Bob's Donuts, a staple in San Francisco's local doughnut scene and of Polk Street more generally, has been eyeing a major expansion just a block away from its original Polk Street location. Now, with a legislative assist from Supervisor Aaron Peskin, the family-owned shop known for its classic confections might be one step closer to serving its delectable treats from a larger space, ensuring that the longstanding Bob's Donuts legacy thrives despite challenging lease renewals with their current landlord.
Supervisor Peskin led the charge, nominating Bob's Donuts for the Legacy Business Registry in April, aiming to facilitate positive lease negotiations, but talks with the property owner fell through leading to plans for relocation to 1720 Polk Street, "Bob’s has been a cherished part of the San Francisco tradition since the 1960’s, and it’s been operated by three generations of my family for the past 50 years," Bob's Donuts General Manager, Rebekah Ahn, expressed gratitude towards Peskin's efforts, sharing that while raising rent by 150% seemed like an insurmountable hurdle, the move heralds a new chapter with the prospect of an enlarged dining area, according to a statement from the City of San Francisco.
The expansion not only presents an opportunity for the Ahn family, who took ownership in 1977, to continue providing their baked delights but also to enhance their engagement with the community, as Aya Ahn, the co-owner of Bob's Donuts, emphasized the shop's ethos of mutual care and support for neighboring enterprises. Bob's, with its signature queues of doughnut enthusiasts stretching along Polk Street, serves as a local hub for varied patrons from the nocturnal crowd to law enforcement and communal activists, harmonizing diverse strands of city life over sugared pastries and coffee.
Rooted in a strong heritage, having operated since 1960 and managed by the Ahns since the '70s, Bob's enduring presence echoes through the decades, and its planned expansion into the adjoining space next door, once home to Lotta’s Bakery, signals continual growth despite pitfalls faced during lease negotiations, Bob's resilience is demonstrated through previous expansions with existing outposts on Baker Street and beyond, in San Francisco and Mill Valley as noted in historical coverage by the San Francisco Chronicle.
While details are yet to be ironed out regarding the operational timeline for the Polk Street expansion, the neighborhood can rest assured that Bob's will carry on serving its beloved simple yet satisfying fares, be it the classic glazed or the intriguing crème brûlée and S’mores cronut, as detailed in a past review from Hoodline. San Franciscans, whether they're in for a late-night snack or an early morning sweet start, can continue to count on Bob's Donuts for that spot on Polk Street that feels like both a celebration of the past and a toasty herald of future city memories made over dough and sugar.
"Although we would love to continue our legacy at 1621 Polk Street," Ahn said, adding, "I would like to thank President Peskin for this invaluable legislation, which will enable us to have an even bigger space with an expanded dining room."
