Downtown San Francisco Wine Bar to Close Award-Winning Parklet After Repeated Break-Ins

One of San Francisco's most admired parklets is nearing its end. San Francisco Wine Society, an upscale wine bar and lounge in the Financial District, plans to close its outdoor space on Dec. 23.

Owner Danielle Kuzinich said two factors drove the decision: a string of vandalism incidents and unease about new parklet regulations the city is expected to introduce next year.

The parklet has been hit before. Last December, it was trashed and vandalized, an episode that Kuzinich estimated cost her $40,000 in business. After she rebuilt the space, she says, it was broken into about 20 times over the following year.

A further act of vandalism over the weekend proved decisive. "It was the straw that broke the camel's back," Kuzinich said. "I just feel like I don't have a choice. It's a constant uphill battle."

The structure had earned considerable recognition. The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce named it the best parklet in the city, and Eater San Francisco described it as one of the most creative. Kuzinich spent $32,000 to design and furnish it, and she decorated the space herself.

The lounge is known for its velvet couches, chandeliers, wingback chairs and two electric fireplaces. It was created as parklets came into vogue and became a bright spot for dining and socializing during the deeper waves of the pandemic.

Shutting it down will eliminate a 22-seat dining area. Even so, Kuzinich said maintaining the parklet is no longer worthwhile. "I've got to a point where I just emotionally can't take it anymore," she said. "At this point, instead of fighting the battle with the city coming up, it's like we might as well just tear it down."

Patrons still have a few weeks to visit before it closes permanently. In the meantime, the wine bar is promoting a series of holiday-themed wine flights, which start at $15.