City Council approves lease for Juma Ventures' youth cafe in City Hall

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened on April 16, 2025, to discuss a resolution authorizing the lease of 2,400 square feet of space in City Hall to Juma Ventures, Inc. The proposed lease aims to establish a limited-service café that will also serve as a youth workforce development program.

During the meeting, Supervisor Ellsberg expressed his opposition to the resolution, arguing that the space could be utilized more effectively to generate revenue. He criticized the decision to lease the area for a café selling prepackaged food, suggesting that the city could pursue better opportunities.

The budget analyst provided details on the financial aspects of the lease. The proposed rent is set at $200 per month, significantly lower than the market rate, which is estimated to be around 7% of gross revenues. The previous lessee, McCall Catering, paid much higher rents in previous years, indicating a substantial reduction in potential revenue for the city.

Juma Ventures plans to implement a youth development program alongside the café, offering training for young entrepreneurs. The program aims to engage 24 youths annually, providing them with paid positions at $9.36 per hour. The city will allocate $180,000 from the general fund to cover the café's operating costs for the first year, along with a one-time grant of $35,000 for startup expenses.

In total, the city is expected to contribute approximately $219,092 in the first year, which includes the foregone rent revenue. The Board of Supervisors will consider this resolution as a policy matter, weighing the potential benefits of youth development against the financial implications for the city.