San Francisco, once a vibrant hub of business and culture, has seen another iconic establishment fall victim to the city’s escalating problems. The last remaining Denny’s in the city, a beloved 24-hour diner located at 816 Mission Street, has shut its doors for good, closing on August 1 after 25 years of operation. The restaurant’s owner, Chris Haque, cited rampant crime and a deteriorating business environment as primary reasons for the closure.
In an interview with SFGATE, Haque expressed frustration over the frequent theft and vandalism that plagued the diner. “We’re the only store left, and we operated until the last day that we could,” Haque said. “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.”
The issues faced by Haque’s Denny’s are emblematic of broader problems affecting San Francisco. The city’s reputation for rising crime and deteriorating public safety has made it a difficult place for businesses to thrive. Haque pointed out that the diner’s decline in revenue was compounded by a drop in business from conventions, as many tech companies transitioned to hybrid work models during the pandemic.
This closure follows a troubling trend in the San Francisco Bay Area, where numerous companies and businesses have been forced to relocate due to the region’s challenging conditions. In 2022, Haque’s Denny’s earned the unfortunate title of being the most expensive Denny’s in California, with basic meals costing significantly more than at other locations. The Fit Slam, for example, was priced at $17.99—$5 more than similar meals at Denny’s restaurants in San Diego or Los Angeles.
Earlier this year, another Denny’s across the Bay in Oakland also closed, following 54 years of operation, due to an increase in crime. Fast food giant In-N-Out was similarly forced to shut down its Oakland location because of a surge in violent crime and theft. These closures highlight a growing crisis that extends beyond the restaurant industry.
Since 2020, the exodus of companies from Northern California has accelerated. Major firms like Tesla, Chevron, American Airlines, Oracle, Palantir, and Charles Schwab have relocated to more business-friendly states such as Texas and Florida. These moves are driven by rising costs of living, deteriorating quality of life, and the increasing crime rate in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Denny’s, with over 1,700 locations around the globe, remains a staple in the restaurant industry, operating in countries such as Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates. However, the closure of its San Francisco location serves as a stark reminder of the severe impact that crime and poor governance can have on local businesses and communities.
As the city grapples with these challenges, the departure of businesses like Denny’s signals a critical need for effective reform to restore safety and economic stability. Until then, San Francisco’s business landscape will continue to suffer from the repercussions of its mounting issues.
