Hard Knox Cafe, a beloved soul-food restaurant in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood, closed its original location on Monday after being unable to reach a new lease agreement with landlords. While this marks the end of an era for the original eatery, Hard Knox will continue operating its second location on Clement Street in the Richmond. Owner Tony Hua also announced plans to open a ghost kitchen near the closed Dogpatch restaurant next year, featuring a similar menu and focusing on takeout and delivery orders.
In an area that has undergone so much change, Hard Knox Cafe has been one of the lone constants in the Dogpatch .
The next generation of Dogpatch residents won’t have that connection with Hard Knox. On Monday, the old-school, hole-in-the-wall diner served customers for the last time. Still, Monday marked a big change for the neighborhood, representing the end of what had been a venerable watering hole for eastside San Franciscans.
“I used to be behind the bars and have customers that came in every single day,” Mach said while wiping away tears. “We would talk everyday. They would stay for an hour or two and then come back at night.”He and his family immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam in the 1970s to escape the Vietnam War, Hua said. After initially settling in Washington state, he moved to Texas for about a year, which is where Hua said he developed a taste for po’boys, oxtail, yams and other southern classics.
Ex // Top Stories Monthslong SF hotel strike ends as Hilton workers ratify agreement The 950 striking workers will vote Tuesday on ratifying the agreement, according to Unite Here Local 2 Despite having no prior culinary or business experience, Hua, in his mid-20s at the time, made a make-or-break bet on Hard Knox when he opened the restaurant. To be able to afford the space’s $1,000–a-month rent, he said he dropped out of Skyline College and sold most of his possessions.His bet paid off, and Hard Knox became a hit. Over the next quarter-century, Hard Knox was one of the most consistently busy spots in the neighborhood.
Hua said former San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker used to frequent the restaurant all the time before heading to Oracle Park. Baker would sit at the bar and chat with the staff about life and baseball, Hua said.
Hard Knox Cafe Dogpatch San Francisco Ghost Kitchen Restaurant Closure
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