The longstanding bastion of nocturnal nibbles and neon signs, Silver Crest Donut Shop, has permanently closed its doors, ending its over fifty-year stretch as one of San Francisco's round-the-clock eateries. As reported by The San Francisco Standard, the diner, known for its bold proclamation of "We never close," has been abruptly boarded up, with its phone line disconnected.
Neighbors of the diner located at 340 Bayshore Blvd were greeted with the unusual sight of plywood over windows on Monday. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, less than 24 hours later, the boards were tagged with graffiti. Raul, the owner of the neighboring JR Seafood, highlighted the recent upswing in vandalism in the area and pointed out damage from a bullet hole in his store's awning, which has been there for the last two years.
The Silver Crest's appeal wasn't just its all-hours offerings but its charmingly weird ambiance and staple menu items, which seemed trapped in a different era. "Nominally an all-night breakfast spot, the restaurant had a menu that included a fried ham sandwich for $11.95, Sanka for $2.95 and a hot snail (a sticky pastry, not escargot) for $2.95," according to The San Francisco Standard. The diner was a fixture for the late-night crowd, many of whom sought the unique experience of gruff service and a setting resembling that of a David Lynch film.
The venue’s charm included a menu board with erstwhile items still listed but with their prices painted over. The establishment, once a gas station and then a mini-market, had maintained much of its interior design since its mid-century inception, complete with a pool table, several pinball machines, and a wood-paneled counter overlooking ruby red stools. "The Chronicle attempted to reach a relative of the owners, but did not immediately hear back," as the San Francisco Chronicle investigated the closure. While attempts to reach George and Nina Giavris, the longstanding owners of Silver Crest, went unanswered, past interviews indicate they put in long hours to keep the diner's lights on for decades.
