San Francisco, CA
Another Bay Area Denny's has closed
Oakland’s Denny’s shuts doors due to crime
The restaurant on Hegenberger Road, a mainstay in the neighborhood for 54 years, closed for good at 1 p.m. Wednesday
SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco no longer has a Denny’s presence, after the dining chain’s remaining restaurant in the city closed its doors earlier this month.
The longstanding diner, located on Mission Street near Union Square, poured its final cups of coffee and served its final orders of pancakes and “slam” menu items on August 1.
SEE ALSO: New In-N-Out being planned in this Bay Area city
The closure of the San Francisco franchise came after 25 years at the site, Denny’s officials told KTVU.
The company said that it does not comment on the closure of its franchise locations.
But franchise owner Chris Haque told SFGATE that crime, including dining and ditching, was a driving force behind the decision to end operations at the site.
SEE ALSO: Police chief data shows violent crime drops in Oakland, San Francisco
“The cost of doing business is tremendous. There’s vandalism, and people come and eat and walk away, and there’s no one to stop them,” Haque said.
He was also critical of city leaders for not doing enough to make San Francisco a business-friendly environment.
In addition, Haque explained that the decline in the number of conventions hosted in the city in recent years led to less foot traffic in the area and a drop in business.
The shuttering followed another Denny’s closure earlier this year of the chain’s only Oakland location.
The restaurant was located along troubled Hegenberger Road, an area that has received a lot of attention for rampant criminal activity.
The situation has led to other businesses, including In-N-Out Burger, to make the decision to cease operations along that corridor.
In response to its Oakland closure, Denny’s said, “Closing a restaurant location is never an easy decision or one taken lightly. However, the safety and well-being of Denny’s team members and valued guests is our top priority.”
Denny’s officials said there are still 40 locations open for business across the Bay Area.
San Francisco, CA
Life in prison for man convicted of killing elderly San Francisco woman, anti-Asian attacks
A San Francisco man who was convicted of murdering of an 88-year-old woman during a crime spree that primarily targeted Asian Americans will spend the rest of his life in prison, prosecutors said.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins’ office announced that a judge will sentence 25-year-old Keonte Gathron to a term of two life sentences, including one without the possibility of parole. Gathron was also sentenced to 31 years to be served consecutively in state prison.
“Mr. Gathron is now being held accountable for his heinous crimes that targeted vulnerable victims and will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole,” Jenkins said in a statement Tuesday.
A jury convicted Gathron on Nov. 4 of murder, eight counts of robbery, kidnapping for robbery, two counts of carjacking, two counts of burglary, elder abuse and child endangerment in connection with a crime spree that took place in early 2019. The jury also found that Gathron personally used a firearm in three of the incidents.
Prosecutors said Gathron robbed seven people over the span of 13 days, with six of the victims being Asian. Three victims were elderly, while three were youths on the way to or from school.
One of the victims, 88-year-old Yik Oi Huang, was brutally attacked by Gathron at a park in the city’s Visitacion Valley neighborhood during the crime spree. Huang died from her injuries a year later.
“While nothing can bring Grandma Huang back to her family, today’s sentence hopefully leaves the victims and their families with a sense that justice was done for all that they have endured,” Jenkins added.
Assistant District Attorney Nathan Quigley said, “I hope the sentence to be imposed at least gives each of the people victimized by this man, as well as the family of Ms. Huang, a sense of closure and some measure of justice for the harm he has caused.”
Prosecutors said Gathron’s sentence is expected to be finalized and formally imposed on Dec. 3.
True Laurel in San Francisco is among the 23 locations along the new San Francisco Martini Trail.
Courtesy of San Francisco Travel
The origin of martini often stirs up disputed theories involving hotels and destinations such as San Francisco.
Yet the City by the Bay is now stirring its claim with the San Francisco Martini Trail, a curated journey highlighting 23 standout martinis and their establishments.
Having made its debut in late October 2025, the San Francisco Martini Trail marks the city’s stake in this cocktail’s history.
San Francisco’s side of the story goes like this. It’s said that the martini was created at the city’s Occidental Hotel (now the Galleria Park Hotel) by bartender Jerry Thomas, often called the “father of modern mixology,” in the late 1850s or early 1860s.
Raise a toast to Balboa Cafe’s Espresso Martini. As a stop along the new San Francisco Martini Trail, this restaurant’s version of this drink gets high marks.
Courtesy of San Francisco Travel
That concoction was allegedly prepared for a gold miner who was on his way to the Californian town of Martinez. This new drink would become known as the Martinez, a precursor to the modern martini.
“As tastes evolved and drier spirits took hold, the martini transformed into the classic we know today—and San Francisco’s innovative cocktail culture continues to influence its evolution,” said Anna Marie Presutti, president and CEO of San Francisco Travel Association.
Today, the San Francisco Martini Trail spans the city’s distinctive neighborhoods, from the Embarcadero to the Richmond. Stops range from downtown institutions to chic newcomers and from longstanding establishments to inventive modern spots.
Sip on a martini at The Progress in San Francisco.
Courtesy of San Francisco Travel/Ed Anderson
The trail’s 23 establishments are: Absinthe, Balboa Café, Bar Iris, Bar Maritime, BIX, Brazen Head, Californios, Club Waziema, Hi Dive Bar, Holbrook House, House of Prime Rib, Lillie Coit’s, Martuni’s, Osso Steakhouse, Pearl 6101, The Progress, Sam’s Grill & Seafood Restaurant, Starlite, Stookey’s Club Moderne, Tadich Grill, True Laurel, Wildhawk and Zam Zam.
Each location offers a distinct interpretation of the martini, with many planning food pairings and special promotions to complement the trail experience.
The self-guided trail was curated by San Francisco–based food, drink and travel writer Omar Mamoon. His work has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, San Francisco Chronicle and Esquire’s “Best Bars” and “Best New Restaurants.”
Wildhawk in San Francisco, a stop on the San Francisco Martini Trail, offers a Tini Flight. Courtesy of San Francisco Travel
“We wanted an independent expert who lives in and knows the city to develop the trail,” explained Presutti. “Omar became involved through his deep background covering food and drink culture in San Francisco and other cities, and he crafted the trail as a way to spotlight the city’s talent and diversity while encouraging visitors to discover even more outstanding martinis across San Francisco.”
The San Francisco Martini Trail’s website features Mamoon’s favorite 11 establishments to drink a martini, plus details on the evolution of the iconic cocktail.
“The list shines a light on just a fraction of the many bars and restaurants in San Francisco making excellent martinis,” said Mamoon. “The Martini Trail is just a starting point—use it as a fun way to explore the city and make your own trail, too.”
San Francisco Travel held their launch event for the trail at Le Parc Bistrobar in the Galleria Park Hotel, in homage to its martini lore. The hotel’s daily Sipping Hour offers complimentary gin martinis in the lobby to hotel guests.
“The Martini Trail is both a toast to San Francisco’s history and a taste of its future,” said Presutti. “This is where the martini found its swagger and where it continues to be reinvented.”
Get a San Francisco Martini Trail map and more details here.
San Francisco 49ers registered back-to-back wins for the first time since September by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 20-9 on Monday.
Running back Christian McCaffrey ran for 89 yards and a touchdown against his former team as the 49ers, who are third in the NFC West, boosted their play-off hopes with victory in Santa Clara, California.
McCaffrey, 29, who also had 24 carries and caught seven passes for 53 yards, was traded from the Panthers to the 49ers in October 2022.
Starting 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy struggled in the first half as he was intercepted three times in the opening 21 minutes, which halted his side’s early offensive progress.
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