SoMa Sees Two Shutters: Citizen’s Band and Pinkie’s Bakery

Citizen’s Band and Pinkie’s Bakery have closed after six years in SoMa. The sister restaurant and bakery shared a space, and “fine diner” Citizen’s Band was known for its fried chicken and poutine, while Pinkie’s (which still operates in Bernal Heights) supplies bread to restaurants around town.

Co-owner Cheryl Storms blames the closures on dwindling tech business. When the businesses moved into the neighborhood, tech companies used them for catering. But, as the companies grew, they built their own in-house kitchens, resulting in both less catering and foot traffic. The final straw was when the companies started hiring away the restaurant and bakery staff.

Currently, the spaces are up for sale, and there’s already been interest. No one is confirmed to move in yet, though. Storms will focus on her Bernal Heights location of Pinkie’s, while co-owner Chris Beerman is opening a beer garden and barbecue joint in Petaluma.

Citizen’s Band and Pinkie’s Bakery are just two of the latest closures in the SoMa/Mid-Market area; others include Volta, Cadence, Oro, Bon Marche, El Capitan, and more.

• Citizen’s Band and Pinkie’s Bakery close in SoMa [Inside Scoop]
• All the Bay Area Restaurant Closures in Summer 2016 [ESF]