The Last Denny’s in San Francisco Closes Due to Unpaid Bills and Crime
The only remaining Denny’s in San Francisco closed its doors this month as customers frequently left without paying their bills in the crime-plagued city, according to the restaurant’s owner, Chris Haque. The 24-hour diner located at 816 Mission St. near Union Square shut down after 25 years of operation.
Speaking to SFGATE, Haque mentioned the challenges of operating in San Francisco, citing high costs of doing business, vandalism, and customers dining and dashing. He also noted the decline in revenue from business conventions, impacted by the shift to hybrid work in the tech industry during the pandemic.
Haque expressed his love for the city but emphasized the need for a more business-friendly environment. The closure marked the end of an era, as Denny’s was named the most expensive in California in 2022, with prices higher than locations in San Diego or Los Angeles.
Earlier this year, a Denny’s diner in Oakland closed after 54 years due to increased crime, reflecting a broader trend of businesses shutting down in the Bay Area. In-N-Out Burger also ceased operations in Oakland following a rise in violent crime and theft.
The exodus of companies from the San Francisco Bay Area has been ongoing since 2020, with major firms like Tesla, Chevron, and Oracle relocating to low-tax jurisdictions in other states. Despite these challenges, Denny’s continues to operate over 1,700 restaurants worldwide.
