Saltwater Bakeshop, the farmers market favorite that has spent years tempting San Franciscans from pop-up stalls, is finally settling down in SoMa. The bakery opens a new storefront at 1309 Howard Street this Wednesday, a large shop built mostly for production but with a long pastry case and seating. It will debut with limited hours and no espresso service, then expand to a full menu later in May.
As reported by The San Francisco Standard, owner Brittany Dunn-Holden will open the retail storefront on Wednesday with limited hours and no espresso at first. She plans to move to regular hours and roll out the full menu on May 30. The space, which faces Howard Street, measures roughly 7,200 square feet, with most of that footprint dedicated to production.
From Markets to a Permanent Home
Brittany Dunn-Holden founded Saltwater in 2018 as a wholesale bakery and steadily built a following at farmers' markets across the city, including the Ferry Plaza, Clement Street, and Fort Mason markets, according to Saltwater Bakeshop. The move into SoMa marks the brand's first full retail storefront after years of pop-ups and wholesale partnerships, though in 2023, the owner announced plans to open the first permanent home on Geary. That plan was eventually abandoned due to permitting 'red tape.'
What Is on the Counter
Fans can expect croissants folded with Normandy butter and finished with seasonal produce, orange-blossom cardamom buns, nicknamed the bakery's cheeky "Cardi B," and blonde sourdough boules made with a San Diego starter that has been bubbling for nearly 20 years, per The San Francisco Standard. The storefront will also expand into sandwiches, including a breakfast bacon, egg and cheese on potato buns and lunchtime baguettes, and Ritual Coffee will provide beans for both drip and espresso. The shop has seating, free Wi-Fi and outlets beneath a mural of the Golden Gate Bridge, making it unusually laptop-friendly for a San Francisco bakery.
Why It Took So Long
Dunn-Holden had been chasing a brick-and-mortar space for years. She signed a lease in the Richmond in 2023, but those plans ran into permit delays, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. The SoMa location occupies the former Chantal Guillon macaron shop, and Chantal Guillon closed its San Francisco storefront at 1309 Howard in 2022, according to SFGate.
Opening Day Notes
Saltwater will continue to supply markets and cafe partners even after the SoMa shop opens, and the bakery's website lists its market schedule and partners. Expect a busy pastry case on opening weekend, and check the bakery's online channels for the latest hours and menu rollouts.
