NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION
The Richmond District is located in the northwest corner of San Francisco, nestled in between Presidio National Park and the city’s Golden Gate Park. The neighborhood, which includes Sea Cliff and Laurel and Presidio Heights, is home to about 80,000 people. About half of Richmond residents are of Asian ancestry, primarily of Chinese and Korean descent. There is also a large Irish population and many recently arrived Russian immigrants.
Several vibrant commercial areas, including California Street, Clement Street and Geary Boulevard, serve the neighborhood. The 1,400 merchants and small offices in the Richmond District offer a wide range of goods and services.
Local landmarks include the Cliff House and the Beach Chalet at Ocean Beach, the V.A. Hospital at Fort Miley, University of San Francisco and numerous holy houses, including Temple Emanuel, St. John’s Orthodox Church and St. John’s Presbyterian Church. There are numerous attractions in Golden Gate Park, including an American Bison pen, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Strybing Arboretum, the oldest children’s playground west of the Mississippi River and a 9-hole golf course.
NEWSPAPER INFORMATION
Distribution by Neighborhood: Presidio and Masonic Avenues to the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Park to the Presidio, Sea Cliff
Distribution by Zip Code: 94118 and 94121
Circulation: 25,000
San Francisco is known for its diverse range of cultural cuisines – its selection of pizza, burritos, dim sum and seafood – but hidden in the Richmond is one meat deli you won’t want to skip out on. Sandwiched between a supermarket and coffee shop on Clement Street lies the best pastrami sandwich in the City.
Founded in 1965 by husband-and-wife duo Tomas “Tommy” and Elmy Bermejo, Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant is a small, family-run establishment in the Richmond District that has been featured several times on the “world’s 50 best bars” list. Last month, the iconic restaurant, which sits on Geary Boulevard at 24th Avenue, celebrated 60 years.
Blueprint plans to build 83 units of housing in the old Alexandria Theatre at Geary Boulevard and 18th Avenue were formally submitted to the San Francisco Planning Department, although a construction timeline was not.
On Sept. 16, District 4 voters in the Sunset District decided they wanted to change who represents them at City Hall. With about a year left in his term, Supervisor Joel Engardio was recalled in a citizens’ revolt primarily over his support of the closure of the Upper Great Highway to vehicle traffic and the creation of the new Sunset Dunes park on the site.
With a lifelong background in real estate, I have a particular interest in the evolving dynamics of the 2025 market, especially as we navigate through this transitional period. Traditionally, my September commentary focuses on projections for the fall real estate market, which ushers in San Francisco’s second peak selling season.
Celebrating 60 years of the Grateful Dead’s music, the City of San Francisco rolled out the red carpet for the Dead & Company last month. The festivities featured San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) buses wrapped in Grateful Dead-inspired psychedelic colors, a special rose planted in Golden Gate Park’s Rose Garden – and the most anticipated of the festivities – three concerts at the Polo Field featuring Dead & Company during the first weekend of August.
The scary situation was on the last day of the three-day concert held at the Polo Field in Golden Gate Park in early August. Some 60,000 music fans were packed onto a field designed for polo ponies and mallet-wielding contestants to hear Dead & Company, an offshoot of the Grateful Dead.
Stephanie Speaks has lived in the Richmond District most of her life. Whether she is volunteering with the Richmond Neighborhood Center (RNC) at the local food pantry, biking through the neighborhood or helping at a school event, those around her describe a steady presence – generous, funny and quick to show up for her community.
Who says you can’t have a European-inspired summer in San Francisco? After all, we know summer really starts in September.
As summer fades, I’m reminded that the ideal summer resort is where the fish bite and mosquitos don’t!
Comparison photos of Balboa Street and 37th Avenue 74 years ago.
When thinking about what kind of place he would want to run, Grant Schley, owner of Ham & Cheese Deli, asked himself, “Where would I want to go?”
Send up to three photos of your pet to Editor@RichmondSunsetNews.com for consideration for “Pet Pix.” Please include your pet’s name.
Recent police activity in the Richmond District.
Things to do on San Francisco’s west side in September 2025.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 