San Francisco's Ferry Building continues to cement itself as one of the hopes for the Downtown SF area with the latest tenants joining its ranks. Bernal Cutlery, a staple in the local chef and home cook community for its expansive selection of knives and cookware expertise, is slated to open a new storefront in the Ferry Building this fall. The store will set up shop in Suite 26, the space formerly occupied by gardening goods store the Gardener, which will close in October, as per the SF Eater report.
Fans of Bernal Cutlery can anticipate a "curated version of the Valencia store," per SF Eater, brimming with various knives from various cultures, vintage collections, and cookware like Japanese donabes and cast iron pans. Josh Donald and Kelly Kozak, the owners who established Bernal Cutlery over two decades ago, shared their excitement about joining a place "steeped in San Francisco history", in a statement obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle. The idea of investing and maintaining the city's charm through this move resonates deeply with them, as they aim to serve a customer base that includes locals and visitors commuting via the ferries.
Donald expressed a sense of belonging with the new expansion, "I love that we are joining a place steeped in San Francisco history which is very much connected to farmers, small businesses, and local cooks", according to a San Francisco Chronicle interview. The enthusiasm is matched by Kozak, who stated, "Investing in San Francisco is a really important thing to me," underscoring their commitment to the local community and economy. They intend to bring over their popular pantry section from the Mission district location, ensuring patrons can access their carefully selected specialty products.
The announcement on Bernal Cutlery's official Instagram account highlighted the significance of the move: "Having the opportunity to choose the Ferry Building was a no-brainer for us", they revealed, noting a marked increase in energy at the Ferry Building compared to years prior. While the new outpost is too small to accommodate on-site knife sharpening, there's hope to provide drop-off services, further enhancing the value proposition to culinary aficionados all over the Bay Area and beyond.
This expansion is just one chord in a symphony of openings, signaling a vibrant future for the Ferry Building. This year alone, it has embraced the addition of Ocean Malasada's kiosk. It is gearing up for future openings, including Chef Alex Hong of Michelin-starred Sorrel and the collaborative venture between Nopa and Water2Table, Nopa Fish, slated for early 2025 and next year, respectively.
