Patio Cafe Could Be Granted Permit Approval to Open by End of Week

As we posted in March, the long closed Patio Cafe (531-541 Castro St), has been on the hunt for an enterprising restaurant concern to come and run the once beloved and popular for current owner Les Natali. According to SocketSite one of the last remaining hurdles to make that a reality will be cleared when Natali receives the go ahead nod on all needed permits from the SF Planning Commission at their next meeting at City Hall on August 1st. The Patio Cafe has been a fixture in the neighborhood since it first opened in the 1960's. It's a huge space and seen several face lifts. Natali purchased the restaurant in 1989. He installed a retractable roof over the dining area in 1992 so it could be enclosed during inclement weather and it's popularity seemed to skyrocket especially as a week-end brunch hot spot for a wide variety of Castro residents and visitors.

Mr. Natali shut down the establishment in 1999 to remodel again and to address some code violations. It has remained that way ever since and a topic of ire among many in the community and neighborhood who're unhappy with Mr. Natali's business practice of leaving Castro property empty for long periods of time effecting both property values and the business acumen of the area. The full remodel and permit fixing construction on the site has been completed since 2007. Catered and occasional events have taken place, but, other than that the space has remained dormant. If you've forgotten what the place looks like inside you're not alone. Here are the floor plans from 1992 and post remodel as the facility stands now. Lets hope this last hurdle is cleared and the deal is sealed on finding the right outside foodie entrepreneur to captain one of the Castro's ghost ships and get the lights turned back on in the Patio Cafe once and for all.

-SocketSite