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Lori’s Diner to Close Powell Street Location; Owner Opening Golden Gate Grill Up the Street

Renovations are ongoing inside the old Press Club.
Renovations are ongoing inside the old Press Club.

You may recall us mentioning last month that something called S.F. Crab House was moving in to an upstairs space at 449 Powell Street, the historic Press Club building at the corner of Sutter across from the Sir Francis Drake, owned by the same guy who owns the popular Lori’s Diner mini-chain. As it turns out, as an SF Gate blog is reporting, owner Man J. Kim has changed his mind about the name, and it’s now going to be called the Golden Gate Grill. It’s moving into a space on the third floor that was part of the old Press Club (not to be confused with this Press Club), which moved out of the building in 1952.

Renovations are ongoing inside the old Press Club.

We don’t know much about the menu at this point, but Kim has a thing for Americana — part of his collection of ephemera and Hollywood memorabilia will be housed at the new restaurant — and his other restaurants, Lori’s and Sears Fine Foods, specialize in comfort-food basics. The Crab House name on the liquor license application is another clue.

The old Press Club space has high ceilings, exposed brick walls, and several arched windows overlooking Powell Street. Renovations are ongoing and The Golden Gate Grill is expected to open by late spring.

You’ll have to say goodbye to the Charlie Chaplin impersonator next to Walgreen’s, however, sooner than that. That Lori’s location will be closing next month in order to allow the downstairs Walgreen’s to expand. There remain three other Lori’s Diners to choose from, however, so the Chaplin guy won’t be out of work.

When one door closes another one opens…in the old Union Square Press Club [Collective Mind/SF Gate]
Earlier: S.F Crab House Coming to Union Square

Lori’s Diner to Close Powell Street Location; Owner Opening Golden Gate