Inside the Outside Lands blog delivered the troubling news today that the venerable Louis’ Diner here in the Richmond District is facing an uphill battle.
Louis’ is located just up the hill from another legend, the Cliff House. Generations of San Franciscans and tourists love this little diner that is perched on the cliff overlooking the ruins of Sutro Baths.
The diner, which has been owned and run by the Hontalas family for 73 years, is currently on a year to year lease with the National Park Service (the diner technically sits on federal land).
The restaurant needs maintenance work and upgrades to be in compliance with accessibility laws, but the family understandably doesn’t want to invest in the repairs with only a year-to-year lease on the property.
Federal law also requires that the restaurant space be put up for bid, and apparently a couple of prospects already toured the place on March 24. Inside the Outside Lands says that “most of the park service personnel out here who know Louis’ want it to stay with the Hontalas family”, but point out that those making the decision will be members of a federal committee that won’t know much about Louis’ histroy and standing in the community.
So that’s where you can help. Show your support for the Hontalas family to continue operating Louis’ Diner by signing the online petition, or emailing a story, memory (even a sentence!) to louisrestaurant1937@gmail.com. If you prefer, mail in your words of support to: Louis’ Restaurant, 902 Point Lobos Road, San Francisco, CA 94121.
And mark you calendars – Louis’ will host a community event on April 17th from 10am–2pm. Come out with your family and friends to show your support – there will be free hot dogs!
Sarah B.
The corner booth at Louis Diner. Photo by roddh
Wasn’t the “Crab Louis” invented at this place?
If true, that might deserve “historical status”
Louis Domer is a genuine piece of Richmond, SF history and deserves to stay. I hope it can be rescued and if sold to new owners, that they will try to preserve what is undoubtedly a great piece of SF history and one I well remember as a former resident of that area.
Best wishes to all concerned
please do not close this restaurant.
Thanks for spreading the word, Sarah. Louis’ was a family tradition for us long before I moved to the Richmond.
Please, please do not allow Louis’ to change in any way. This is an historic treasure that provides a much needed service to residents and tourists alike. To lose this place would be a tragedy for San Francisco.
First they ruined the Cliff House, now they’re going to ruin this. Ongoing effort to discourage anyone except those who are comfortable paying really high prices for everything. The Cliff House used to be fairly reasonably priced, with the museum, musee mechanique, and giant camera downstairs. Now it’s just for upscale dining, and the promised revamped museum long forgotten. Can’t blame it entirely on Bush-era “power to the privileged” attitude, because there are plenty of wealthy liberals who appreciate the moneyed ambiance as well.
Louis’ is a wonderful place, makes money and is a historic gem! Unfortunately seems like Eric Marr and the mayor are MIA again, as usual, help wise. Perhaps its time to write or call Nancy Pelosi’s office.
Um, yes, unfortunately the Bush era did give us the petty government officials including the Presidio Trust folks and Park Service pencil pushers to whom money is everything. Everyone else who is tending the trails and keeping the place really going, get little recognition or support and mostly love what they do.
Great Pie must be saved and savored!
I remember sneaking out of Washington High School and going there to eat and see the Water. It is a great and divine place – I love the Old San Francisco feel – closing this or letting a stupid nouveau California cuisine where it is just a varation of the other stuff served in the city would be a disgrace….
Native San Franciscan and transplants UNITE to stop any effort to close this down…
I hate this place. The food sucks. Just because it has been there for awhile doesn’t make it meaningful. Tear this crapper down already.
San Francisco is disappearing and a city I don’t like is taking it’s place. Some things shouldn’t change – this place is one of them!
I too have little affection for this place. The prices are outlandish, designed for a tourist trade, not a local business.
The prices are actually quite reasonable, especially when you compare it to the tourist trap of the Cliff House next door. Perhaps you are thinking of that place Bob Schneider? Regarding the food, it’s pretty hard to screw up bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, or pancakes, and Louis’ does not. If you are expecting fine dining, try the Cliff House, Tommy, but be prepared to pay for it.
This was the place recommended to me by a former co-worker who grew up in San Francisco. When I was planning a Christmas visit a couple of years ago, he told me, don’t go to Cliff House, go to the nice little diner just up the road from Cliff House. Good advice. Louis’ was certainly more in my price range, and the food, based on the one lunch I ate there with my son, was good diner food. I remember it as a very comfortable, if busy and popular, place with decent comfort food.
I’m going out to SF again in July, and have been looking forward to another trip or two to Louis’–hopefully this time with time to wait for a booth overlooking the ocean! I will gladly sign the petition and keep my fingers crossed.
I grew up in the neighborhood and have since moved out of state. Was just home in SF for a wedding and went there for breakfast every day of the 4 day trip. The Hontalas’ are your family – and it’s family style. Good regular food. Great memories of going there for many years with my best friend to catch up and have coffee and a meal. Save this icon – give the owners a break and give them a contract with enough time to make the repairs worthwhile.
Wouldn’t it be brilliant if they could get Pelosi to come? That the Presidio needs to be a profitable park such that long-standing family business are outbid was partially her brainchild.