Traditional Mission District Gastropub Monk’s Kettle to Shut San Francisco Location and Head to Oakland

The Mission District will have one less place for casual vibes and upscale beer and burgers: The Monk's Kettle is closing its original location at 3141 16th Street and moving to Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood. According to a press release, the 16th Street location will remain open through June; The Monk's team will then move operations to the Oakland space and plans to host a grand opening in early fall. In the press release, co-owner Christian Albertson cites an expired rental agreement and the possibility of a new location with larger space and better offerings as the reason for the move. The San Rafael outpost remains unchanged.

As part of the farewell, Albertson also wrote a letter titled “Reflections on a 16-Year Run on 16th Street,” in which he discussed the vastly different landscape in San Francisco than when the dimly lit destination for hazy IPAs and pretzel rolls opened . Albertson says that when he opened in 2007, San Francisco was a “community.” [that] was more focused on going out and experiencing the world through its restaurants, bars and shops.” The app-based delivery boom in the early 2010s for a gastropub was never a good thing, he writes. If 20 percent of every sale goes to another company, the money dries up—plus the experience of hanging out with friends over a basket of fries and a Cellarmaker beer. “For the first nine years of our tenure, our kitchen was open until 1 a.m. every night and we kicked people out at 2 a.m.,” the note reads in part. “These days, closing at 11 p.m. often feels too late.”

The monk's kettle

The monk's kettle

In addition to changing restaurant trends, Albertson cites the recent influx of tech workers as a major problem for his industry. Instead of people in neighborhoods like the Mission investing and taking the time to become regulars at bars and restaurants, “the workers at these companies are here on short-term contracts with contracts for a year (or less)” and “that's what they are.” far less inclined to support their local district; They're more likely to head to desirable hotspots before heading to wherever the next job takes them.” He says these reasons and more make San Francisco more ephemeral than ever, adding to the reality of being a small business owner here make challenge.

The Monk's Kettle will take over the former Citron space at 5484 College Avenue. The release touts an open floor plan for a large bar — fans of the business can expect the lion's head bar to move to the East Bay — and a dining room with a large back patio next to a lemon tree and a trellis overhead. Parklets in front of the restaurant expand seating capacity. Closing events and sales, including a time travel tour of vintage menus and cellar beers, will take place in the following months. Updates will be posted on Monk's Kettle's social media channels. “So we head to Rockridge to start the new neighborhood bar,” Albertson’s letter continued. “We hope to see you all there.”

Monk's Kettle (3141 16th Street) will remain open through June and is open Sunday through Thursday from noon to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight.

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