The New Fillmore

'THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S
NEW LIVING ROOM' OPENS

The Fillmore's newest social spot had its grand opening January 11 at 1795 Geary, just across from the Fillmore Auditorium. The Social Study is open daily from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. for coffee, beer, wine and snacks.

"With a cozy, vintage aesthetic, we aim to be this neighborhood's own little living room," say the owners, "providing you with rustic bites, delicious sips, great music, books, wi-fi, art and an all-around warm experience."

FRENCH BROTHERS
RESURFACE IN MARINA

Jerome and Stephane Meloni — who formerly ran the elegant Cassis restaurant at Sutter and Steiner — have re-emerged in a streamlined new space down the hill in the Marina.

They've opened Castagna — chestnut in Italian — at 2015 Chestnut Street, just west of Fillmore. They open at 8 a.m. weekdays and offer all-day dining for breakfast, lunch, dinner and in-between snacks. The food is a simpler and more casual version of the French and Italian favorites they offered at Cassis.

The Castagna decor has a South of France theme, reflecting the Meloni brothers’ hometown of Nice. The design includes custom woodwork in the style of a boat deck, along with other nautical touches. Before they came to the U.S., the brothers operated a family restaurant on the harbor in Antibes.

PROMISING NEWS
FOR THE LONG BAR

What should be one of the liveliest corners on Fillmore — at Clay Street — remains sedate, especially with the restaurant on the southeast corner dark yet again. Most recently it was the Long Bar — and before that Fillmore Grill and the longlasting La Posada. The space briefly had a "for lease" sign posted with an email address, but messages went unanswered.

The sign is gone, and now comes word that Albert Rainer — who first transformed the space into Fillmore Grill nearly a decade ago, and still controls the master lease — will return. Rainer and his brother Klaus operate the wildly successful Leopold's Austrian restaurant and beerfest at Polk and Union.

TWO FILLMORE SHOPS
MOVING, BUT NOT FAR

Blu, the high-end women's boutique across the street from Long Bar on the southwest corner of Fillmore and Clay, is moving to Sacramento Street. Reportedly a major label women's brand will take over the space.

After a brief stay at 1919 Fillmore, the furniture store Ruby Living Design is moving to the big space on Union Street near Van Ness that was previously home to the Ralph Lauren furniture showroom.

COMING & GOING

Her, the clothing boutique for women, closed at the end of the year after 15 years at 2053 Fillmore.

. . . Construction has begun on Chase Bank's new branch in the neighborhood, which squeaked through the Planning Commission on a 4-3 vote in the fall. The branch will be located at 2429 California Street, the longtime home of Esrik Cleaners.

. . . One Medical Group has opened at 2410 California Street, formerly the second location of Zinc Details. Zinc has now consolidated its operations at 1905 Fillmore.

. . . Paolo Shoes at 2000 Fillmore has unveiled a new look and is now once again open for business.