"The San Francisco location of Hakkasan, a 12-restaurant chain owned by an Abu Dhabi-based investment company, has closed for good, the SF Chronicle reports. The Union Square Cantonese spot opened in 2013 with much fanfare, following a much-discussed $7 million buildout of the space. It was a glitzy, clubby spot that then-Chron columnist Chris Ying skewered in 2018, saying it was “built on a cynical model” of “high-end Chinese dining that has been whitewashed and covered in marble and black lacquer. The sleek darkness of the space always gives me the impression that the restaurant is trying to have sex with me.” When the pandemic hit, Hakkasan swiftly laid off its staff, with 106 firings noted last month. In a statement, the chain said that “the impact of COVID-19 on our global operations has forced us to evaluate the viability of our venues and make a number of prudent yet difficult business decisions. To preserve the long-term stability of our business, we have permanently closed Hakkasan San Francisco.”" - Eve Batey
