Ushering in a new chapter in San Francisco's thriving coffee scene, Saint Frank Coffee skillfully brewed its way to opening a second location in the MIRA building on Folsom Street on January 5. The grand opening wasn't a quiet affair for long, as eager patrons quickly lined up by the weekend to taste Saint Frank's renowned specialty coffee. The new cafe is riding on a wave of anticipation, ready to serve fans old and new from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, offering more than just espresso shots with pastries from Juniper and teas from Song Tea and Ceramics.
In boldly countering the gloomy narrative of downtown decline, Saint Frank's founder Kevin Bohlin is optimistic about the city's economic landscape. "The pandemic created space to dream," according to an Eater San Francisco interview. He expressed his determination by adding, "Out of that time, it became clear it was time to do this in San Francisco. And I like a challenge. Doom loop? Watch me." His determination meshes well with the current rebound of office vacancies, and Saint Frank's second location aims to add a new heartbeat to the city's coffee culture.
Mirroring the menu from its original Polk Street shop, the new Saint Frank establishes continuity while embracing its history and connection with San Francisco's coffee legacy. As they continue to forge relationships with coffee producers in countries like Bolivia and Burundi, the proximity of the new shop to coffee giants Folgers and Hills Brothers signifies more than just geography. Founder Kevin Bohlin understands the symbolic value, asserting, "We’re establishing our San Francisco identity even deeper," in a nod to the coffee roots of the waterfront area. Meanwhile, long-time collaborator and architect Amanda Loper has infused the new space with a chic and thoughtful design, highlighted by touches like an ox-blood ceiling and marble with streaks of the same rich red.
Despite the challenges of opening in a pricey part of town, Bohlin has taken a step further by purchasing the building where the original cafe has stood firm for a decade. Enthusiasm for the business is unmistakable, as an Instagram post from saintfrankcoffee tagged the new establishment as "a gift of thoughtful design and pure joy, ready to open its doors to San Francisco." The new SoMa location doesn't just mark an expansion; it is a strong reaffirmation of Saint Frank's commitment to the heart of the city, where vertical living meets community—a fact not overlooked by Bohlin who found immediate neighborhood charm upon opening the doors. "This is an actual neighborhood," he told Eater San Francisco.
