Mayor Lurie Celebrates End Of Small Business Month With New Businesses Downtown

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today celebrated the end of Small Business Month with two store openings downtown and three businesses expanding through the Vacant to Vibrant program. Two new small businesses, Whole Cakes and Bruno’s Italian Taste, are opening with the help of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development’s (OEWD) Downtown Vibrancy Loan Fund. Vacant to Vibrant pop‑up Dandelion Chocolate has signed a long‑term lease on Powell Street and is expanding to add a cafe, and two new Vacant to Vibrant pop‑ups—LOLA Embarcadero and Cowrie Collective at the Palace Hotel—are activating spaces downtown. 

The new storefronts and Vacant to Vibrant expansions continue to accelerate San Francisco’s economic recovery. In September, Mayor Lurie unveiled his “Heart of the City” plan to create a downtown where people live, work, play, and learn. Last year, Union Square and Yerba Buena welcomed 44 new storefronts, including new Vacant to Vibrant pop-ups, the RealReal, AT&T and Nintendo. Since the mayor took office, crime continues to go down in Union Square and the Financial District, 20 new liquor licenses have been issued to support nightlife, office leasing has surged 66.7%, and San Francisco now leads major U.S. cities in return-to-office rates.  And through initiatives like First Year Free, expanded entertainment zones, small business grants, and streamlined business regulations, Mayor Lurie has taken steps to strengthen small businesses across the city.  

“San Francisco’s downtown is seeing momentum. Tourists are coming back to our city in record numbers, office vacancy is down, and Muni and BART ridership are reaching post-pandemic highs,” said Mayor Lurie. “As we welcome Whole Cakes and Bruno’s Italian Taste to Yerba Buena and celebrate the success of our Vacant to Vibrant program, our administration will continue working to make it easier for small businesses to open and grow in San Francisco.”  

“It’s great to hear that Whole Cakes is bringing its organic cakes, artisan breads, and community-focused spirit to Yerba Buena,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “Having already built a loyal following in the East Cut, their expansion is another encouraging sign of downtown San Francisco’s momentum. The Downtown Vibrancy Loan Fund is helping business grow and bring new energy to our neighborhoods, and Whole Cakes is exactly the kind of local success story we want to support.” 

"Downtown San Francisco is transforming before our eyes: New storefronts are opening, foot traffic is up, and cherished neighborhoods like Union Square and Yerba Buena are being rediscovered. Each small business opening is the beginning of a new chapter and should be celebrated,” said District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter. “I'm grateful to the many civic and philanthropic partners who are helping fuel this creative rebound and recovery in our downtown core.” 

Following the announcement of $6.3 million in small business grants in February, OEWD has been awarding grants and loans to new and existing businesses, hosting events like OEWD’s Small Business Summit with entrepreneurs and community leaders and investing in the small businesses that drive San Francisco’s economy and culture. This calendar year alone, OEWD provided grant support for 210 businesses, dozens of which are located downtown. These initiatives complement ongoing programs offered by the Office of Small Business (OSB) such as pro-bono business counseling, including permitting and leasing support to help owners start or expand a business. The impact of OSB and OEWD’s investments reflect in an average of 1,066 new monthly business registrations.  

“We know that helping small businesses succeed takes more than a single grant or loan,” said Anne Taupier, OEWD Executive Director. “From navigating permits and securing commercial space to accessing capital, technical assistance, and ongoing support, we work alongside entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. These investments are helping businesses open their doors, create jobs, and contribute to the vibrancy that defines San Francisco.” 

Whole Cakes, an artisan bakery expanding to a second location at 680 Mission Street, and Bruno’s Italian Taste at 606 Mission Street, known for authentic Italian cuisine, received support through the Downtown Vibrancy Loan Fund. A partnership between the OEWD and Main Street Launch, the program offers up to $100,000 in low‑interest loans and $50,000 in grants to activate vacant storefronts, create jobs, and boost downtown foot traffic. This fiscal year, the Downtown Vibrancy Loan Fund helped 20 businesses open downtown.  

“Whole Cakes and Bruno’s Italian Taste are great examples of what is possible when the City of San Francisco and community lenders like Main Street Launch come together to put capital and hands-on support behind entrepreneurs,” said Karla De Leon, Chief Lending Officer at Main Street Launch. “We are excited about the city’s significant investment in small business—through loans, grants, and know-how—and about our partnership to support small business owners as they open their doors, create jobs, and rebuild a vibrant downtown San Francisco.” 

“Our family has lived downtown for more than 20 years and we love Yerba Buena’s mix of businesses, arts and events that bring people together, which is why we are excited about our new Mission Street location,” said Sonya Kim, Whole Cakes Owner and Chef. “The city’s strong commitment to supporting small businesses through the Downtown Vibrancy Loan program helped us expand our business to the Yerba Buena location. With this support and so many people energizing the neighborhood, it’s a great time to open a business downtown.” 

“We’re excited to bring our family-run restaurant with Roman-Style pizza, fresh-made pasta, and authentic Southern-Italy street food to the city,” said Marcella Foti, Co-Owner of Bruno’s Italian Taste. “We’ve already met many of our Yerba Buena neighbors, who are stopping by to introduce themselves and are excited to try our food when we open. The neighborhood’s support and the Downtown Vibrancy Fund grant has given us such a boost.”  

Both businesses also received technical assistance from the Yerba Buena Partnership, the community benefit district. Over the past 18 months, Yerba Buena has welcomed a wave of new businesses drawn by the surge in conventions at Moscone Center —including Next Chapter Cocktail Lounge, Shoji, Nagomi Café, Hamburguesa Bar, Oink & Oscar, Jane on Third at SFMOMA, East Brother Beer Co., Street Taco, West Coast Sourdough, Mashaallah Halal Pakistani Food, and two recent Vacant to Vibrant pop‑ups, ZastaStudio and Elaichi Co.—many of which received support from the Office of Small Business, such as permitting help, registration assistance, and business counseling. 

"San Francisco’s resilience is on full display in the Yerba Buena neighborhood and it’s a great time to open a small business here,” said Scott Rowitz, Yerba Buena Partnership Executive Director. “Streamlined permitting, grants, events, conventions, office leasing and increased foot traffic are driving new investment. We’re seeing a substantial influx of locally owned cafes, restaurants and bars with international flavors opening. It’s clear that the collective efforts of Mayor Lurie, OEWD, Downtown Development Corporation, our organization and many other partners are redefining perceptions of what Yerba Buena and the downtown area offer.” 

Since its launch in 2023, Vacant to Vibrant—a partnership between the OEWD and nonprofit SF New Deal—has supported more than 34 small businesses and helped secure over a dozen permanent leases across downtown neighborhoods.  

After a successful opening of its Vacant to Vibrant pop‑up in September 2025, Dandelion Chocolate signed a long‑term lease at 167 Powell Street and announced it is expanding its space to accommodate a cafe. Later this month, two additional Vacant to Vibrant pop‑ups will open downtown: LOLA Embarcadero, a locally owned gift shop with multiple San Francisco locations, and Cowrie Collective, a home goods store at the Palace Hotel. 

“The Union Square pop-up has exceeded our expectations. So much so, that we have just signed a permanent lease and are adding a cafe,” said Todd Masonis, CEO and Co-Founder of Dandelion.

“Small businesses are leading the revitalization of Downtown San Francisco,” said Simon Bertrang, Executive Director of SF New Deal. “Through Vacant to Vibrant, we’ve reduced the risk and barriers for entrepreneurs to test new concepts and bring new energy to downtown storefronts. The success we're seeing today is the result of collective investments in the small businesses that drive the cultural and economic vibrancy in all of San Francisco's neighborhoods.” 

OSB offers free citywide services for anyone opening or operating a small business in San Francisco, including business counseling, leasing support, and permitting help.

Small Business Month concluded with a free one-day summit hosted by Mayor Lurie and OEWD on May 29, bringing together small businesses, merchant associations, community organizations, and civic leaders to share strategies, tools, and resources for strengthening neighborhoods. The event drew around 200 of attendees.