We learned in June that the Port of SF would be demolishing the shuttered Alioto’s restaurant and putting a new plaza in its place, and today they released a few renderings of the forthcoming plaza's design.
A number of decades-old Fisherman's Wharf restaurants closed during the pandemic, when both the restaurant and tourism industries went belly-up. Probably the most prominent of these closures was the nearly 100-year-old Alioto’s (with the big numeral 8 sign), which was considered by some to be the birthplace of cioppino, and a business that was related by blood to a local political dynasty.
The city couldn't find any takers for the gigantic, three-story, 11,000-square-foot Alioto's, so in June, they decided to demolish the building and revamp it as an open-air plaza. At the time, SF Port Director Elaine Forbes said to the Chronicle about that building, “It’s just a relic, essentially, a relic of an important history, but it is not the future.”
Ouch!
Fast forward to today, as the Chronicle reports the Port of San Francisco released their new plans for the plaza. One of these renderings is seen above. The renderings show there will be a 5,000-square-foot piazza, benches that resemble ocean waves, and open views of the Bay. There will also be string lighting applied here and on Al Scoma Way, plus some ice machines that the fishing community has apparently been asking for.
“Fisherman’s Wharf is one of San Francisco’s most iconic neighborhoods and an essential part of our city’s economy,” Mayor Lurie said in a press release from June’s announcement. “With these investments, we’re bringing new life to the waterfront while strengthening critical infrastructure and supporting our small businesses. I want to thank the Port and all our partners for their vision and dedication to making the Wharf an even more vibrant place for generations to come.”
Pre the Chronicle, the former Alioto’s restaurant is scheduled to be demolished in a November-December timeframe, the construction of the new plaza is slated for February 2026, and the plaza is expected to be completed by “summer of 2026.”
There are some other exciting upgrades coming to the Wharf that might even intrigue the locals. Oakland-based barbecue restaurant Everett & Jones is taking over the former Lou's Fish Shack, and some Foreign Cinema vets will team up with former Boudin Bakery owner Lou Giraudo to open a Salvadoran seafood restaurant in the former Pompei's Grotto next door to that.
And hey, there’s also going to be that boozy Taco Bell Cantina right across the street someday, too.
Related: Port of SF Unveils Plan to Revamp Fisherman's Wharf, Demolish Historic Alioto's Restaurant [SFist]
Image: Port of San Francisco
