Apply for a grant to open a new storefront

PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING

Cost of opening a storefront

Opening a storefront in San Francisco is a major financial and operational commitment. Costs to open your doors may include, but not be limited to, permits, licenses, equipment, furniture, tenant improvements, deposits, and inventory. This grant is intended to cover only a portion of your startup costs and you must have additional capital to go towards opening your storefront.

You may be ready to open a storefront if:

1. You have consistent revenue
2. You have working capital and reserves
3. You understand the full cost of opening and maintaining a storefront
4. You are prepared for the operational responsibility
5. You have a clear plan for sustaining the business long-term

Applicant minimum criteria:

1. Applicants must have operated their business for at least three years, and the new storefront must be within the same industry
2. Have a signed and executed lease with a commencement date of October 1, 2025 or later

This opportunity is best suited for businesses that are already stable, revenue-generating, and prepared for a long-term commitment to the commercial corridor.

Ineligible
• Past recipients of Storefront Opportunity Grant (SOG)
• Past recipients of the Downtown Vibrancy Loan Fund
• Businesses relocating from their current storefront within San Francisco

Program details

The Storefront Opportunity Grant (SOG) provides a grant between $50,000 - $100,000 to eligible businesses to help offset the cost of their first year of operations. Interested business owners will need to submit an application with an executed lease on or before Friday, May 29th, 2026 at 5:00PM. Submitting an application does not guarantee funding. Funding is at the City's sole discretion.

Program goals:

1. Activate vacant commercial spaces with sustainable small businesses
2. Lower barriers for local entrepreneurs to remain on commercial corridors
3. Strengthen economic vitality of commercial corridors

Applications will be received until Friday, May 29, 2026 or until funding runs out. Before submitting, please check website to ensure funding is still available.

Only leases with a commencement date of October 1st, 2025 or after will be considered

Funding Tiers

Every business journey is unique, and so are the resources required to bring a vision to life. This strategy ensures that every dollar is purposeful, helping create vibrant storefronts and stronger communities.

Retail / Personal Services - $50,000

Examples include, but not limited to, boutiques, salons, fitness studios, and pet services.

Food / Cafe (Limited or No seating) - $75,000

Examples include, but not limited to, coffee shops, bakeries, juice bars, and small cafés.

Bar / Restaurants (Full-service) - $100,000

Examples include, but not limited to, for full-service restaurants, bars, and late-night concepts.

Essential Neighborhood Amenities- $100,000​

• Pharmacies*
• Full-service grocery stores*
  • In order to qualify as a full-service grocery store, the space must be a minimum of 15,000 sqft. fully open to the public for retail sales and offer a wide variety of fresh, frozen, and packaged products, typically including fresh meat, produce, dairy, bakery, deli sections and common household items
• Small business incubator/commissary kitchens
  • Small business incubator/commissary kitchens on the 2nd floor will be considered

*Formula retail applicants are eligible within this category

Ineligible Business Types
Convenience Stores • Tobacco Retailers • Liquor stores • Adult Entertainment • Religious Institutions

OEWD reserves the right to not award a business that does not fit into the neighborhood economic development strategy

Step 1: Check business eligibility

Your business must:

1. Be registered business with the City and County of San Francisco with an active BAN
2. Have $5M or less in gross business revenue on most recent tax return
   1. Full-service grocery stores and pharmacies are exempt from this requirement
3. Have 100 or fewer employees
4. Have 3 or more years of business tax returns within the last 10 years
5. Not have any open notices of violation with any City Department
6. Have a proven track record of 3 or more years of operations
7. Be in good standing with the California Secretary of State
   1. If you are suspended from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), you are not eligible

Nonprofits are eligible if they are revenue-generating and open to the public for programming and/or services and are current with the Registry of Charitable Trusts

Step 2: Check eligible neighborhoods

The Storefront Opportunity Grant is only eligible in the boundaries below. If your newly signed lease is not within the program boundaries, your business is not eligible at this time.

1. Bayview
   1. 3rd Street between Evans Avenue and Jamestown Avenue
2. Chinatown
   1. In Chinatown, the strategy is to fill larger commercial vacancies. Only leases for commercial storefronts of 1000 sqft. of retail space or more will be considered
   2. Within the purple boundaries of Chinatown. Review the map here
3. Downtown
   1. Within the green boundaries. Review the map here
4. Mid-Market
   1. Market Street from 5th Street to Van Ness Avenue
   2. 5th Street to 9th Street between Market Street and Stevenson Street
   3. Stevenson Street from 5th Street to 9th Street
5. Mission
   1. Mission street from 14th Street to Cesar Chavez Street
6. Fillmore
   1. Fillmore Street between McAllister Street and Geary Boulevard
7. The Port
   1. Port-owned properties only
      1. Hyde Street & Jefferson Street to Powell Street & Jefferson Street
      2. Powell Street & The Embarcadero to the Ferry Building/Ferry Plaza

Step 3: Review requirements

Storefront requirements

1. The storefront must be ground floor, open to the public during regular business hours, and commercially-zoned
2. Storefront must be open to the public a minimum of 4 days a week
3. Storefront must be appropriately zoned for the type of business
4. Storefront must be ADA compliant
   1. If storefront is not ADA compliant, business owner must demonstrate they are working towards compliance
5. Storefront must obtain the proper permits, licenses, and pass all City department inspections
6. Depending on the neighborhood, there may be a minimum square footage requirement in order for the storefront to be eligible

Lease requirements

1. The lease must be for a minimum of 3-continuous years
   1. NOTE: Leases that are less than three years with the option for renewal do not qualify for this program

Office spaces that are not open to the public for programming and/or services will not be considered.
Appointment-only businesses will not be considered.

Step 4: Submit application

Interested businesses must submit a complete application to be considered for the Storefront Opportunity Grant. Failure to submit a complete and accurate application may result in disqualification.

Application Overview

1. Business concept and market fit
2. Financial readiness
3. Background and experience
4. Contribution to community
5. Business Information
6. Demographic Information

Applications will be evaluated and business owners who meet the minimum threshold will be invited to present their concept to a panel of community leaders and business advisors.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Submitting an application does not guarantee funding. Funding is at the City's sole discretion.

APPLY
Application portal will close on Friday, May 29, 2026 at 5:00PM or until funding runs out

Step 5: Presentations

Businesses that are chosen to move forward will have to present their concept to a panel of community leaders and business advisors.

We will provide you with presentation template and a 12-month financial projections template. Chosen applicants will receive additional instructions via email.

Presentations will be evaluated on:

1. Clarity and consistency
2. Operational readiness
3. Commercial corridor alignment
4. Community alignment

Presenting to a panel does not guarantee funding

Step 6: Receive funds

After you present to the panel, if chosen, you will receive an official award letter and begin the disbursement process.

Payment

The business owner will work with a nonprofit partner to direct deposit their grant into a business bank account. Detailed instructions will be provided to awardees via email at that time.

Step 7: Grand opening

The business owner will work with OEWD and their Project Manager to schedule a Grand Opening in the community.

Resources

• Looking for application assistance? Contact one of our community partners
• Looking for permitting support? Schedule a meeting with a permit specialist