San Francisco Wine Society

A San Francisco Wine Bar’s Pandemic Parklet Is Closing Over ‘Constant’ Break-ins and Vandalism | Eater SF

"The parklet at San Francisco Wine Society felt like the city’s living room during the pandemic: filled with comfortable couches, two cozy fireplaces, and gleaming chandeliers, it let customers gather safely outdoors while still feeling at home. Operating the space, however, became a major pain point for owner Danielle Kuzinich — over two years the parklet was the target of at least eight break-ins and more than 20 acts of vandalism since 2021, including a devastating December 31 incident last year when a vandal tore out the fireplaces, carpeting, and Christmas decorations and forced a rebuild, and a recent break-in that shredded holiday decorations and defecated on the installed carpeting. After another break-in this past weekend (as first reported by the San Francisco Standard) and two further attempts this week, Kuzinich decided to shut down the parklet on Friday, December 23. She had lovingly sourced furniture for the first iteration, spending $32,000, and now estimates parklet-related costs have reached roughly $80,000 over two years; closing it means losing 22 seats and valuable revenue. Kuzinich has upgraded security as much as possible — large plywood panels that hook into the top and slide into a ground track secured by 24 Master locks — and staff set up and break down the parklet daily, bringing furniture inside at closing (an hour of work each time). “It is as sturdy as I could possibly make it be,” she says. Beyond the monetary toll, Kuzinich treasured the space and the joy it brought passersby: “It was nice having outdoor seating and seeing the expression on people’s faces when they saw it,” and regulars, including a group of 75- to 90-year-olds dubbed the “Golden Girls,” are sad to see it go. “It’s just heartbreaking, I will definitely miss it,” she says. “But I won’t miss turning the corner to work every day and wondering if it’s okay.” “It’s a shame, everyone is really sad to see it go,” she adds. “But everyone fully understands why it’s going.”" - Dianne de Guzman