S.F. Ferry Building cafe will close in ‘sudden and unexpected' move

A popular French cafe is closing at San Francisco's Ferry Building, the latest tenant to say they were suddenly forced to close by management of the famed landmark.
Grand Crêperie, from San Francisco's popular Le Marais Bakery, will close June 30, owners Patrick and Joanna Ascaso announced Tuesday. The closure was 'sudden and unexpected,' they said, and came after attempts to keep the business open.
They said Hudson Pacific Properties, which leases the Ferry Building from the Port of San Francisco, discussed a lease extension for Grand Crêperie in a January phone call, but did not provide a written agreement. Then, in March, Ferry Building management informed them that their three-year lease would not be renewed.
In a March 10 email shared with the Chronicle, Joanna Ascaso wrote to Hudson Pacific Properties that a leasing agent on the January call said she would be sending them a lease and a 'clear commitment was made to renew us.'
The Ferry Building declined to answer specific questions about what happened but wrote in an emailed statement that Grand Crêperie's lease was 'always presented' as short term and 'we are simply letting it expire rather than renewing it.'
'One of the Ferry Building management's ongoing priorities to enhance the building is to make it more accessible in the evenings, and we are looking forward to announcing a new tenant for the space shortly which will have longer hours and support those efforts,' Ferry Building general manager Jane Connors said in the statement.
The situation echoes the recent departure of popular Arab bakery Reem's, whose owner also claimed its closure was 'sudden.'The Ferry Building similarly attributed that decision to a push for more nighttime, full-service dining options. The nearby Red Bay Coffee also closed (though it later returned as a popup coffee van parked outside). The two vacant spaces will be combined and renovated to make way for a new tenant that has yet to be announced.
Grand Crêperie opened at the Ferry Building in 2022, when the landmark was still struggling to recover from the pandemic. The crêperie is a primarily daytime business, focused on sourdough crepes, French pastries (including a viral, giant croissant) and coffee, but recently expanded its hours until 5 p.m. three days a week in response to management's desire for more evening options, Patrick Ascaso said. In January, the Ferry Building had agreed at the Ascasos' request to help the business secure a beer and wine license, they said. The owners also later offered to add cocktails, expand the food menu and redesign the space.
The 500-square-feet crêperie is busy, often with a line out the door, Patrick Ascaso said. It brought in $1.3 million in revenue last year.
Patrick Ascaso alleged that management said on a phone call that Grand Crêperie doesn't fit the 'cultural mix' of the Ferry Building. A Ferry Building spokesperson declined to respond to Ascaso's comment on the record.
'We built a beautiful space, and we entered the building at a period of significant vacancy and were told repeatedly that we were part of bringing it back to life, a flagpole local business,' Joanna Ascaso wrote in the March 10 email to Hudson Pacific Properties. 'We cannot understand why then you would call us out of the blue, three weeks before the end of our current term, when we had upheld everything that was ever asked of us, and the only reason you seem to offer is that we are no longer part of your mix?'
They hope to find a new home for Grand Crêperie. Le Marais has five locations in San Francisco, Mill Valley and Marin.
The Ferry Building has seen major turnover since the pandemic, with new arrivals including Cambodian star Lunette and knife shop Bernal Cutlery. On Wednesday, burger chain Gott's Roadside opened a new cookie counter, an idea which 'came to life from a conversation with the Ferry Building management team,' who wanted to 'activate' the north side of the building, Gott's president Clay Walker said in a press release.
More openings are coming soon: Michelin-star restaurant Sorrel is opening a full-service restaurant and bakery in the former Slanted Door space this year, while San Francisco's famed Nopa and premier fishmonger Water2Table are gearing up to debut a seafood restaurant and market.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Cosmopolitan

2 hours ago

• Cosmopolitan

Sofia Richie Grainge dramatically cuts off her hair for a short French bob

Move over, long locks — Sofia Richie Grainge has officially entered the chic world of jaw-grazing bobs, and we're absolutely here for it. The daughter of Lionel Richie stunned fans with a fresh "French bob" debut on Instagram, documenting the dramatic chop right from her luxe South of France getaway at Hotel du Cap‑Eden‑Roc. Quelle surprise! Gone is the era of sleek buns and whisper‑soft waves. Instead, Sofia's new chin‑length 'do is razor‑sharp, subtly textured, and effortlessly Parisian. "She was nervous, but super excited," London hairstylist and the genius behind the look, George Curran shared with Vogue. Like us, friends, fans and followers of Sofia were just as shocked at the debut, taking to the comments section of her post to share their thoughts (which, included praise from none other than Vanessa Hudgens, may I add...). And not only that, but her husband Elliot gave it two enthusiastic thumbs‑up in her TikTok video documenting the chop. "I think it's really really pretty — it's like...'90s New York,'" he said. Get you a hubby who hypes you up like Elliot hypes up Sofia. #CoupleGoals. Far from a subtle trim, Sofia has lost around six inches of hair, making this French bob a dramatic transformation, to say the least. The style itself is a textbook example of a 'clean‑girl' transformation: minimal effort, maximal impact. Think bold, blunt ends with just enough texture to catch the light — and wind — in all the right ways. And with that, you best believe I'll be taking Sofia's IG post as a reference pic to my hairstylist ASAP. Bobs, here we all come! Follow Lia on Instagram. Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she's an expert in recognising the season's next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You'll usually find her putting TikTok's recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it's true). Find her also on LinkedIn.

Business Insider

6 hours ago

• Business Insider

The hottest status symbols at the Cannes ad confab

Happy Saturday! A 51-year-old woman says she's in the best shape of her life after ditching cardio and getting into strength training. Here's how she did it. On the agenda: A dietitian explains why eating dessert can help you lose more weight and keep it off. A heated debate about location sharing is dividing generations. Creatine is a longevity wonder supplement — and it's not just for gym bros. The new American dream? Buying and renting out vacation homes in Italy. But first: Bonjour de Cannes! This week's dispatch The status symbols CMOs are into More than 15,000 marketing leaders and creatives descended on the French Riviera for this year's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France. And while the thousands of chief marketing officers traded industry secrets and attended panels and networking events, I spent my time on the lookout for the status symbols they were wearing. You know … the important reporting we all want to know about. Right? Right. After spending six days with this group, I noticed two beloved items over and over again. One wasn't a shocker, while the other was a nice surprise. The first status symbol I noticed as soon as I touched down at the airport in Nice, before trekking the 45 minutes to Cannes, was that most of the marketers had Away luggage. It's not a new hot item, but it's easy to see why the brand is beloved by these busy professionals. They have a sleek, minimalist design. They're quite light, around 7.5 pounds, making it easy to head to Cannes or any other locale, and they have wheels that turn 360 degrees. Another travel item I saw time and again throughout my week in sunny Cannes was Celine sunglasses. The French designer's accessory is the ultimate "if you know, you know" product, as they're not deemed trendy. Instead, because of their quality — premium acetate and gold hardware — the sunnies were a favorite among marketers. During my panel at The FQ Lounge, Jennifer Wilson, the CMO of Lowe's, had also noticed the trend and said she had to pick up a pair, which range in price from $300 to more than $500, before she left France. Just desserts You don't have to cut out sweet treats to eat healthier. Having dessert or other favorite foods can actually help dieters reach weight-loss goals, Tara Schmidt, lead dietitian for the Mayo Clinic diet, told BI. The key is moderation. "Allowing for a balanced way of including your favorite foods, a planned indulgence, really helps people feel less deprived," Schmidt said. See her tips for indulging healthier. Do you want to share your location with me? You're likely to get a different answer depending on who you ask. Sharing your location with friends and family has become a heated debate among generations. BI spoke to people from all age groups to find out why. Gen Z is generally chill about it, with some citing convenience as a reason. Gen X is indifferent, seeing the pros and cons. Millennials, on the other hand, are more divided, with some saying they outright hated it or felt no need for it. To share or not to share. The creatine craze is more than just hype Researchers typically have a healthy mistrust of supplements, but creatine is the rare exception. Evidence is piling up about its positive effects on your body, brain, and longevity. Gym bros love creatine because it helps build muscle, but it's not just for bulking up. Early research suggests it can support hormonal health for both women and men. New research suggests creatine can help with brain performance, too. Plus, it's relatively inexpensive. Il (nuovo) sogno americano The new American dream includes buying and managing property outside your main residence. Italy, which boasts Mediterranean charm, a slower pace of life, and plenty of inexpensive real estate, is a prime target for American buyers. Plus, homeowners can personally enjoy their investments when they're not renting them out. It's a way of combining passive income with a familiar place to stay on vacation. Three Americans shared what it's like. What we're watching this weekend "A Minecraft Movie": One of the biggest movies of the year is now on Max. Travel to the world of Minecraft with Jack Black and Jason Momoa. "Love Me": Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun prove love is possible even after humanity's extinction in this unique love story, now available on Amazon Prime. "The Gilded Age": Season 3 of the acclaimed show set in 1880s New York City, starring Carrie Coon and Cynthia Nixon, returns on Max. What to shop Work out in style: Whether you're spending weekends on the pickleball court or out running errands, these super cute exercise dresses will keep you comfy and supported. Made-to-measure suits: Our men's style editor knows a thing or two about looking sharp. He tested Suitsupply's custom, made-to-measure suits and got the best fit he's ever experienced. Here's what it's like to order from them, and what to keep in mind. Cloud Couch dupe: We tested a modular sofa from Sundays that's just like Restoration Hardware's famous Cloud Couch, but way less expensive. If you're looking for a comfy couch to sink into, we can't recommend this one enough. More of this week's top reads: I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at 31 despite being fit and healthy. Doctors brushed off my concerns as pregnancy symptoms. Jason Isaacs reveals the " very low price" the "White Lotus" cast was paid per episode. I spent every summer in Greece as a kid. Here are seven places you should visit that aren't Mykonos or Athens. We moved to rural Oregon to save money. It's been great, but small-town life has its downsides. Ten items from your summer wardrobe to get rid of, according to stylists and designers. I spent a night in a brand-new luxury hotel in Seattle. I wasn't familiar with the chain, but now I'll book it worldwide. McDonald's was ranked the biggest restaurant chain in the US. Here are the other chains that topped the list.

Yahoo

7 hours ago

• Yahoo

Niger to nationalise uranium mine operated by French state-affiliated firm

Niger plans to nationalise a uranium mine operated by French nuclear firm Orano as it continues to pivot away from former colonial ruler, France. The company, which is 90 percent owned by the French state, said on Friday that Niger's military rulers' planned nationalisation of the Somair mine was part of a 'systematic policy of stripping mining assets', threatening to take legal action over the move. The military government – which came to power in a 2023 coup, pledging to review mining concessions – had said a day prior that it intended to take control of the Somair mine, accusing Orano of taking a disproportionate share of uranium produced at the site. Orano holds a 63 percent stake in Somair, while Niger's state-owned Sopamin owns the remainder, but the government said that Orano had taken 86.3 percent of production between the mine's launch in 1971 and 2024. 'Faced with the irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behaviour by Orano, a company owned by the French state, a state openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 … the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalise Somair,' the authorities said on military leaders have turned their back on France since taking power, seeking closer ties with Russia instead. In 2024, Niger removed Orano's operational control of its three main mines in the country: Somair, Cominak and Imouraren, which has one of the largest uranium deposits in the world. On Friday, Orano said it intended 'to claim compensation for all of its damages and assert its rights over the stock corresponding to Somair's production to date'. Orano, which has been operating in Niger for 50 years, is involved in several arbitration processes with the country. Last month, it sued the Nigerien authorities after the disappearance of its director and the raiding of its local offices. Niger's decision to nationalise Somair comes amid a wave of mine nationalisations across West Africa, notably in Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which are governed by military governments.