co-creator and longtime supporter of the City’s Legacy Business program, including fighting to consistently fund its benefit and incentive programs and staffing,” said Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin. “This program has kept the city’s most beloved neighborhood-serving businesses anchored in commercial corridors citywide, from bakeries, hardware stores and tailor shops to iconic nightlife venues. On the occasion of the addition of the 400th small business to the registry, I want to thank the landlords and small business owners that have successfully used the program to negotiate favorable long-term leases, as well as the city staff who’ve continued to improve on the program every year!”
Ristorante Ideale is the 400th business to receive Legacy Business status from the Small Business Commission. It is a bright and colorful Italian restaurant in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. It has been bringing Roman-style cuisine to North Beach since 1993. Ideale’s chef, Maurizio Bruschi, is a fourth-generation Roman chef , who was taught by his grandmother. Maurizio also co-owns Piccolo Forno in North Beach and Serafina on Nob Hill.
“Getting acknowledged as a Legacy Business means a lot to all of us at the restaurant,” said Ristorante Ideale chef Maurizio Bruschi. “We feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to offer homemade, delicious, and truly authentic Italian food to our neighbors, fellow Italians, and others from all over the world for over 30 years now. We hope everyone reading this comes by to say “ciao” and enjoy a glass of Italian wine with us and an amazing meal like Nonna would have made, knowing they are helping us keep going for many more years. Mille grazie!”
In addition to Ristorante Ideale, the Small Business Commission added the following 12 businesses to the Legacy Business Registry in 2024:
A&W Contractors
1549 Noriega St., Sunset
Nominated by Supervisor Joel Engardio
A&W Contractors started in 1983 as the first Chinese speaking window company in the Sunset and possibly citywide. It is a fixture in the neighborhood, serving contractors, homeowners, and small businesses in the area.
Bay Area Bird & Exotics Hospital
2145 Taraval St., Sunset
Nominated by Supervisor Joel Engardio
Founded in 1989, Bay Area Bird & Exotics Hospital provides veterinary care to avian and exotic pets, like rabbits, rodents, and reptiles. It is the only practice of its kind in San Francisco. Their experienced staff and specialized equipment enable them to handle a wide range of medical and surgical conditions.
Everlasting Tattoo
813 Divisadero St., Divisadero
Nominated by Supervisor Dean Preston
Everlasting Tattoo is a custom tattoo studio providing personalized, exceptional body art. Their excellent reputation is due to custom design work. Every person who works at Everlasting Tattoo is a very skilled artist and must have extensive experience in order to work there. It is not the normal “pick a design off the wall” kind of shop. All work is designed specifically for each customer. Everlasting Tattoo was an innovator of this in the early 1990s when most shops were still “flash” shops.
GFDS Engineers
99 Green St., 3rd Floor, Northern Waterfront
Nominated by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
GFDS is a structural engineering firm that was founded in 1952 by William B. Gilbert. They have a rich history of providing structural engineering expertise to clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Their portfolio includes distinctive landmarks like Ghirardelli Square, Stern Grove Park, Justin Herman Plaza, among others.
Greens Restaurant
2 Marina Blvd., Marina
Nominated by Supervisor Catherine Stefani
Since 1979, Greens Restaurant has offered distinct and ever-changing vegetarian menus dedicated to the seasonal harvests of local farmers and organic gardens. With a panorama view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and local sea life, the Greens Restaurant dining room features grand windows stretching floor to ceiling in a spacious warehouse at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture.
Jewelry Collection
440 Sutter St., Union Square
Nominated by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
Jewelry Collection opened in 1985 by Shirley Tong when she was only 25 years old. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Tong decided to open a jewelry store shortly after her immigration to San Francisco, inspired by her experience with her family’s jewelry manufacturing business.
Liguria Bakery
1700 Stockton St., North Beach
Nomination by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
Liguria Bakery has been providing baked goods and focaccia bread to North Beach and the whole of San Francisco since its founding in 1911. They continue to back the famous focaccia using the original recipe, mixed in an antique machine, and backed in a brick oven.
On The Bridge Restaurant
1581 Webster St., #206, Japantown
Nominated by Supervisor Dean Preston
On The Bridge Restaurant is a family-run restaurant known for its self-described “weird vibes” and unique fusion foods like Japanese spaghetti and okonomiyaki pizza. Chef Mitsuhiro Nakamura is an expert in Japanese sake; the restaurant boasts an extensive selection of sake as well as Japanese beer.
Progress Cleaners
1555 Fillmore St., Western Addition
Nominated by Supervisor Dean Preston
Since 1975, Progress Cleaners have served the Western Addition community. Many generations of customers from parents to their children have patronized the business. Progress Cleaners is often a “meeting ground” for friends and neighbors in the area.
R&G Lounge
631 Kearny St., Chinatown
Nominated by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
R&G Lounge is an iconic Chinese restaurant that began in 1985 as a single-story establishment and later expanded to three stories. The business celebrates Chinese heritage through an iconic brand, traditional food, and genuine excellence. They are especially known for their signature Salt & Pepper Crab.
San Francisco Camerawork
2 Marina Blvd., Building A, Marina
Nominated by Supervisor Catherine Stefani
SF Camerawork was founded in 1974 by a collective of artists who welcomed experimental photography, unconventional techniques, and sociopolitical themes, and who sought to foster a range of alternative styles and approaches. Having launched the careers of several prominent photographic artists, it is an integral contributor to San Francisco’s position as one of the world’s most important centers for creative photography.
About the Legacy Business Registry
A Legacy Business is a for-profit or nonprofit business that has operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years. The business must contribute to the neighborhood's history and/or the identity of a particular neighborhood or community, and it must commit to maintaining the physical features or traditions that define the business, including craft, culinary or art forms. If a business has operated in San Francisco for more than 20 years but less than 30 years, it may still be included in the Registry if the business otherwise faces a significant risk of displacement.
The registration process for the Legacy Business Program includes nomination by Mayor London N. Breed or a member of the Board of Supervisors, a written application, an advisory recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission, and approval of the Small Business Commission.
Inclusion on the Registry provides Legacy Businesses with recognition and support as an incentive for them to stay in the community. The program also provides educational and promotional assistance to encourage their continued viability and success in San Francisco.
The Legacy Business Program is managed through the Office of Small Business. For more information about the Legacy Business Program, including a list and map of businesses on the Legacy Business Registry, visit www.legacybusiness.org.