Commission approves The Melt’s conditional-use request at 925 Market, citing integrated restaurant and support use

The Planning Commission voted 5–0 on July 27 to approve a conditional‑use authorization for 925 Market Street to allow conversion of upper‑floor retail space to general office use that will serve as back‑of‑house restaurant support for The Melt.

Staff recommended approval with conditions after analyzing the conversion’s limited scale and single‑tenant nature. Claudia Nasbaugh of planning staff said the mezzanine and second floor would remain functionally connected to the ground‑floor restaurant, would not create “stranded” floors and would introduce about 21 employees who could support street‑level activity.

Mark Loper, representing the project sponsor, explained The Melt’s business model — an integrated storefront restaurant with an upstairs support and testing area that relies on proximate customer flow for product testing. Architect Ben Simonson described modest interior changes and noted the historic facade would not be altered.

Commissioner Moore asked technical questions about natural light and exiting; the architect confirmed existing skylights serve the second level and building exits comply with code. Commissioners noted support was based on the unique, single‑user pattern and the project’s small scale; Commissioner Fong moved to approve and the motion passed unanimously (Fong, Johnson, Coppell, Moore and Chair Richards voting aye).

The approval is limited to the described use and the existing single‑tenant configuration; commissioners said they were not endorsing general upper‑floor office conversions across the entire C3R retail district without similar facts.