Caffe Roma’s Building Has Been Sold to the Italian Homemade Company | Eater SF

"I felt a hole in the heart of Columbus Avenue when Caffe Roma, a coffee roastery and cafe that had operated for almost 30 years, closed earlier this year. Although rent hikes were initially reported as a cause, the family-owned business says it was ultimately a personal choice; they continue to operate two other locations in SoMa and Millbrae. A potential rescue deal with developers Jason and Sirin Talbot — who had planned to keep the cafe going — briefly seemed to save it, but when that arrangement fell through the final closure made it feel as if the neighborhood's soul was in peril, especially after the recent losses of nearby Italian staples Pantarei and Rose Pistola." - Ellen Fort