Another One Bites The Dust: Fog City Diner Is Closed For Good
To open a business in San Francisco, you need two things: balls of steel and a delusional level of confidence. And don’t even get me started on what it takes to be a successful business in a city filled with so much red tape that it feels less like government regulation and more like a mafia-style shakedown.
But Fog City Diner (now known as Fog City), despite the challenges of existing in a city like San Francisco, lasted a fabulous forty years.
The diner had a place on their menu for every type of palate that a person could possibly have. It didn’t matter if you wanted raw oysters or a big ass burger, Fog City fuckin’ had it. And best of all, they had it for a reasonable price in a place known for being fiscally unfeasible
It wasn’t unusual for the place to be packed at all hours of the day, but it was worth it. It was a piece of old school SF standing triumphantly among a sea of tourist traps. The neon lights that lit up the front of the historic eatery felt like more than just a sign placed haphazardly on the front of another nameless restaurant, but a teleportation device with the sole purpose of taking you back to 1985, when the diner was birthed by a collaboration between accomplished restaurateurs, Bill Higgins and Bill Upson.
Come to think of it, they could’ve called the place $2 Dollar Bills. Because there’s two Bills. I’m a fucking idiot. Bad idea. Moving on. But it would be fun!
The closure of Fog City is emblematic of the fact that San Francisco is changing. Since 2012, when the tech boom began pushing prices to the ceiling, and the pandemic made the tourists and tech workers the city relied on all but disappear, businesses have been closing. And I mean a lot of businesses. While the closure of major retailers around Downtown and Union Square tend to be the focus of the discourse around San Francisco’s economic future, small businesses are the ones that really take the brunt of the bullshit.
The San Francisco Standard compiled a list that almost felt like a eulogy of all the restaurants and bars that bit the dust in the ‘City by the Bay’ last year. And it doesn’t really feel like this year will be any different. While Daniel Lurie is a Mayor that is mindful of vibes, the reality of San Francisco for many small business owners doesn’t pass the vibe check.
Sure, Nintendo may have opened a flagship location in Union Square, but as Shania Twain would say, “that don’t impress me much.” Big corporations are always going to find a way to survive the city in some capacity, but Nintendo isn’t unique to San Francisco, and ultimately won’t be what visitors remember about the city. It’s the places that are unique to San Francisco that make it truly unforgettable.
And it seems San Francisco has forgotten that.
SUBSCRIBE TO MY SUBSTACK HERE
FOLLOW MY WRITING ON INSTAGRAM HERE
FOLLOW BAY AREA MEMES ON FACEBOOK HERE
FOLLOW BAY AREA MEMES ON INSTAGRAM HERE
PURCHASE MY BOOK HERE
Howdy! My name is Katy Atchison and I'm an Associate Editor for Broke-Ass Stuart.
I want to take the time to say thank you for supporting independent news media by reading BrokeAssstuart.com. Supporting independent news sources like Broke-Ass Stuart is vital to supporting our community because it amplifies the voices of a wide variety of diverse opinions. You also help support small businesses and local artists by sharing stories from Broke-Ass Stuart.
Because you're one of our supporters, I wanted to send over a pro-tip.
Our bi-weekly newsletter is a great way to get round ups of Broke-Ass Stuart stories, learn about new businesses in The Bay Area, find out about fun local events and be first in line for giveaways.
If you’d like to get our newsletter, signup right here, it takes 5 seconds.
You Might Also Like
