Comeback Kids: Sometimes the Second Time's a Charm
By Chelsea Sime, Assistant Editor
In this city of high rent and finicky fads, the cryptic “closed for renovations” sign often translates to closed for good. But occasionally, a business’s revitalization efforts—be it in the form of a simple menu change, a new coat of paint or the drastic complete remodel and reopening—pay off and what emerges is someplace twice as good as the original.
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330 Ritch
330 Ritch St, San Francisco, CA
New management have made this former derelict dance club into the hottest SoMa venue for live music by breakout indie bands and deejayed dance nights. -
Fifth Floor Restaurant
12 Fourth St, San Francisco, CA
Acclaimed chef Laurent Manrique revamped the menu to match the all-new interiors at this upscale eatery on the fifth floor of Hotel Palomar. -
Mission Beach Cafe
198 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA
A former favorite for a quick table during Sunday brunch now draws long lines, and great reviews, due to the addition of former Top Chef contestant turned executive chef Ryan Scott. -
Sundance Kabuki Cinemas
1881 Post St, San Francisco, CA
Robert Redford's team stepped in and turned Japantown's rundown Kabuki 8 into the bigger, greener cineplex that moviegoers are raving about. -
The Owl Tree
601 Post St, San Francisco, CA
This legendary but run-down Tenderloin dive is now a posh drinker's bar that pays subtle homage (in the form of a classy tiled owl) to its history. -
Helmand Palace
2424 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
The landslide that closed the original Broadway Street location of this cozy Afghani restaurant was a blessing in disguise: the move to Russian Hill has garnered a much larger fanbase for the kaddo and kababs. -
Lavash
511 Irving St, San Francisco, CA
This Persian diner only moved next door, but the dining space tripled, meaning you won't have to wait as long to get a baklava fix.
