Vanessa Lee couldn’t have asked for a better time to launch her new restaurant, Smoke Soul Kitchen in San Francisco’s Bayview District.
“I kind of did a collaborative and wanted to make sure that it was a time where we can activate, a lot of people can come out, they can have fun, they can interact up and down with all the businesses that are here,” Lee explained.
Her restaurant’s grand opening on 3rd Street on Saturday was just a stone’s throw away from Thrive City, where the NBA is hosting All-Star celebrations.
With tens of thousands of visitors flocking to the area this weekend, Lee is hopeful that some NBA fans will stop by to enjoy her soul food.
“It’s busy, it’s crazy, but we’re ready. And I’m happy about it. So it’s a good thing,” she added.
Lee is not alone, from the Bayview to the Marina, optimism and excitement are palpable as both tourists and locals take part in the weekend’s festivities.
San Francisco is hosting the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities at Chase Center and the annual popular Chinese New Year Parade on Market Street. With Valentine’s Day still fresh in the air, couples are enjoying romantic meals at local restaurants, and businesses are reaping the benefits.
The busy weekend, coinciding with President’s Day on Monday, is expected to bring a significant economic boost.
In Chinatown, Grant Avenue was packed with people at the Community Street Fair before the parade.
Tane Chan, owner of The Wok Shop, shared her excitement: “It’s just a big boost in the arm for us. We needed this, and we seem to be getting it all at once,” said Chan. “It makes me feel so good that Chinatown is invigorated.”
A block away from The Wok Shop, the owner of Camera Zone echoed the same sentiment. After thieves drove a stolen car into his store five months ago to steal cameras, leaving his storefront boarded up, he is especially grateful for the increase in foot traffic.
“Foot traffic is double, for this time of the year, for February,” said Reza Sefidi, the store’s owner.
Over at Pier 39, the NBA excitement is also in full swing. Former NBA All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, who played for the Golden State Warriors six years ago, was at Lids store signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.
“The weekend has been great. I’m just glad to be out here and be a part of it, see all the festivites going on, all these people from all over the place. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m glad I can be a part of the All-Star Weekend,” Cousins said, reflecting on his experience.
Many businesses have gone the extra mile this weekend, bringing in additional staff, food, and merchandise to meet the high demand.
Local restaurants are also seeing their fair share of business, particularly those catering to couples celebrating Valentine’s Day. Michael Rodriguez, the owner of Taco Cantina, shared that his restaurant had an excellent start to the weekend.
“Today started off with a bang. We had a had a good lunch rush. I’m kind of gearing up for the afternoon. I think there’s a lot of foot traffic around. I know the parking lots are full,” he said.
As San Francisco continues to attract tourists and locals alike, Mayor Daniel Lurie expressed his hopes for the city’s future.
“The eyes of the world are on us this weekend, and we get to show off all that is great about our city. And then, on Monday, we get back to the work of making sure our streets are safe and clean every single day, 365 days a year,” Mayor Lurie said.
Back in Bayview, Lee is optimistic that every day moving forward will be as successful as her grand opening.
“We lead with love and joy here,” she said, smiling at the future she is building for Smoke Soul Kitchen.
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