20-year-old Krav Maga studio among latest group of Lower Nob Hill business closures

20-year-old Krav Maga studio among latest group of Lower Nob Hill business closuresKrav Maga SF offered self-defense and fitness classes for over 20 years. | Photo: Gilad D./Yelp
Britta Shoot
Published on August 26, 2020

Small businesses along the Polk Street corridor and in the Lower Nob Hill area are continuing to feel the financial impacts of mandated closures under the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders.

Recently, three more area businesses have closed, following in the footsteps of other post-pandemic closures: Christian Daniels Gallery; knife shop Town CutlerReal Escape Game; cafe Estela's Donburi; bars House Rules and the Summer Place; and City Beauty Salon. Party store SF Party is also set to close after Halloween.

Krav Maga San Francisco

Krav Maga SF, the 1,200-square-foot martial arts training and fitness space at 1455 Bush St., has permanently closed.

Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Barny and Gail Foland, Krav Maga SF first opened in the Marina in 1999, before moving to its longtime location at Bush and Polk. The couple offered online classes through July, but it wasn't enough to keep things going.

"As a fifth-generation San Franciscan, it broke my heart to have to close and not be part of the city I loved anymore," Gail told Hoodline.

Le Marche

Event space Le Marche on Sutter Street appears closed. | Photo: Britta Shoot/Hoodline

Party and event space Le Marche, at Sutter and Larkin streets, also appears to have closed. Its space is empty, with all of the fixtures removed, and its website is no longer operative.

Le Marche opened in December 2018 as an offshoot of Le Marais Bakery, whose central production kitchen and cafe is next door. It recently reopened for takeout after a months-long closure, joining the bakery's locations in the Marina and the Castro. 

Email inquiries to Le Marais' owners were not returned. 

Puerto Vallarta Tanning Salon

Personal care businesses, such as nail and hair salons, have been among the hardest-hit by the pandemic. The latest to join their ranks appears to be family-owned Puerto Vallarta Tanning Salon (1426 California St.). Its space has been cleared out, and the salon's phone number is out of service.


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