The Castro Starbucks has temporarily lost their outdoor seating, after receiving a warning from the city due to a lapse in their permit.

A notice in their window reads:

Due to a lapse in our outdoor seating permit, we had to remove the furniture after a warning from the City of San Francisco and a subsequent ticket on Thursday, July 16th.

On Monday, July 20, 2015, an agent of Starbucks will be delivering the check to the City with a request for the permit. If all goes well, we will then have to post a notice of intent for 10 days. After the 10 days we can then apply and receive our permit. Once we have the permit we will return the furniture immediately.

As we continually strive to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for our customers, we intend to work as quickly as possible through the permitting process with the City to ensure the return of the outdoor furniture. We know that the removal is an inconvenience and disappointment to everyone. We will keep you informed every step of the way until the furniture is returned. Thank you for your continue patience and support as we work through the process.

The removal (even temporary) of outdoor seating is unusual for the neighborhood, where outdoor areas for diners and drinkers have proliferated of late. Stay tuned for an upcoming appraisal of the new outdoor seating boom in the Castro.