New Long-term Leases Signed through Vacant to Vibrant, Bringing Total to 11 as Wells Fargo Expands Program Funding
Today, SF New Deal announced a $1 million donation from Wells Fargo being shared across its Vacant to Vibrant program and efforts at La Cocina, Main Street Launch, and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to support small businesses and revitalize Downtown San Francisco.
Wells Fargo’s new contribution will provide transformational grant funding and support for Vacant to Vibrant pop-ups that have transitioned to long-term leases downtown, converting formerly vacant spaces into vibrant storefronts. This announcement arrives as four more Vacant to Vibrant pop-ups successfully transition to long-term leases.
“Wells Fargo’s generous support is a game-changer for small businesses and downtown. Our partnership highlights the power of public-private collaboration and the vital role small businesses play in shaping the future of San Francisco. With every new pop-up storefront, Vacant to Vibrant is bringing optimism, economic activity, and renewed energy to downtown,” said Simon Bertrang, SF New Deal’s Executive Director.
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of our community and our local economy,” Darlene Goins, head of Philanthropy and Community Impact at Wells Fargo. “This funding is designed to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs to start and grow small businesses. We want to work alongside community leaders to foster a deep appreciation for the small business community and a dynamic downtown.”
Since its inception in March of 2020, SF New Deal has supported over 1,900 small businesses citywide in San Francisco with financial resources and technical assistance that have addressed both their urgent challenges and capacity-building needs. In 2023, in partnership with the City of San Francisco and presenting sponsor Wells Fargo, SF New Deal launched Vacant to Vibrant, an innovative program working to address growing vacancies in downtown San Francisco.
The Vacant to Vibrant program has opened 18 storefronts in neighborhoods across Downtown San Francisco since its launch, including the Financial District, Yerba Buena, and the East Cut, 11 of which have signed long-term leases, with support from Wells Fargo’s continued investment in the program.
By summer 2025, Vacant to Vibrant will have successfully opened 21 storefront locations, with more than 20 businesses slated to open on a rolling basis over the next year, thanks to the program's overwhelming success and support from its many partners.
Through Wells Fargo’s financial commitment and an expanded partnership with the City of San Francisco, SF New Deal has been able to support the transition from pop-ups to long-term leases.
“Opening our Paper Son Coffee downtown location was only made possible through the Vacant to Vibrant program. Special thanks to Kilroy and all of our customers for supporting our stellar and scrappy team over the past 10 months,” said Alex Pong, Owner of Paper Son Coffee, one of the four recent long-term lease signers.
Alex, Co-Owner of Paper Son Cafe
Paper Son Coffee (@papersoncoffee)
Location: 303 2nd St, N102
Hours of Operation:
Monday: 8:30am–2:30pm
Tuesday–Thursday: 8am–2pm
Friday: 8:30am–2:30pm
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Property Owners: Kilroy Realty
Paper Son Coffee, named after how their founder's family (and so many others in San Francisco) immigrated to the U.S., serves locally roasted coffee, classic drinks, and beverages with adventurous Asian American-inspired flavor profiles.
Mo, Owner of Hungry Crumbs
Hungry Crumbs (@hungrycrumbssf)
Location: 215 Fremont St, 5B
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Friday: 10am–6pm
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Property Owner: Clarion Partners
Hungry Crumbs is a unique cookie concept that combines classic and contemporary flavors. The menu includes unique selections such as Ube Cookies and Baklava Dough Cookies, tailored to appeal to both traditionalists and adventurous eaters.
Priti, Co-Owner of Koolfi Creamery
Koolfi Creamery (@koolficreamery)
Location: 50 Fremont St
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Friday: 12pm–6pm
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Property Owner: Salesforce
Koolfi Creamery creates Indian-inspired ice creams with fresh, local California Straus dairy. They are a queer and immigrant women-owned business that operates a shop in San Leandro and a pint wholesaling operation.
Dario, Owner of Studio Aurora
Studio Aurora (@studioaurora.sf)
Location: 302 Valencia St
Hours of Operation:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday–Thursday: 11am–5pm
Friday–Saturday: 11am–9pm
Sunday: 11am–5pm
Studio Aurora, the newest sister restaurant to the Potrero staple Alimentari Aurora, is a petite deli with a curious kitchen. Their menu is unpredictable and erratic by design, humbly priced, and with international flavors.
Note: Local restaurateur Dario Barbone’s Studio Aurora had its initial pop-up storefront in Downtown SF and has since relocated to Mission St. OEWD and SF New Deal provided technical assistance with the signing of a new long-term lease.
Hilary, Owner of Devil’s Teeth Bakery
Devil's Teeth (@devilsteeth)
Location: One Embarcadero Center, Suite 1113
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Sunday: 7am–2pm
Property Owner: BXP
Devil’s Teeth Baking Company is a beloved local bakery known for its bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches made with buttermilk biscuits. Owner Hilary Passman worked downtown as a lawyer before opening Devil’s Teeth in the Outer Sunset in 2011.
Victor, Owner of GCS Agency
Location: 201 Jackson St
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday–Friday: 11am–6pm
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Property Owner: The Gateway
GCS is a creative agency blending curation, production, and strategy
across art, brand, and space. Starting out producing innovative print magazines in 2016, they expanded their offerings to include managing art installations, and now, they seek out and empower creative talent, bringing new visions to life on a bespoke scale.
Ben, Executive Producer of KALW
KALW 91.7FM (@kalwpublicmedia)
Location: 220 Montgomery St, Suite 100
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Thursday: 9am–6pm
Friday–Sunday: Closed
Property Owner: The Swig Company
KALW Public Media is an innovative Bay Area public radio station and community media hub that combines music, journalism, podcasts, and live events to ignite civic engagement, elevate diverse voices, and champion social justice.
Matthew, Owner of Rosalind Bakery
Rosalind Bakery (@rosalindbakery)
Location: Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 4504
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Friday: 8am–3pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9am–3pm
Property Owner: BXP
Rosalind Bakery is known for its artisanal pastries, pizza, and naturally leavened breads and croissants — baked fresh everyday, by hand. They source all of their ingredients from local small businesses.
Nafy, Owner of Teranga Foods
Location: Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 4104
Hours of Operation:
Monday–Friday: 10:30am–3pm
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Property Owner: BXP
Teranga offers West African–inspired drinks, snacks, and meals made with baobab and other nutrient-rich superfoods like moringa and hibiscus. Their products are organic, dairy-free, gluten-free, and rooted in the Senegalese tradition of warm, generous hospitality.
Lorena and David, Owners of The Mellow
Location: 332 Pine St
Hours of Operation:
Monday: 12pm–6pm
Tuesday–Saturday: 12pm–7pm
Sunday: 12pm–6pm
Property Owner: Lincoln Properties
The Mellow is a unique urban oasis that combines a plant shop, coffee bar, barbershop, and event space. It offers a variety of houseplants, home goods, and gifts, alongside specialty coffee and live music events. The Mellow aims to create a relaxing and vibrant community space where people can connect, recharge, and enjoy a curated selection of items and experiences.
Vandor, Owner of Whack Donuts
Whack Donuts (@whackdonuts)
Location: Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 4507
Hours of Operation:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday–Saturday: 9am–2pm
Sunday: Closed
Property Owner: BXP
Whack Donuts is Vandor Hill’s love letter to San Francisco—a vegan donut shop born from grief, resilience, and a deep family legacy. A native of The City and breakdancer since his teens, Vandor bakes his donuts (not fries them) in honor of the women who raised him and the Mission streets that shaped him.
