San Francisco has lost its only Denny’s.
The restaurant in Union Square shut its doors in early August. It was the last Denny’s in downtown San Francisco, as reported by SFGATE.
Chris Haque, the operator, said the restaurant "operated until the last day that we could."
After nearly 25 years, it couldn’t stay open any longer. Dining and dashing were major issues.
"The cost of doing business is tremendous," Haque said. Vandalism and unpaid meals took a toll.
The decline in conventions also hurt business. Fewer events in recent years made a big impact.
Conventions in San Francisco dropped during the pandemic. Though they’re picking up, it’s still not enough.
Denny’s confirmed the closure but didn’t share specifics. Most of their restaurants are franchised.
"We echo Chris Haque’s sentiments," Denny’s stated. Closing a location is never easy, they added.
The company thanked the local community and staff. Denny’s in south San Francisco is still open.
There are 40 more locations across the San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose area. But Union Square, where this Denny’s once thrived, was hit hard by the pandemic.
Remote work and fewer visitors left the area struggling. Other parts of the city faced similar challenges.