It was a cruel summer for South of Market's dining scene, which has seen a host of closures over the past few months.
Here's a quick look at the latest unexpected shutters to hit the neighborhood.
1. Merigan Sub Shop
After nearly three years in SoMa, Merigan Sub Shop is set to close its doors for good after Saturday, Oct. 8th.
The Second Street sandwich shop's heartbroken owner Liza Shaw told Tablehopper last Friday that many factors contributed to the closure, including the current labor shortage and the high cost of quality ingredients and her whole beast butchery program. Being just a few blocks from AT&T Park didn't seem to help much.
Fortunately for Merigan Sub Shop fans, there are still a few days left to grab one last Meatball Sub or Italian Combo with a chocolate chip cookie on the side. Hours are 8am-4pm through Friday and 10am-4pm Saturday.
Location: 636 Second St (at Brannan)
Future: Unknown
2. Citizen's Band and Pinkie's Bakery
The funky diner and attached bakery, open on the corner of Eighth and Folsom since 2010, both shuttered last week. Tech companies' corporate dining rooms bear the blame, according to partner Cheryl Storms, as well as the city's rising minimum wage and mandated healthcare costs.
Location: 1198 Folsom St. (at Eighth)
Future: Unknown
3. Volta
Volta, from Umberto Gibin and Staffan Terje of the FiDi's Perbacco and Barbacco, closed its doors at the end of September, after just nine months in business. The Scandinavian brasserie's revenue plunged in August, Gibin told the Chron, and despite nixing lunch service and doubling down on dinner, the hole only deepened.
Location: 868 Mission St. (at Fifth)
Future: Unknown
4. Pampalasa
The newly minted Filipino Cultural Heritage District is moving forward with one less Filipino business within its bounds. After nearly a year on Folsom between Eighth and Ninth, Pampalasa has shuttered.
While an end of summer closure was expected—due to "excessively high rent," owner Jennifer Villamin said—the business managed to hold through its one-year anniversary ... until an eviction notice was served late last month.
But all may not be lost. Villamin is on the hunt for a new, more affordable location in the neighborhood.
Location: 1261 Folsom St. (at Ninth)
Future: Unknown
5. Oro
A menu revamp and a crowdfunding campaign couldn't save Jason Fox's Oro. The Mint Plaza restaurant closed this June, after just nine months in business. At the time, Fox warned the Chronicle that the next six months would bring many more closures, a hypothesis that has proven correct so far.
Location: 8 Mint Plaza
Future: Unknown
