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Commission endorses four long‑running businesses for San Francisco Legacy Business Registry
Summary
The commission recommended four nominations — Great American Music Hall, Russian Hill Bookstore, Shanti Project and Spectacles of Union Square — for placement on the Legacy Business Registry after multiple supporters offered oral histories and community impact testimony.
On June 7 the Historic Preservation Commission recommended four businesses and nonprofits for listing on San Francisco's Legacy Business Registry: Great American Music Hall (founded 1972), Russian Hill Bookstore (1993), Shanti Project (1974) and Spectacles of Union Square (1972).
Desiree Smith of the Planning Department presented staff findings that each applicant met registry criteria, emphasizing physical features and traditions tied to neighborhood identity. Dozens of speakers — owners, staff and neighbors — described each business’s cultural role: Dennis Juarez for the Great American Music Hall cited its 110‑year building and neighborhood economic benefits; neighbors and the new owners of Russian Hill Bookstore described efforts to keep the bookstore in the community and a recently signed 10‑year lease; Koshique Roy of Shanti recounted the nonprofit’s volunteer‑led caregiving history; and Kevin Hershey described Spectacles of Union Square as a family‑run optical maker and repair shop that anchors Maiden Lane.
Commissioners praised the businesses and moved to adopt staff recommendations; the motion to approve all four nominations passed unanimously 4‑0. Staff said draft resolutions were in the packets and that the items would be advanced accordingly.
