San Francisco is putting serious money on the table to turn the lights back on in some of the Excelsior’s emptiest storefronts, offering one-time grants of $50,000 to $100,000 to entrepreneurs who are ready to sign a lease. The grants, which come bundled with broker and lease-review help to tackle costly build-outs and repairs, are available now, with applications due Feb. 13 at 5 PM.
How the grant works
The Office of Economic and Workforce Development quietly rolled out the Storefront Opportunity Grant in late January to jump-start ground-floor retail with both cash and hands-on support. According to the City and County of San Francisco, the program combines one-time awards of $50,000–$100,000 with full broker services and lease-review backing for businesses that commit to leases in specific commercial corridors.
Who and where can apply
Mission Local reports that the grants are tiered by business type: $50,000 for retail and personal services, $75,000 for small cafés and bakeries, and $100,000 for full-service restaurants, bars, and neighborhood-serving pharmacies. In the Excelsior, only storefronts on Mission Street between Geneva and Mt. Vernon avenues and on Geneva Avenue between Alemany Boulevard and Naples Street qualify, and applicants must have operated a business in San Francisco for at least three years.
Why storefronts stay empty
City data show roughly 29 empty storefronts in the Excelsior, down from about 60 at the height of the pandemic, but years of deferred maintenance still keep many spaces dark. As Mission Local noted, operators of the Dark Horse Inn say repeated plumbing failures and slow landlord fixes forced them to close in March 2025; for one operator, “plumbing was the biggest problem.”
Landlords, taxes and repairs
Neighborhood advocates say some long-time building owners can afford to leave spaces empty rather than pay to overhaul aging plumbing, electrical, and ventilation systems to meet code, so the city is trying to pair carrots with a few sticks. The Treasurer & Tax Collector details the Commercial Vacancy Tax, which applies to ground-floor commercial space that remains vacant for more than 182 days and requires annual filings from both owners and tenants.
What's next
OEWD officials and local leaders describe the grants as a pilot they hope to expand if it successfully turns empty windows into lasting neighborhood businesses. The full application and program details are available on the city’s website, and applications must be submitted on Feb. 13 at 5 PM, according to the City and County of San Francisco.
