SFist: Ferry Building Gets Pricier

Jalapeno_Girl

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:07:18 -0800

It may not be as easy to make money in the Ferry Bldg as folks think. Lots of lookie-loos, some tourist, some local, enjoy the free samples without ponying up money for, say, a $2 nectarine. I do eat and shop at the Ferry Building occasionally but know it is not easy for restaurants and vendors to survive much less turn a profit. My Mom (who lives in Benicia, in the East Bay) freaked out at the price of brussel sprouts and beef late last year on one FB outing. I sighed and told her, "OK, but we've already left, and it's not like we shop there every day, right?"

bluecanary

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:07:01 -0800

I can always count on TAYM to give me a good laugh.

The Angry Young Man

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:54:40 -0800

The Ferry Building is a food court for tourists. Square Staters don't know the difference between a chanterelle and a bad case of athlete's foot. That's why Taylor's Refresher always has a long line out the door and that mushroom stand is always devoid of life. They'd be better off dumping some of the "artisan" food stands and replacing them with a Chick-Fil-A, Dairy Queen, or some other horrifying culinary monstrosity. That's what the Kansan planets with hair really want to chow down on anyway after they take an exhausting roll through the Castro on one of their "gay safaris." The Port would be raking in the American dollars if they'd just inject some more "natural" high fructose corn syrup into everything sold in the Ferry Building, and then deep fried it all and put it on a stick. Mmmmm, Mom!

zippy_monster

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:10:20 -0800

Best Japanese food? Hardly.

suckafree

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:22:32 -0800

I'd love to live in the Ferry Building. Bring on the Condo's! ;)

Joel

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:18:06 -0800

I think as long as the Ferry Building is next to SoMa and the Financial District, the Ferry Building will stay afloat.

iris

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:45:40 -0800

@ sf_bikebike: And then redeveloped into luxury condos

sf_bikebike

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:45:53 -0800

Well tourist season is about over…and the way the economy is going less and less people will travel. Locals will also be saving money; therefore a lot of those stores will fold. Next thing you know the ferry building is boarded up.

aj

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:50:28 -0800

oops, afforD.

aj

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:50:13 -0800

Given how much $$ those stores make from the huge crowds on weekends and lunch hour, and how high their margins are, they can DEFINITELY affors a bit more rent.

sf_bikebike

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:23:44 -0800

This is just the beginning.