Mayor and city partners celebrate Pearl's Deluxe Burgers opening and Mid-Market revitalization steps

City and community leaders gathered to mark the opening of Pearl's Deluxe Burgers at Sixth and Market and to outline additional Mid-Market revitalization steps.

Mayor Ed Lee and representatives from the mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development said redevelopment and OEWD supported Pearl's through the cultural-district loan fund; the restaurant has created 16 permanent jobs, and owners may qualify for a payroll-tax exemption if paperwork is completed quickly. The mayor's office and redevelopment staff described ongoing efforts to attract businesses (citing Zendesk and other private investment) and to improve public safety through siting a Sixth Street police substation.

Officials also announced an expansion of a community-ambassador program to provide trained, multilingual ambassadors to cover Market Street from Fifth to Twelfth Street during business hours; the ambassadors will be trained through the police academy to provide "additional eyes and ears" and work alongside DPW and community-guides programs.

Redevelopment and private partners credited long-term investments and partnerships with the revitalization. Pearl's owner Sylvia thanked redevelopment and Urban Solutions for financial help and technical assistance that enabled the launch. The event combined community, economic and safety announcements and included a ribbon-cutting and planned public activities in the area.