NEWS

Legacy Business Light: Summer 2025

Office of Small Business

This is a quarterly forum for news and information, for and about the owners and operators of Legacy Businesses.

Welcome to your quarterly newsletter about San Francisco’s Legacy Business Program! It is a forum for news and information, for and about the owners and operators of Legacy Businesses. It includes ways to connect with each other, build your business, and celebrate your contributions to our city.

If you have an announcement or opportunity to share with your fellow Legacy Businesses and those interested in the program, please email legacybusiness@sfgov.org.

The Legacy Business Program is part of the San Francisco Office of Small Business. It is the first-of-its-kind program in the United States and is pioneering a new take on government's involvement in maintaining and promoting the small business community.

New Legacy Businesses

Currently, a total of 461 businesses have been added to the Legacy Business Registry since it started in 2015. Entrants from spring 2025 include:

News

Budget update on the Legacy Business Program

As reported in the previous Legacy Business Light (May 2025), San Francisco faced major budget deficits ahead of the current fiscal year that began on July 1st. To balance the budget, the Mayor’s Budget Office directed departments to reduce spending. For the Office of Small Business to meet those targets, our budget submittal included reducing the budget for the Legacy Business Program's Rent/Business Stabilization Grants as well as cutting the Legacy Business Program Manager position. The final budget for fiscal year 2025-26 was signed by Mayor Lurie last week and maintains the Legacy Business Program Manager position.

Additionally, by tapping unused funds from previous years, we will be able to fully fund both the Business Stabilization and Rent Stabilization Grants. Legacy Businesses and their property owners will receive an update via email in the next week with more detail.

Updated Legacy Business map

On June 27, the Legacy Business Program unveiled the new Legacy Business map, powered by ArcGIS mapping software.

The new map lists all the active Legacy Businesses and pinpoints their locations on the map. Clicking a business opens a pop-up box with information about the business at that location. Map users can filter by business name, type, or neighborhood.

The new map will replace the Legacy Business Registry website.

Press Highlights

S.F.’s newest dining trend? Old restaurants

“This year, at least as far as dining is concerned, what’s old is new again. Izzy’s is one of a handful of legacy San Francisco restaurants that have recently been given a fresh lease on life.”

Read the full article in The San Francisco Chronicle

Chile Lindo, known for empanadas, added to San Francisco's legacy business registry

“The empanada shop's owner Paula Tejeda is proud of her achievement and took over the business in 1995. She says her business is integrated in San Francisco culture while it represents Chilean and South American culture.”

Read the full article in Fox 2 KTVU

Toy Boat Serves Up Ice Cream & Nostalgia on Clement Once Again; Jane Reopens Location with Expanded Menu

“After months of anticipation and construction delays, the beloved Richmond District ice cream institution Toy Boat by Jane officially reopened its doors on Friday (June) 13th, marking a triumphant return for one of San Francisco's most cherished neighborhood gathering spots.”

Read the full article in Hoodline

Legacy Walk in the Mission

In July, the Legacy Business Program added the Legacy Walk in the Mission to its expanding series of all-day walking tours.

The Mission is a vibrant community known for its rich Latino heritage, bold street art, historic architecture, and a dynamic mix of food, music, and culture.

Currently, there are 11 different Legacy Walks throughout San Francisco. Select your favorite neighborhood and experience the community through its Legacy Businesses!

Events

Heritage Happy Hour

Heritage Happy Hour offers a casual “no-host” gathering of heritage professionals, young preservationists, aficionados, friends, and Legacy Business cohorts interested in safeguarding San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity.

August 14, 2025: The Endup, 401 6th St.

Known an San Francisco's most legendary after-hours nightclub and premier day-club, The Endup celebrates dance culture like no other venue. It features a lush tropical patio complete with a cascading waterfall.

Upcoming:

September 11, 2025: The Ramp Restaurant, 855 Terry A. Francois Blvd.

October 9, 2025: Suppenküche, 525 Laguna St.

November 13, 2025: Pier 23 Cafe Restaurant & Bar, Pier 23 The Embarcadero

December 11, 2025: Gino & Carlo, 548 Green St.

Free concerts from the Golden Gate Park Band

At the Temple of Music in Golden Gate Part. Sundays at 1 PM (except 8/31) through September 28th. All concerts that feature music of specific nationalities or cultures include costumed guest performers, dancers, singers, and speakers who will enlighten and entertain.

Celebrate Soko Hardware’s 100th Anniversary

On Saturday, September 23rd, come to Japantown to honor the legacy of Soko Hardware. A J-Town Funk band will be playing at 3:30 PM.

Immersive show by Joe Goode Performance Group

“Are You Okay?” to premiere at the historic Rincon Center in downtown San Francisco–is an immersive, site specific dance theater work that asks how we are managing in a world that is personally and collectively unstable. The show runs August 14-31st.

Business-to-Business Spotlight on Museums and Historic Preservation

Cartoon Art Museum

The Cartoon Art Museum exhibits comic strips, comic books, anime, political cartoons, graphic novels, and underground comix. People of all ages can view original cartoon art at exhibitions and screenings, produce their own comics and animation at classes and workshops, research at their library, and meet professional and aspiring cartoonists.

Chinese Historical Society of America

The oldest organization in the country dedicated to the interpretation, promotion, and preservation of the social, cultural, and political history and contributions of the Chinese in America. They are housed in the landmark Julia Morgan-designed Chinatown YWCA building.

GLBT Historical Society Museum

The GLBT Historical Society is a public history center and archives that collects, preserves, and interprets the history of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and the communities that support them. Founded in 1985, they maintain one of the world’s largest collections of LGBTQ historical materials.

The Gregangelo Museum

Tucked away in the heart of San Francisco, the Gregangelo Museum is more than just a historic home; it’s a living, evolving art experience. This longtime local gem invites visitors to journey through immersive installations, where every room tells a story and no two tours are ever the same.

National Japanese American Historical Society

The organization is dedicated to the collection, preservation, authentic interpretation, and sharing of historical information of the Japanese American experience for the diverse broader national and global community.

San Francisco Heritage

San Francisco Heritage preserves and enhances San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity. This includes advocacy for historic resources, education programs, and tours and rental of the 1886 Haas-Lilienthal House.

Treasure Island Museum

Grounded in the island's heritage, the Treasure Island Museum has stories to tell and the opportunity to tell them in the place where those stories occurred. Housed in historic Building One, the museum preserves and presents the history of one of the city’s unique neighborhoods.

Legacy Businesses provides goods and services to individuals and fellow businesses. Do you offer a discount to fellow Legacy Businesses and/or have services that you think might be a good fit for a fellow Legacy Business? Email it to legacybusiness@sfgov.org.

Please note, we are sharing businesses for informational purposes, and listing does not constitute endorsement by the Office of Small Business.