By Thomas K. Pendergast
Almost three years after the Cliff House restaurant at Lands End became another business casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Park Service (NPS) announced a new lease has been signed by Sutro Lands End Partners LLC to operate a restaurant in that building.
The new name for it has not been made public. It might not keep the name "Cliff House" because the Hountalas family that ran the restaurant has trademarked the name and wants payment in order to allow the building to continue to be called the Cliff House.
The NPS says the property will include several dining options, including a new café in an area formerly used as a rental, while the old café known as the Lands End Lookout will also come back operated by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
The opening date has not been set, although it is expected to be sometime next year. Sutro Lands End Partners, LLC, will be renovating the space in the meantime.
The building that was once home to the Cliff House restaurant has been leased to a development group which plans on opening several dining options in 2024. The metal frame atop the building once held the Cliff House sign. If the new operators want to bring back the historic title, they will need to negotiate with the previous operators who own the name's trademark. Photo by Michael Durand.
"We are excited to maintain this public space and invite a new operator to provide a dining experience that is loved by our community," said David Smith, general superintendent for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. "We are absolutely grateful to our community for their support and patience during the extended vacancy and look forward to working with this new partner on public offerings at this iconic site."
The lease will be in place for up to 20 years.
"Since 1863, there has been a Cliff House perched on that dramatic bluff welcoming locals and visitors to come and be inspired by the views of the Pacific and perhaps share a drink or a meal with friends and family," said Adam Leff, a San Francisco attorney who has been involved in rejuvenating other California landmarks into popular destinations like the Malibu Pier. "We are honored to have been chosen by the National Park Service to be the stewards of this beloved venue for the next generation."
Leff is a San Francisco native who grew up in the Richmond District.
"San Francisco has been good to me and to my family ever since my grandparents arrived here during World War II," Leff stated in a press release. "I am well aware that it is a tough time to undertake a major hospitality project in San Francisco. It is an honor to be given the opportunity to restore this beloved landmark and doing so is my way of expressing my gratitude and lending a helping to our beautiful City at a moment when it can use help from all of us who live here."
The BCV Architecture + Interiors firm will be leading the repair and renovation of the building.
"BVC Architecture + Interiors is excited to be working with Sutro Lands End Partners to re-envision the iconic Cliff House," Hans Baldauf of BVC said. "BCV has been fortunate to work on bringing new life to other notable San Francisco buildings, including the Ferry Building and what is now the X (Twitter) building. Our goal will be to institute building improvements and décor that will create a warm welcome for arriving visitors, connecting them to the rich history of the building and its site, and encourage engagement with the natural environment through activation of the building's outdoor decks, terraces and street frontages.
"We see and opportunity to make the building dynamic by providing multiple food and retail offerings."
The Hi Neighbor Hospitality Group will be brought in as consultants for the project.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Sutro Lands End partners," said co-founder Ryan Cole. "We look forward to bringing local hospitality businesses to this historic site that will offer a variety of food options at different price points. Each will demonstrate the depth and diversity of food and beverage talent in the Bay Area as well as showcase products from local and sustainable farmers, fisherman and food purveyors."
Earlier this year, District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan authored legislation to waive the major encroachment fee assessed on the Seal Rock Inn restaurant located at 545 Point Lobos Ave. near Lands End. Chan says this ordinance clears bureaucratic barriers for restaurants looking to open in the space and will help bring this legacy business back to life.
"I am pleased to welcome the new operator for the space, Sutro Lands End, reinvigorating our Outer Richmond neighborhood," Chan said. "The area is an iconic gathering point for generations of San Franciscans, offering the most beautiful views and creating a space for our communities and visitors. Now I look forward to an open dialogue exploring how we will continue the legacy of this space.
"It's hard to compare and compete against generations of San Franciscans' memories of that space," she said. "No matter what you do, it's hard to compete with that. So, it's a high expectation of what's to come. We want to make sure that they have something for the community and so, hopefully, make that transition just a little bit easier for everybody."
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