Richmond Buzz: A public domain party, and small biz rumors galore

""Richmond Buzz" will be a recurring column on changes, tidbits and other news from the Richmond. Got news? Send us tips at [e-mail]. Happy New Year. The week of rain is behind us, and there's a stillness in the frigid air. In this week's Buzz, a neighbor tips me onto a pattern. Let's start with two cafes that appear slated to open along Clement Street, bringing the sum total on the corridor to just shy of a million. Okay, closer to 20, but it sure feels like more."

"Reveille owner Christopher Newbury said they're planning to open on Clement "by mid year," and did not respond to a request to share his side of the story concerning the Lower Haight location. Here's where it gets interesting: Soleil Malia LLC also retains ownership of Malama Matcha, a trendy SF-based brand that sells boxed tins of matcha out of stores like the Inner Sunset's Snowbird Coffee. Might outer Clement's Hologram be an extension of the Malama Matcha program? Malama did not respond to requests for comment, but we will update this once we hear."

""I'm really sad to lose them," said Sydney Peterson, who manages the 4 Star Theater across the street. "It really speaks to how heartbreaking it is that there are so few tenancy protections for small businesses in San Francisco." Peterson and the rest of the 4 Star staff will especially miss the $8.50 takeout rice bowls - an unbeatable deal any side of town. "We definitely subsisted on that pretty frequently," Peterson said. They're hopeful that the owners will land on their feet elsewhere. According to a petition reposted by K-Element's owners, rent increases from the restaurant's landlord coincided with interest in the space from a "national franchise." Peterson said they also heard rumors of a "high-end, high concept" restaurant group interested in the location. So far, no new business filings have been made for the address, and a "For Lease" sign remains pos"

Multiple cafes and food concepts are slated to open along Clement Street, including a Reveille location projected to open by midyear and a Soleil Malia LLC-linked concept tied to Malama Matcha. Soleil Malia LLC retains ownership of Malama Matcha, a brand selling boxed matcha in local stores, prompting questions about an Outer Clement extension. Nearby businesses express concern about rising rents and weak tenancy protections after a beloved restaurant departed amid landlord rent increases and reported interest from a "national franchise" or a "high-end, high concept" group, while no new filings appear and a For Lease sign remains.

Read at Mission Local