California restaurant closes after 30-year run when landlord surprises them with bad news

Family-run Oasis Grill closed its 1st Street restaurant in San Francisco after nearly 30 years, following its landlord’s decision not to renew the lease and give the site to another restaurant. The closure highlights the pressure on long-standing businesses in the city’s Financial District, where owners say they could not match the rent offered by a prospective tenant.

Co-owner Muna Azzghayer said the couple were blindsided, despite seeing potential tenants shown around the premises earlier in the year. They had invested about $2 million in a year-long renovation in 2015, then endured reduced trade during the pandemic and the shift to remote work. Oasis Grill continues to operate at three other San Francisco locations.