As we first reported last year, Lucca Ravioli’s detached parking lot parcel at 1120 Valencia Street was on the market in the Mission and has since sold to a developer with plans for a five-story development to rise on its mid-block site.
As we noted at the time, “yes, the corner parcel upon which the two-story Lucca building sits is also zoned for development up to 55 feet in height, but that’s a potential infill story for another time.” And that time is now.
Lucca Ravioli is now slated to close effective Easter 2019. And the corner buildings, which are owned by the owner of Lucca and stretch from 1100 to 1118 Valencia Street, are about to hit the market. We’ll keep you posted and plugged-in.
Are they moving or closing forever?
Closing, as headlined above.
No! They’re a valuable institution!
If only they were open later during the week or at all on Sundays. You know, when locals are likely around to shop there.
Tony, don’t think they are lacking customers.
However, extended days/hours would have been a nice change.?
it’s just a low end italian corner grocer
san francisco’s habit of pretending everything is a valuable institution is why nobody can build and everything has to shut down
there should be a seven story complex at the 16th and mission bart that would have saved this, but people fought for the burger king
it’s time to stop
This business is an institution,Tired. Perhaps, you presence here in the City by the Bay had been limited. And, that your personal familiarity with this heritage business is minimal or none. Our family have been customers since my great grandparents arrived in San Francisco almost one hundred years ago!
BEST raviolis, excellent sauces, wonderful deli and more.
Regularly, a crowd and packed during the holidays-Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
A LOSS indeed!
pfft…
@Tired — You obviously know nothing about the neighborhood (or at least you don’t care about it). Lucca sells excellent ravioli, pasta, salumi etc. There is nothing low-end about it. It is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood and there is nothing else like it in the Mission.
As for the idea, that people were fighting to save the BK — that is absurd and you know it.
I think maybe you should listen to people a bit rather than making comments that show that you are ill-informed or just don’t care about the neighborhood. Unfortunately, too many developers share your mentality — tall buildings are the only thing that matter.
pfft…and when the city is indistinguishable from walnut creek/manhattan/austin no one will want to live here…and then rents will , good god a’ mighty, go down at last…good plan…?
Tired: I’m so sick and TIRED of [people] like you! Native San Franciscan’s like me detest your kind and your lack of mentality. Lucca is a treasured San Francisco institution, whether or not you recognize it as such. The route your headed is you will never know how to live with grace and dignity for ninety-five years.
And now, my Lucca Ravioli is ready, with my antipasto spread, sourdough bread, and fine Italian wines for my lovely guests. Go eat your cold putrid burger from that rathole!
Your a pretender. Lucca is the real deal. Only a fool doesn’t know the difference!
Thanks for echoing my very sentiments and thoughts Sophie! That “Tired” who wont dare use his name (I’m guessing it’s a “he”) needs to hear our side – for all it’s worth as he (and legions of clones from his ilk) feels so effing entitled!
The proposed project at 16th & Mission isn’t a quid pro quo for Lucca Ravioli.
Had that project gone forward it would have had absolutely no affect on the closing of Lucca Ravioli.
This place is the best. Low end? That ravioli is the best. Can always count on their marinara. Fresh mozzarella! You’re a troll, “tired.”
You not a born and raised native of San Francisco or the Mission district.
“it’s just a low end italian corner grocer”
That’s not very accurate. And then you go on, which I didn’t read because you started off incorrectly …
You have clearly NEVER been in Lucca. There is really no need for you to comment.
I ate ravoli from there my whole life. My Mom grew up in the neighborhood. Her family was from Dalmatian but they ate Italian foods.
My Dad used to bring them home from work when I was a kid.
As an adult I lived up the street and my now wife and I used to go there. I used to take my daughter there to shop as a baby
Once we moved out of the City I still stopped by when I could and would always take an order for my parents.
Not low end, neighborhood serving for 90 years
OMG!!!!! people like you make SF NOT cool anymore! People like you are the reason we are loosing what makes this city so magical.
Dianda’s I think sold the business to their workers who moved it.
I wish sonethibg like this here. Nobody is going to rebuild these sorts of Ravoli machines and workers know. I wish someone could take this and open a business in SSF or something
Noooooo! Lucca’s is always packed when I’m there and there’s nothing else quite like it in the city (at least that I’ve found). A lot of folks in the neighborhood are going to be very sad about this.
It would be great if they could reopen in whatever new, taller building replaces the current one.
The owner is retiring without a successor generation interested in continuing the business versus liquidating the property.
This is an outrage! How dare they? San Francisco should pass a law mandating that this business stay open!
Sad news for our family. However, not uncommon…The lack of a successor generation willing to continue the family’s legacy business.
Was the same story with SF Thai BBQ on 18th St. Potrero Hill. Still get cravings for those ribs.
Well that’s the problem right there, an outmoded business model: successful food curators today outsource to one of the many money-losing delivery services, since people with the time to, how do you say it, “wait in line”? – aren’t worth having as customers. No offense to you, of course.
“Successful food curators” “outsourced”! I can tell by the language you use that you have all the most trendy and up-to-date values. Bland is better!
Thank you !! It took several iterations to get the banality just right.
As for preferences: mine is for marinara over alfredo, but I’m not an ideologue.
“there’s nothing else quite like it in the city.”
Uh, don’t they have another location on Chestnut Street in the Marina?
The Chestnut Lucca Deli is not affiliated with Lucca Ravioli on Valencia.
OK fair enough, but at least between them and Molinari’s in North Beach, I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say “there’s nothing else quite like it in the city.”
Molinari’s is great; Fishchum. However, different, not quite the same standard/selection.
At Lucca’s, it was their “homemade”-and, delicious-raviolis, meatballs, marinara and other sauces. Along with Italian pantry standards and specialities. We’ve truly found items at Lucca’s not otherwise found in the City.
And, it’s location is much more convenient for many…Especially, with street parking AND their former parking lot. Also, public transportation and BART made this accessible.
Also, more locals-and, former locals customers-rather than lots (and, lots) of tourists.
Fishchum, when might be the last time you visited this Lucca’s?
Last time I was there was probably, I don’t know, maybe a year ago?
Look, I get it – I’m a fan as well, and I’m sorry to see it go.
Actually, they are affiliated. You never noticed that they both made/make the Lucca Ravioli? It is a pair of brothers that had a personal falling out back in the 1920’s, but agreed that they would both produce the family recipe ravioli that they have become known for. My wife’s grandfather grew up in the Marina (one of the first crab fishermen to open those huge crabpots near Fisherman’s Grotto #9 on Fisherman’s Wharf) and he recalled always getting ravioli from Lucca Deli (unless they were sold out, in which case he would drive across town to get them from Lucca Ravioli) for all the family celebrations…a tradition that was continued by her mother, and now us.
While the two businesses are separate, they are linked.
I bet 80% of the customers come from out of the neighborhood. That place is an institution.
Try Molinari Delicatessen or Lucca Delicatessen both amazing. Now the family can retire put money in the bank for future generations. The corner can become much needed housing in SF. Talk about an American Italian success story. Come from Italy with nothing build a successful business in America setting up your family for generations to come.
We are very happy for the Fero family.
Uncertain as to the “nothing” conclusion you suggest as to their beginnings in San Francisco.
However, they indeed did build a very successful business which five generations of our family much appreciated.
Unfortunately, those places are not particularly close to the Mission.
I don’t think they make ravoli either do they?
They do…same recipe too.
And bingo. Muchneededhousing makes its first appearance.
Huge difference between much needed housing and condos.
I was a big fan, but am hoping they can use density bonus and get this corner of housing up to 7-8 floors. Best transportation in the city. Bus, bike or Bart . We should be building higher in the mission
The buildings contain rent-controlled housing (and 1100 is a historic resource), so isn’t “infill” redevelopment basically impossible?
Do you know how to get money to Willie Brown? Or service him in other ways? Do you know the strings (by pull strings we mean… you know) to pull to get on a couple of show-infrequently state boards that pay like Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the California Medical Assistance Commission, like my girl K. Harris?
If you do know, all things are possible. You could build a new structure here or even wind up running for president!
The unclean urban surfaces don’t stop at the doors of city hall.
Seriously. For a regular person, you are correct that there is no natural path to develop these properties. You would have to know who to donate to or otherwise convince.
Maybe if you are a non-profit and you can use taxpayer money (and take your own fee) to build affordable housing and put up a Ravioli plaque in the lobby, you could probably make it happen. Pay for the existing rent-controlled tenants to live elsewhere during the construction period and then let them move back in at their old rents. Being life estates and all.
Would probably be easier if your demographic-identity was marketable.
Will Calle24 or MEDA do another shake down on any prospective buyer? How about declaring the property a non-profit, then pooouff unit will no longer be under RC. I’m sure the Randy Shaw would know some loopholes.
seems to me that SF will just turn into a massive apartment/bar/restaurant/coffeeshop/wework agglomeration, with basically nothing else left because it isn’t “trendy” enough to survive.
So sorry to hear this sad news! Michael and Lucca guys, all the best to you – I have loved shopping at your lovely establishment and having you be part of the community for decades. It will never be the same without you. Thank you for your years of dedication. All the best to you. Heidi-Jane Schwabe
Does this impact the Lucca’s in North Beach as well?
NO LIKE
Damn….
Where can I get the recipe for the meat sauce? I’m willing to pay……
…Okie dokie, I have a high-tech millennial who wants to pay for the meat sauce recipe…”sure…tell him to come over tomorrow to the back door, I will sell him the protected recipe for $28,000 thousand dollars, all hand made! Cash in a paper bag, but it includes a quart to take home!”
So an older non-millennial can’t miss the meat sauce? What a stupid thing to say….
Sophie, you’re over the top on that one. Chill out. Youpulled your SF rank already in your first post, which you destroyed on. Now you’re just hating on every person who wants the meat sauce as a techie? get real.
This is supremely disappointing. I get why — retirement and no heirs — but still. It is a really special place. The same employees have been working there for at least the ~15 years I’ve been going. So sad. I hope they’re taken care of in the sale, especially since there’s no “estate” to leave it to…what a bummer. Maybe the employees could open a similar store of their own? Do it in the Bayview!
A few years ago I popped in to grab a box of Risotto. I had grabbed seafood from the fish monger at 23rd and Mission. The risotto was SO STALE that it took two hours and double the usual amount of liquid to cook. The deli side is pricey but fine, however the pantry staples are just for show. Like at the North Korean grocery western journalists are allowed to view.
I regularly shop at Lucca, including for pantry staples, and can say that your experience was not typical
Every business in a one or two story building is likely going to disappear from SF in the next fifty years, and be replaced with a 5-10 story building with another business on the ground floor. It’s going to suck to lose lots of those spots, but new eventual “institutions” like Lucca’s will replace them and dozens of potential customers will now live above them.
On the bright side, “institutions” within 3+ story buildings are likely safe for the long haul: The dive bar The Page on Page and Divis near me comes to mind.
Sadness. One of the last places where you can get the classic SF sandwich: hard sourdough role, provolone, and sliced-to-order Italian salami sandwich–$8 with mayo and mustard packs. Simple and delicious, eaten by the sardine fishermen, stevedores, and corrupt politicians of days gone by. The best!
It is obvious many of you are not native sf
We are losing an institution. Now have to go to
Lucca on Chestnut or Molinari in north beach
Very sad?
Agree. This news is heartbreaking.
Living in San Francisco is, as someone else put it, like attending the world’s longest funeral.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Valencia Street was chock-a-block with interesting bars, junk stores, vintage clothing stores, and book shops. Fast forward 10 years and it’s become a plain vanilla stretch of Millennial gyms, coffee shops, and concrete restaurants with Edison bulb light fixtures. Except for the sidewalk poop and junkies, you’d swear you were in San Ramon.
Bleccch.
When The Mission, Hayes Valley, Divis, SoMa, Mid-Market, Dogpatch and many other neighborhoods were filled with prostitution, drugs, strip clubs and violence for decades, people complained or avoided them altogether.
When they gentrify, people complain again, but for different reasons.
I never avoided those neighborhoods in the “bad old days” because they didn’t scare me (most of the time). Speaking of, I sure miss that “scary” hubcap store in the old Victorian on Divisadero. It wasn’t artisanal, but it was rad just the same.
This is so true.
This is just an implicit blind opposition to change and displays an uncritical sense of nostalgia that may or may not be founded. Cities and neighborhoods change. That’s what happens. That’s what has always happened and always will happen. The Mission alone has undergone many demographic transformations that bring with them new things that inevitable replace old things. There’s nothing inherently bad, or even sad, about that.
It’s one thing to be personally sad or disappointed in the loss of a personal favorite thing or place, but it’s quite another to believe or imply that anything new, different, and/or modern is intrinsically bad and less valid than what came before.
If things never changed, the city (any city really) wouldn’t be dynamic or interesting. It would just turn into a rusting and dilapidated husk. Refusal to change, and embrace change in a healthy way, is exactly why cities die.
Incorrect. The Mission has gone through Its changes of demographics, from Scottish and Irish immigrants to their eventual supplanting by Mexican and Central American immigrants…thing was, that was one working class group replacing another working class group. The gentrification that I have been witnessing over the last 18 years is a removal of the working class, replaced by the upper-middle class. Not the same, as you try (and fail), to point out.
I agree that change is inevitable, but homogenization is not healthy. The very things that made SF such a great city are being pushed out, and replaced with more of the same boutique clothing stores, specialty coffee shops, trendy brew-pubs that I can see walking up and down any thoroughfare in the City: Mission St, Valencia St, Chestnut St, Hayes, Fillmore (upper and lower), West Portal, I could continue on for a while but I’ve digressed.
The City is losing its families, service workers are having to move farther away from the places they work just to afford a decent living, teachers are unable to live near the schools they teach in. When the working-class cannot afford to live in the place that they work, there is a problem, and SF is facing a problem.
I stand behind what I wrote. I get that cities change, and yes, a lot of change is good. Agreed. However, the kinds of change that have affected San Francisco in the last decade or so have by and large yielded a city that is objectively less interesting and with a poorer quality of life.
First off, demographic and technological changes have reduced demand for many goods and services that used to be found in “brick and mortar” locations. I know I am painting with a broad brush, but most of our newcomers are highly paid millennials from other regions who tend not to understand or appreciate their new city. And instead of shopping locally and walking on the streets like their predecessors may have done, they tend to work long hours and order virtually everthing on-line. This kind of activity kills local business districts.
Where once you had bookstores, taquerias, bakeries, junk stores, ravioli shops, and bars you now only have businesses that cannot be virtualized, including high-end Millennial-catering restaurants, gyms, urgent care facilities, 7-11s, and coffee shops. Even cell phone stores are going away. Aside for the high-end restaurants, all of these other business can be found virtually anywhere. Once the process is done, there is no longer anything interesting about the neighborhood aside from maybe the buildings, but even those are being rapidly replaced with hulking glass and hardieboard condos with vacant storefronts below.
If you are a well-paid Millennial you might like this new San Francisco because it caters to your uninteresting tastes and does not seem dangerous, but to the rest of us it’s objectively unpleasant, alienating, and dishwater dull. Sorry, but that’s just how it is to this local, non-techie Gen-X’er.
Amen! It’s quite a simple argument actually … and so obvious when these voices harking must … change … now… are only speaking from mild personal convenience. Then again, they are likely here only for a bit, to make some cash.
Speak for yourself. My 6x great grandfather was born in Mission Dolores in 1806. Other branches of the tree showed up during the Gold Rush and have been here ever since. And coming form that lineage, I have no real problem with the evolution of the city. Which is all of course my *subjective* opinion. Just like people who hate and bemoan the changes are stating their equally *subjective* opinions. The great thing is that none of our opinion mean a damn thing. Nobody can and nobody should be able to dictate the evolution to fit their personal preferences or tastes. Because the city and any neighborhood doesn’t belong to anyone. It was all different before any of us existed, it has all changed during our lifetimes, and it will continue to change long after we’re all gone.
Plenty of terrible, bad, evil changes we should be avoiding at all costs and full effort in SF. You know, take your pick, this is from today — SF has more drug addicts than high schoolers, and trend is deepening. I venture no other city in the world even approaches that statistic.
Also could you comment on the future of your 6th generation SF lineage? What fraction are able to continue in SF?
Unless there is major wealth AND property involved it seems unlikely any lineage can have a long term future in SF at this rate. End of times!
+1 on this comment. Change happens… Luca today, bodega tomorrow, boutique after that, liquified earthquake after that, drowned by rising ocean tides after that… who cares.
I don’t think you know what the word “objectively” means.
“And instead of shopping locally and walking on the streets like their predecessors may have done, [millenials] tend to work long hours and order virtually everthing on-line”
This is a global trend and not limited to SF or millennials.
As Milkshake said, you’re referring to global shifts, not SF-specific ones. Online commerce is killing brick and mortar retail everywhere, it’s just that different cities are in different phases of the transition. Like with any technology there are going to be pros and cons. On one hand, the bookstores are dying. On the other hand, you now how an unlimited selection of books, delivered to your door in 48 hours, for far less money.
The reality is that in order to get the 1990’s streetscape you yearn for, you’re going to need to move to a developing country that’s earlier in the transition. In all seriousness, Mexico City?
Global shifts? I hear the big shift is that people are not really reading, and certainly not much of value. I venture that is the main reason for bookstore demise. When is the last time you gave someone a book as a Gift? Books are not cool anymore and actually kind of involve effort and work. Netflix and YouTube anybody? Or just thread commenting…
Yes, a global monopoly can always make things cheaper. But it’s anti correlated with experience and quality. Also little things like workers rights or community benefits. Enjoy your dinner at McDonald’s! How’s your server turnover? And for these exact reasons we have things like antitrust laws, though apparently fewer and fewer.
Can I still get my ravioli’s at the chestnut street location? Or did they make the ravioli’s at the Valencia location?
Chestnut is not the same owner or ravioli
Different owners, same ravioli recipe. You notice how Lucca Ravioli was founded in 1925, and Lucca Deli in 1929? That’s because the siblings had a falling out, and split their business. But luckily for us, they agreed to share the ravioli recipe. So yes Danica, you can still get Lucca ravioli in the Marina.
Three generations of our family have been enthusiastic customers of the Lucca Ravioli Company. No doubt about it, our neighborhood will miss our favorite source of authentic Italian food. My hope is that some like-minded Italian family will re-create the unique Lucca experience we enjoyed for so many years. The Noe Valley would be a perfect location for me!
The San Francisco as I knew it back in the ’70’s is gone.
And in the 1970s, the San Francisco that those knew in the 40s was gone. And in the 1940s, the San Francisco that those knew in 1910 was rapidly disappearing. And in 30 years, I’ll be bemoaning the closing of decades old SF institutions like Tartine, Trick Dog, Tipsy Pig, Golden Boy Pizza, and Atelier Crenn, as they close and the owners retire and they are replaced by “yet another” virtual reality bar or “yet another” Arabic/Thai fusion restaurant or whatever is popular at that point in time, as the San Francisco of the late 2010s will be gone. And life will go on and rinse and repeat to infinity.
Well no, Lucca actually nourishes people. I personally guarantee that you will not hear somebody honestly saying “three generations of my family have loved Trick Dog”.
Because *SPOILER* there are almost no small businesses that last 3 generations.
There is a difference between nutritious food that you take home to your family and artisan booze for wealthy singles.
Maybe you should buy it, negotiate for the recipes and vendor contacts, retain the staff, and keep Lucca’s going.
Just joking. But I don’t really see why someone wouldn’t look at that. The tenant upstairs from Lucca’s pays like 900 bucks for a 4 br flat, so that’s not great. But the business would seem to do well. I wonder if it could do better still. Who knows? Granted, losing the parking lot hurts.
He’s gratefully dead, Jim.
Interesting posts from all of the fans of Lucca’s who are also complaining about the potential arrival of the tech crowd from new housing from this site.
The owners of Lucca’s also own the buildings which will be coming to market soon. Does it make sense to voice so much anger to the prospective buyers who may (or may not) be giving the owners big bucks? Or perhaps you want to see less money in the hands of the Fero family?
Oh, they will be fine and recently sold parking lot adjacent for 3M+.
What about the voices of concern for Luccas employees? Do you know an italian deli startup that’s hiring?
I would be much more worried about the current local real estate dynamics in terms of pricing and I imagine that was a factor in this decision — happens at the tail of every expansion.
Empty lots will always sell for more. Are they selling the buildings as vacant? If so, okay. If not, see other SS post regarding tenant buyouts.
And no, I am not interested in buying in the Mission.
Ha, you are assuming tenant buyout?
Also given how long this property has been in hand it seems that your projected price differences are effectively noise.
Please just tell me that the Lucca’s owner has plans to retail their ravioli frozen to markets or at least offer it by mail. PLEASE.
Wow, ‘another one bites the dust’, to quote the musical group Queen.
Sad to see one of the last Italian deliicatessens – markets close. I recall San Fancisco had many Italian markets. Gloria Deli on Vallejo between Columbus & Stockton, Panelli Bros. & Florence Ravioli Co. on Stockton betwween Columbus and Vallejo acroos the street from each other and last but not least Molinari’s on Columbus. This is the one and only and last Italian market in North Beach. Gloria Deli used to be owned by a lady named Alda Maggiora.
When i moved to San Francisco in 198I, I used to have to go to North Beach to get my italian food fix, not knowing about Lucca Ravioli Co. In the case of Gloria Deli, the landlord tripled her rent, greed, just pure greed. Since she didn’t do the kind of business that’d justify the rent, she decidd to close and she told me she was going to join her brother at his Potrero Hill butcher shop. This was in 1984. Regarding Panelli Bros and and Florence Ravioli Co., pretty much the same thing. Their leases were up and the landlord tripled the rent and as far as Rich Panelli was concerned, after over 35 years of 6 day work weeks it was time to call it a day. Pretty much the same for Flornce Ravioli Co. Funny thing, Gloria Deli’s space was vacant for many years so the building owner basically screwed himself for his greed. sad to say, this is what happens when the store owner doesn’t own the premises so they’re at the mercy of a greedy landlord.
In conclusion, Lucca was great if not just for the parking lot, you could park, go into the store, browse for what you wanted, there was always a line at the counter, and not have to worry if the meter was going to expire, and as for North Beach, parking impossible. Sad to hear of Lucca closing, another part of what made San Francisco great goes away!
The first time I brought holiday raviolis/sauce to a family Thanksgiving dinner – more than 3 decades ago – my father (son of Italian immigrants and born and raised on Potrero Hill and then Glen Park) couldn’t believe how much it tasted like his mother’s – who made her own raviolis (and gnocchis) and sauce but had passed away in the early 80’s. So, Lucca’s raviolis have been one of the mainstay courses at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners ever since. What a blow to read about this a couple weeks ago.
Word on the street is that the buyer wants to continue the Lucca Deli business, which would be great news indeed.
… meaning raze the existing structure and then re-establish Lucca as ground floor retail? That would be a nice win-win.
That’s inserting thoughts that go far beyond what I heard today. I heard the current buyer wants to keep the business as is, and that Lucca won’t be closing around Easter as it turns out. It will instead reconfigure and continue onward sometime like June or so.
My thought, based upon what we gathered from talking to a clerk at Lucca today, was it would be this. Buyer keeps business/building as is, negotiating to keep all merchant contacts and licensing. Buyer probably tries to work with upstairs tenants to capitalize the residential unit somehow. Buyer leases adjacent pasta manufacturing space. Something like that.