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Historic Preservation Commission approves four legacy businesses for registry
Summary
The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved four nominations to the Legacy Business Registry — SanSan restaurant, YUKO, Yadav Diamond and Jewelry, and Central Drugstore — citing longstanding community ties and recommending outreach to help them access a fast‑closing grant program.
On March 3, 2021, the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved staff recommendations to add four long‑running local businesses to the city’s Legacy Business Registry.
Planning staff presented the nominations for SanSan restaurant (a Southeast Asian sit‑down and delivery restaurant long associated with Chinatown), YUKO (a women’s clothing retailer that staff said has operated since the 1980s in Hayes Valley), Yadav Diamond and Jewelry (described by staff as a long‑running jewelry business with roots dating to 1930 and operations consolidated at its current location in the 1980s), and Central Drugstore (a family‑owned neighborhood pharmacy in the Excelsior dating to 1908). Staff said each business met the program’s criteria for historic, cultural, or community significance and recommended approval.
The commission heard brief public testimony from business representatives. Paul Tonelli of Central Drugstore told the commission his family has run the shop for generations and highlighted the store’s community services including donations and free medical advice. Jerry Tonelli, Central Drugstore’s pharmacist, described multi‑generation involvement and community ties. Zoe, an e‑commerce manager for Yadav Diamond and Jewelry, emphasized the owner’s immigrant‑supporting hiring practices and conflict‑free sourcing.
Commissioners praised the variety and reach of the nominated businesses and discussed ways to better publicize the program — Commissioner Foley suggested QR codes on storefronts to tell each business’s history. Commissioner Johns moved to approve staff recommendations for all four nominations; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll‑call vote of 7–0.
The commission’s approval places the four businesses on the Legacy Business Registry and opens access to programmatic support meant to preserve neighborhood economic and cultural assets.
What’s next: Staff recommended and the commission agreed to notify eligible restaurants of a National Trust for Historic Preservation grant (Backing Historic Small Restaurants) with a March 9 deadline; the businesses will be formally added to the registry and eligible for any associated outreach and technical assistance.
