SAN FRANCISCO – The famous Cliff House exterior sign was closed on Thursday lunchtime. This ended his time and the decades-long family-run restaurant service came to an end.
A crowd of several dozen people came out to watch the hand-dropped letters and made reservations when the last letter was removed and loaded into a pickup truck that took it to storage after about thirty minutes.
While a boombox was playing Tony Bennett’s own standard, “I left my heart in San Francisco,” a woman held a sign that read, “Love you, Cliff House,” while two others sang next to her, dressed warmly against them bright midday cold.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: The Cliff House exterior sign will be removed from the restaurant located along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California on Thursday, December 31, 2020. The family run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: Cliff House Chef Kevin Weber speaks to a group while the exterior sign is removed from the restaurant, which is located along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, Calif. On Thursday, December 31, 2020 is The family-run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: The “H” of Cliff House’s exterior sign will be lowered to the floor when the sign is removed from the restaurant located along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, Calif. On Thursday, December 31. December 2020 is The family-run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: Joseph Amster, dressed as Emperor Norton, looks on as the exterior sign of the Cliff House is removed from the restaurant located along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, Calif. On Thursday, December 31 December 2020 is located. The family The run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: The “H” on the exterior sign of the Cliff House will be removed from the restaurant located along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California on Thursday, December 31, 2020. The family-run restaurant then closes service for decades. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: Joseph Amster, dressed as Emperor Norton, looks on as the exterior sign of the Cliff House is removed from the restaurant located along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, Calif. On Thursday, December 31 December 2020 is located. The family The run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: The “E” from the exterior sign of the Cliff House will run to a waiting truck when the sign is removed from the restaurant, which is located along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California on Thursday, December 31st, 2020. The family-run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: People watch as the exterior sign of the Cliff House is removed from the restaurant located along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California on Thursday, December 31, 2020. The family-run restaurant closes terms of use and terms and conditions after decades. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: Flower House Florist Roxane Rockwell (left) and Cliff House Chef Kevin Weber chat under the empty frame that houses the exterior sign of the restaurant along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California, Hung December 31, 2020. The family-run restaurant is closing after decades of service. Rockwell has been the restaurant’s house florist for over two decades. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: The “C” and “H” from the Cliff House exterior sign is being packed into a truck when the sign was removed from the restaurant along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California Thursday. December 31, 2020. The family-run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: The Cliff House exterior sign was removed from the restaurant along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California on Thursday, December 31, 2020. The family run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: The exterior sign of the Cliff House is being packed into a truck when the sign was removed from the restaurant located along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California on Thursday, December 31st 2020 is located. The family business The restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: The Cliff House exterior sign was removed from the restaurant along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California on Thursday, December 31, 2020. The family run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – DECEMBER 31: The Cliff House exterior sign was removed from the restaurant along Point Lobos Ave in San Francisco, California on Thursday, December 31, 2020. The family run restaurant closes after decades of service. (Anda Chu / Bay Area News Group)
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In a social media post on Wednesday evening, Dan and Mary Hountalas, who have run the restaurant since 1973, said “negotiation days” between their company, Peanut Wagon Inc., and representatives of the National Park Service that “seemed to lead to a workable solution for everyone Participants ”ended on Wednesday.
“This morning, December 30, 2020, at 11:00 am, we received a last-minute notice from the NPS that they were going back to their original offering, which is not financially viable for Peanut Wagon, Inc. and our potential partner ”, was part of the contribution.
“The Cliff House will no longer be a restaurant and will no longer be open to the public as it has been for 157 years. We invite everyone interested to join us tomorrow to witness the heartbreaking end of the iconic Cliff House, which began in 1863. “
It was recently announced that the Cliff House restaurant will close on 12/31/20 after restaurant operator Peanut Wagon, Inc.’s contract with NPS expires. For the past few weeks, NPS has been reviewing all possible options to keep Peanut Wagon, Inc. operating. pic.twitter.com/BPDX6PUCDx
– Golden Gate NPS Alerts (@GGNRANPSAlerts) December 31, 2020
In a statement Wednesday evening, a National Park Service representative said the Park Service had negotiated and considered its business in good faith to enable Peanut Wagon Inc. to operate the restaurant, including what is known as the “new three and a half” annual run to avoid disruption to public services. “
“The NPS is committed to preserving this iconic building,” the statement said in part.
“The NPS values the Hountalas family and all they and the Cliff House restaurant have meant to San Francisco and the Franciscans over many decades. We will work with Peanut Wagon, Inc. to give them the time necessary to protect and remove their property. We continue to strive to provide an exceptional experience for residents and visitors to the Bay Area and look forward to welcoming the public again in the future. “
Reports of the iconic restaurant’s dead end regarding lease negotiations and closings related to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this month prompted the Hountalas family to say that up to 180 workers would remain unemployed.
On a social media post, incoming San Francisco district manager Connie Chan shared a picture of her family visiting the restaurant in January 2020.
“Today I would like to thank the Hountalas family for their dedication in maintaining the Cliff House, which has enabled my family and me to enjoy great memories for nearly three decades,” Chan said in part, adding that they are committed to the collaboration I engaged executives, the parking service and the local congregations with elected federal members to make the website “accessible to all Franciscans”.
Today I would like to thank the Hountalas family for their dedication to the Cliff House, which has enabled my family and me to enjoy great memories for nearly three decades. This photo is from the last time my family was at the Cliff House in January of this year. pic.twitter.com/3qkLQpFiEp
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