After close to 30 years holding down a cozy stretch of Highway 1, Vallemar Station, the family-run spot tucked inside a house-like former Ocean Shore Railroad depot, is getting ready to call it quits. The Ash family turned the building into a neighborhood fixture, known for prime rib, clam chowder and its small bar, the Rose Room. Now, owners say a mix of rising costs, slower seasons and the pull of family caregiving has made it impossible to keep the doors open much longer.
According to SFGATE, the news first went public in a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page. In a phone interview, Denise Ash, daughter of owner Barbara Ash, said the family is "close to having a buyer" and plans to set a firm closing date once the sale moves through escrow. She explained that she is stepping back in part to care for her mother and because "when my dad [Hal] passed two years ago, that was a big blow." SFGATE reports that Hal and Barbara Ash opened Vallemar Station in 1996.
Train-Station Roots
The building that houses Vallemar Station sits along the former route of the Ocean Shore Railroad, a short-lived coastal rail line that operated in the early 1900s before much of its corridor was turned into what is now Highway 1. Visit Pacifica notes that only three Ocean Shore station structures are still standing, and identifies the Vallemar depot at 2125 Coast Highway as one of the survivors. With its modest, house-like architecture, the depot has long served as an unofficial gateway into town for drivers heading south out of San Francisco.
Menu And Memories
Over the years, Vallemar Station settled into a comfort-food groove, pairing classic surf-and-turf plates with Italian-American favorites. The restaurant’s posted menu has featured prime rib, clam chowder, seafood pastas, chicken Parmesan and fried chicken, among other staples. SinglePlatform and similar listings show the same reliable lineup that helped make the spot a go-to choice for family gatherings and celebrations. Regulars have long pointed to the Rose Room bar, karaoke nights and an easygoing staff as big reasons they kept coming back.
Sale Talks And An Uncertain Future
Denise Ash told SFGATE that the family is "close to having a buyer," but what that buyer might do with the historic depot once escrow closes is still an open question. For now, the owners are encouraging longtime customers to stop in while the restaurant is still operating, and they hope Barbara Ash will be able to make occasional appearances once she returns home from the hospital. The restaurant is located at 2125 Pacific Coast Highway in Pacifica, and MapQuest lists the spot as 2125 Coast Hwy.
Whether the depot remains a restaurant or is given a different role, the anticipated closing of Vallemar Station marks the end of a distinctly local chapter in Pacifica’s story. The building will stay put on the coast, anchored in the memories of the people who have been eating and celebrating there for decades.
