'Réveille Coffee' Eyes Move Into Former Bean There Space

'Réveille Coffee' Eyes Move Into Former Bean There SpacePhoto: Rose Garrett/Hoodline
Jessica Park
Published on August 31, 2017

A new tenant has announced plans to move into the former Bean There at 201 Steiner (and Waller) in the Lower Haight. San Francisco-based Réveille Coffee, launched in 2016 by brothers Christopher and Tommy Newbury, is planning to take over the space.

Hoodline confirmed the news with Christopher on the phone last week. However, because Réveille is in the middle of the permitting process, he wasn't ready to give us more details.

Réveille Coffee in the Castro. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

Réveille started as a food truck in 2010, and now has brick-and-mortar locations in Mission Bay, the Castro, and North Beach. 201 Steiner would be the company's fourth location.

The proposed location is the former home of Bean There, a beloved neighborhood coffee shop that shuttered after 21 years of business in February 2016. The spot closed after the landlord failed to renew the lease with the Bean There owners.

A few months after Bean There's closure, we reported that the landlord signed on Oakland-based coffee company Blue Bottle to take over 201 Steiner.

But because Blue Bottle—which has 13 stores in the Bay Area and 34 stores worldwide—is now considered formula retail, many neighbors protested and attended local hearings with the Planning Commission to voice their concerns.

Neighbors protest against Blue Bottle moving into the 201 Steiner St. location. | Photo: Rose Garrett/Hoodline

More than 1,300 people signed a petition opposing Blue Bottle's application for a conditional use authorization. Planning requires the permit as formula retail operations are prohibited in the area.

Ten months later, Planning bowed to neighborhood opposition and denied Blue Bottle's bid for a conditional use authorization.

Hoodline reached out to Newbury a few times to get an update, but we didn't hear back before press time. But according to a permit application, the brothers plan to spend about $75,000 to fix up the interior and make "space for a new café."

There are no other details at the moment, but if we hear back from the Newbury brothers, we'll be sure to update the story. 

Thank you to the anonymous tipster who alerted us. See something interesting in your neighborhood? Text your tips to 415-200-3233 or email [email protected].