And now, a special super episode of The Joys of Luisa. Since two of Luisa Hanson's three current projects are nearing completion, we thought it a good time to share some updates on the trio of battle fronts. Said updates are mostly self-evident in the exclusive interior shots above, but on the surface, Union Street's La Vinoteca remains the closest to completion, though Pompei—in the old Front Room space on California/Larkin—is supposed to open at the same time, which according to La Hanson, is any week now (salt, grain). Meanwhile, the old John Barleycorn, a.k.a. Duffy's, has been gutted and it looks like work has just begun on the reconstruction; it won't open with the others. Breathe easy, Barleycorners.
· The Joys of Luisa: Storefront Ads Reach New Heights [~ESF~]
As always, your Luisa tales and anecdotes are very much welcome at the TJoL Hotline.
On the left: Vinoteca on Union; On the right: Pompei on California/Larkin
Thanks to a quick-snapping tipster, we have visual (and live!) evidence of a new paint job underway at Ms. Luisa Hanson's colony on the corner of California and Larkin, and well, it would appear that the leftover paint from her concurrent project on Union Street—which got a paint job earlier this month—is being put to good use. Along with the Barleycorn next door, the former Front Room space is still in the midst of heavy construction, but Vinoteca (the space on Union) is more polished, so the jury's still out to see which one arrives first. Getting back to the proliferation of recycled red paint, it's a bit like the British Empire's use of red to mark its colonies on old maps, no?
· Luisa Cometh: Rumblings at Hanson Colonies [~ESF~]
· The Joys of Luisa: Work, Controversy Begin on Union [~ESF~]
· The Joys of Luisa: Vinoteca to Test Marina's Wine Bar Love [~ESF~]
The Plywood Report is your chronicle of the next generation of restaurants to grace town. See something brewing in your neighborhood? Your sightings to sf@eater.com. Bonus points if you include photos.
1) The Richmond: Opening sometime next week at 5344 Geary Boulevard, between 17th and 18th Avenues, is Watami. The ramen/shabu shabu restaurant is trying to go for that modern, sleek look: black ceilings, red walls, (semi-)designer furniture, and even a flat screen television or two. Trendy in the Richmond? Crazy talk, we say. [PLYWOOD]
2) The Sunset: Not only did our Irving tipster take note of the Boiling Crawfish developments, but new signage was noticed at the former So space. The next inhabitant of 2240 Irving Street will be the unfortunately named Macao Friends Restaurant; it looks to be a Chinese restaurant, thus keeping the 20+ year-old tradition of the space alive. [Eater Inbox]
NOB HILL—The above mess you see is the newest action at Luisa Hanson's maligned Larkin/California Street colonies. As mentioned by a tipster earlier in the week, work has indeed finally started in the hallowed former Barleycorn space (aka Duffy's). Now, even though Luisa has said that she's aiming for February, this does not look like a tidy project by any means. They are ripping out the floor, rumors of asbestos continue to swirl, and work continues simultaneously at the restaurant next door. Busy times, no? One more photo and a compare/contrast follow:
True story: one of the new year's resolutions here at Eater HQ is bring more Eater Deathwatch to the huddled masses. Have you noticed a restaurant knocking on death's door? Let it be known that the Deathwatch Committee is now accepting nominations for Deathwatch, 2008 edition.
What, you thought a restaurant had to be open before getting placed on Deathwatch? For the case of Pompei, the Committee took the liberty of doling out the famed stamp to Luisa Hanson's next project a bit prior its grand opening. The sad thing is that, were it not for the supreme Barleycorn hubbub earlier this year, Pompei might be deemed too low-profile for the 'Watch. But here we are, so let's get to the paperwork.
Even if the Committee was to look past the obvious karma shortcomings of the Luisa Hanson empire (cf. this), and the Barleycorners' continued assault of Yelp, simple mathematics says that Pompei is doomed from the get-go. By our count, Hanson has attempted to open approximately 30 restaurants in the past 20 years, and two are currently open. Most never got off the ground, and those that did often closed within the year. Throw in the fact that the corner of California and Larkin won't get the foot traffic of Luisa's on Union Street or the easy revenue of a bar (the only hope for Duffy's next door), and you've got yourself the first Deathwatch of the year. So you see, it's just a number game, really. With a tinge of karma.
· Hanson Reveal, Part II: The Front Room's Fate [~ESF~]
Not to be outdone by the drama next door, Luisa Hanson's other Nob Hill colonization project is beginning to take shape quite rapidly. The former Front Room space at 1500 California shall be called Pompei (one "i" supposedly). It is scheduled to open in four weeks' time, and will specialize in "pizza and pasta," presumably in the same Americanized style as Luisa's on Union Street. The good news is that the open-air toilet has finally been removed the premises, but the bad news is that pigeons are still nesting there, that Columbus Avenue Italian eateries are multiplying elsewhere, that the Front Room (like the Barleycorn) is/was a beloved institution ... and pretty much everything else.
· Hanson Reveal, Part I: The Barleycorn's Fate [~ESF~]
· Fall Tracking Report: 1500 California [~ESF~]
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