by Greg Chiampou, Committee Chair
Step inside the Ferry Building and you’ll find an unusual mix of flavors and local artisans. Think global food pavilion meets gourmet marketplace, our own version of Dean & DeLuca or Mario Batali’s Eataly. And business is booming.
Foot traffic in early 2025 surpassed pre-pandemic levels. To keep the energy going into the evenings, the building has extended hours to 10 p.m. and added more welcoming lighting along the plaza. Visitors can enjoy offerings including garlic mushrooms and Cambodian comfort food or dine at new restaurants like Arquet and soon-to-open Hayati. Local artisan and Northern California produce remain the heart of the Farmer’s Market, which features more than 100 vendors and attracts about 40,000 visitors weekly to Ferry Plaza.
The big question: Can this daytime buzz be turned into a habitual destination for locals? Like Fisherman’s Wharf, the Ferry Building is working to shed its tourist-only image. But while the Wharf is leaning to family-friendly by adding a Ferris wheel ride, activation pop-ups, and playgrounds, the Ferry Building is carving out a niche as an adult-friendly hub celebrating San Francisco’s vibrant food culture—day and night.
Also in the news:
• Cruise terminal traffic is up: The Port logged 3 million cruise passenger arrivals over the past ten years and 365,000 passengers in 2024 alone.
• A new 18-month lease for the Skywheel was approved, with the tenant’s option to extend the lease an additional 18 months.
• A new 11,000 square foot public plaza has been approved for Fisherman’s Wharf to replace the former Alioto’s restaurant.
• Fisherman’s Wharf Revitalized LLC’s latest plan for the redevelopment of Pier 45 Triangle parking lot no longer includes an AirBnB-like apartment building (about which THD had previously expressed concerns).
• Teatro ZinZanni Broadway LLC unveiled a new design plan for its $159 million hotel to be built at Broadway/Embarcadero. The triangular-shaped, boutique hotel will have four floors, 164 luxury rooms, and a roof deck.
• Pier 29’s 100,000 square foot building at Embarcadero/Chestnut Street will be converted to an arts and cultural hub managed by the nonprofit Community Arts Stabilization Trust and will include artist residences and exhibition and public performance spaces.
Reach out if you’d like to take part in, or have any comments or suggestions for, the Waterfront Committee by emailing waterfront@thd.org.
