Only 27 storefront vacancies were subject to San Francisco’s commercial vacancy tax in 2025, down from 241 in 2024 after a broad construction exemption took effect.

Cinderella Bakery will open at 24th and Alabama streets on August 28, nearly eight years after Calle 24 threatened an indefinite boycott of the Jewish-owned legacy business.

Jollibee opened at 934 Market Street nearly six years after filing its first permit, exposing the costs of San Francisco’s fragmented approval system.

Supervisor Alan Wong is crowdsourcing the city’s most outdated and burdensome rules through a new “dumb laws” contest—an effort that could feed real municipal code cleanup if City Hall turns submissions into concrete repeal and streamlining legislation.

SF supervisors will vote in February on extending and expanding the midnight–5 a.m. retail-hours restriction from the Tenderloin into parts of SoMa. GrowSF’s view: shut down the bad actors and enforce existing laws—don’t impose a blanket curfew that punishes legitimate small businesses.

The Castro Theatre will host community events Feb. 6–7 ahead of its Feb. 10, 2026 reopening after a $41 million renovation. GrowSF backed this upgrade—and we’re thrilled to see one of SF’s most iconic venues nearly back online.

Jackie Fielder's attempt to ban new research labs in the Mission was gutted by more reasonable voices.

The Board of Supervisors rejected Supervisor Connie Chan’s proposal to require special permits before new tenants can replace legacy businesses, siding with planners and merchants who warned it would add red tape and worsen vacancies.

Connie Chan's legislation requiring permits to replace longtime businesses moves forward, despite expert opposition.

Supervisors pass Sauter plan 8-2, streamlining North Beach neighborhood commercial rules.

New rules assign single inspectors and reduce equipment requirements.

Danny Sauter's legislation would simplify bureaucratic restrictions that have blocked entrepreneurs from opening neighborhood shops.

Near-unanimous legislative support for Mayor Lurie's state-local partnership to crack down on retail theft and boost nightlife.

Four retired officers will patrol the neighborhoods as unarmed ambassadors to support small businesses facing safety concerns.

Vandals smashed windows and spray-painted hate speech at Manny’s, a community café in the Mission District. Supervisor Jackie Fielder has not condemned the attack.

A legislative package introduced by the Mayor and six Supervisors aims to cut red tape for small businesses by eliminating unnecessary permits, shortening timelines, and modernizing outdated rules.

San Francisco’s always-fun monthly block party, Downtown First Thursdays, has been extended through = December 2025