In its role recognizing longstanding, community-serving, and culturally vital businesses in San Francisco, the San Francisco Small Business Commission (SBC) approved 9 businesses for the Legacy Business Registry on Monday. Including Monday’s action, the SBC has approved a total of 16 businesses for the Legacy Business Registry since March 2024. This cohort features El Faro, the maker of the original "Mission-style burrito"; Robert's Corned Meats, the city's oldest corned beef maker; and The Fly Trap, one of the oldest restaurants in San Francisco. Currently, a total of 416 businesses have been added to the Registry, which began in 2015.
As the Legacy Business Program continues to grow, San Francisco is improving benefits offered to Legacy Businesses. In August, the Office of Small Business will roll out enhancements to the existing Rent Stabilization Grant by requiring landlords to share at least 50% of the grant with their tenants.
“Legacy Businesses anchor neighborhoods and provide the backdrop for quintessential San Francisco experiences,” said Cynthia Huie, President of the Small Business Commission. “Yet, while they are beloved, many Legacy Businesses struggle with the same economic challenges and uncertainty as younger establishments. We are happy to be able to continuously improve the program, bolstering Legacy Businesses through the Business Stabilization Grant.”
Meet the 16 new additions to the Legacy Business Registry:
Bissap Baobab
2243 Mission St., Mission District
Nominated by Supervisor Hillary Ronen
Bissap Baobab first opened in 1998 and blends dining, culture, live music, and entertainment. Its food service features an array of dishes that reflect French West African culture. Additionally, the venue is known for its artisan cocktails and vibrant Latin and Afrobeat events on select nights, and hosts international performances monthly.
Bob’s Donuts and Pastries
1621 Polk St., Polk Gulch & 601 Baker St., North of Panhandle
Nominated by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
Bob’s Donuts and Pastries is a family owned and operated business established in the 1950s. They specialize in a variety of donuts and pastries including their famous apple fritter and novelty giant donut. They routinely have customers lined up down the street.
Christopher’s Books
1400 18th St., Potrero Hill
Nominated by Supervisor Shamann Walton
Christopher’s Books is an independent community-based bookstore since 1991. In addition to be an anchor business for the 18th Street Potrero Hill business district, the bookstore has been associated with at least two films: “Sweet November” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp.” In “Sweet November,” Charlize Theron’s character lives above the bookstore while actor Keanu Reeves’ character spends much of his downtime in the shop, browsing the shelves. The main character in “Ant-Man” was under house arrest in an apartment above the store, and many scenes in the movie were filmed at 18th and Missouri streets, the location of the bookstore.
El Faro Restaurant
2399 Folsom St., Mission District
Nominated by Supervisor Hillary Ronen
El Faro is a Mexican restaurant established in 1961 that serves authentic Mexican food and is the originator of the San Francisco “Mission‑style Super Burrito.” Local lore is that it started as three overlapping 6” tortillas and only cost one dollar.
The Fly Trap
606 Folsom St., SoMa
Nominated by Supervisor Matt Dorsey
The Fly Trap was founded in 1883 by Louis Besozzi as “Louis’ Fashion Restaurant” at 22 Sansome Street. Over time, his restaurant informally became known as “The Fly Trap” reportedly because of the flies gathering near the many horses parked out front. This history makes The Fly Trap one of the oldest restaurants in San Francisco.
Gallery 444
444 Post St., Union Square
Nominated by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
Located in the heart of San Francisco's historic Union Square, Gallery 444 is a family owned and operated gallery that offers original fine art by more than 20 local and international artists. They provide vibrant, colorful creations by a diverse group of amazing artists. Gallery 444 showcases original prints, paintings, and sculpture and hosts numerous exhibitions, including many that benefit local charities.
Gaslight & Shadows Antiques
2335 Clement St., Richmond
Nominated by Supervisor Connie Chan
Visit Gaslight & Shadows Antiques for a delightful journey into the past, where you can explore a store brimming with thousands of treasures. A store filled with affordable antiques and collectibles of many types, specializing in vintage jewelry, Limoges Porcelain Boxes, ethnic items, art, San Francisco collectibles, and much more. Consignments are welcomed. They also offer a professional photo restoration service to help preserve old family photos, memories, and historical photos.
Java Beach Café
1396 La Playa St. & 2650 Sloat Blvd., Outer Sunset
Nominated by Supervisor Joel Engardio
A San Francisco institution, Java Beach Café has been serving homemade and locally sourced eats for decades. They were the first café to serve locally roasted fair-trade coffee in the Outer Sunset. The business serves the Sunset/Outer Sunset/Ocean Beach neighborhood communities with its two locations – on La Playa and Judah, across from the Great Highway and Ocean Beach and on Sloat Blvd. at the Zoo. Their proximity to the beach also brings in tourists and people from other neighborhoods.
Joanne's Beauty Boutique
1260 Fillmore St., Western Addition
Nominated by Supervisor Dean Preston
Joanne's Beauty Boutique is a hair salon business that focuses on African American hair care and styling. When they first opened in 1976, Joanne's Beauty Boutique was one of the only hair salons that catered to the African American hair type in the Western Addition community. Press and curls and hair relaxers were the most popular and requested service and today is the only local hair salon that still provides this treatment.
Lien Ying Tai Chi Chuan Academy
15A Walter U Lum Pl., Chinatown
Nominated by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
Lien Ying Tai Chi Chuan Academy has been teaching Chinese martial arts, including Tai Chi Chuan, Pagua (also known as Bagua or Baguazhang), Xing Yi (also known as or Xingyiquan), Shaolin Chuan, and weapon forms since 1965. The Academy has been preserving cultural traditions and philosophy by teaching private lessons and contracting with education departments since it was founded.
MPA Design
414 Mason St., Union Square
Nominated by Supervisor Aaron Peskin
Founded in 1969 by Michael Painter, MPA Design is a highly acclaimed landscape architectural and urban design services firm with a portfolio consisting of over 3,000 completed projects. MPA Design is one of the oldest continuously operating design firms on the West Coast.
Nihonmachi Street Fair, Inc.
1581 Webster St., Suite 240, Japantown
Nominated by Supervisor Dean Preston
Nihonmachi Street Fair, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that produces the annual Nihonmachi Street Fair and other Japantown festivals, and also provides services and youth mentorship to the Asian-Pacific community. The street fair is an annual two-day festival that showcases and celebrates the rich tapestry of AAPI culture. Enjoy amazing cultural performance groups on two different stages, Asian Artisans, Children’s World, Doggie World, the Sounds of Thunder car show, and much more. Come to Japantown to experience, embrace, and enjoy a vibrant cultural experience!
The Ramp Restaurant
855 Terry A Francois Blvd., Dogpatch
Nominated by Supervisor Shamann Walton
Originally a public boat ramp and bait shop in the 1960s, The Ramp Restaurant is a well-kept local secret, situated on the water’s edge. The Ramp Restaurant is a traditional waterfront restaurant serving an eclectic menu of seafood, Mexican and simple American fare.
Roberts Corned Meats
1030 Bryant St., SoMa
Nominated by Supervisor Matt Dorsey
Roberts Corned Meats, Inc. is a fifth generation, family-owned business that has provided the foodservice community here in the San Francisco Bay Area with the finest in quality fresh and cured meats since 1910. They specialize in the processing and manufacturing of cured beef and pork, such as corned beef, corned pork, bacon, ham, etc. Roberts Corned Meats is the oldest corned beef company in San Francisco.
Rocco’s Cafe
1131 Folsom St., SoMa
Nominated by Supervisor Matt Dorsey
Rocco’s Cafe is a classic Italian-American-style community restaurant. They focus on homestyle, fresh cooking, serving the Excelsior neighborhood from 1932 to 1993 and the South of Market neighborhood since 1990. Rocco’s Cafe continues its tradition of serving authentic Italian cuisine, reminiscent of old North Beach.
The Verdi Club
2424 Mariposa St., Mission District
Nominated by Supervisor Hillary Ronen
The Verdi Club was founded in 1916 as an Italian American social club. Today it continues as a hospitality venue offering full services for all manner of celebrations and events including weddings, all nature of parties, fundraisers, small graduation exercises, comedy shows, classical and contemporary musical performances, dance lessons, and a variety of weekly dance events.
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.
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.