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Historic Preservation Commission advances six legacy businesses to the calendar, citing community and cultural value
Summary
San Francisco's Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved staff recommendations to add six long-standing businesses to the legacy business registry — Secret Studios, Washington Vegetable, Iyengar Yoga Association of Northern California, Monroe Motors, Don Ramon's, and Fiore d'Italia — after staff presentations and supportive public comments.
The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission on Oct. 21, 2020 unanimously forwarded recommendations to add six longtime local businesses to the city's legacy business registry, citing the firms' cultural, philanthropic and neighborhood roles.
Staff presented six applications and recommended approval for Secret Studios (a nearly 40‑year music rehearsal and recording studio in Potrero Hill), Washington Vegetable (a wholesale produce company founded in 1931), the Iyengar Yoga Association of Northern California (founded 1975), Monroe Motors (a 62‑year motorcycle sales and service business), Don Ramon's (a 38‑year Mexican restaurant in SoMa) and Fiore d'Italia (a North Beach restaurant the presentation described as among the city's oldest).
The commission heard public testimony in support of the nominations. Karen Woods, executive director of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Northern California, described the association's teacher‑training programs, community classes and pandemic adaptations, saying virtual classes and hardship funds helped maintain services in 2020. Anne Cervantes, an architect who works documenting Latino community history, urged support for Don Ramon's as an economic and cultural anchor for the Latino community in the Mission and SoMa. Michael Pisa, speaking for Washington Vegetable Company, recounted the company's history of serving restaurants and grocery retailers across San Francisco for nearly nine decades. Owner Happy Sanchez thanked the commission for recognizing Secret Studios and described the studio’s role for Bay Area musicians.
Commissioners commended the geographic and cultural diversity represented among the nominees, noting philanthropic activity, community programming and multi‑generation family ownership in several cases. A motion to forward the staff recommendations was made and seconded; the commission recorded a unanimous 7‑0 vote to advance the items to the regular calendar.
Next steps: the items were placed on the Commission's calendar for formal consideration (items 7A and 7B).
