Seems like we've written this post before -- the never-ending restaurant project at 1298 Church St is making progress but there's still no end in sight. This
weekend, the paper finally came off the windows and
there are lights, tables and chairs on premises. Readers want to know what's up.
Some history: In 2008, the former barbershop was granted the
second of three new restaurant permits available in Noe Valley and
has been under construction ever since. [
Contigo was the first,
Noe Soup never opened; the restaurant limit
has since been lifted.] The original permit was filed by Charles Stern and
it is registered to the owners of Regent Thai at 1700 Church St.
What we don't know is what exactly it will be - and when. The employees at Regent Thai on outer Church confirm the restaurant is in the works and related, but still aren't saying if/when the restaurant will actually open. Nor do they know if it will be Thai or Vietnamese (as the various contractors over the years believed it might be), or something else altogether. There's also no sign on the building, no ABC permit and the DBI permits are still incomplete. But there is a new ADA accessible ramp out front.
What does it all mean? It means that 5 years into this project we're still waiting. Here's hoping Church and 25th Streets will gain a new restaurant this year.
Bonus feature: Double-paned windows make for some cool photos:
here and
here.
Update 1/7: The windows are covered in paper once again.
[NVSF: Update: Never-Ending Project at 1298 Church St]
The windows at 1000 Guerrero have been papered-over for weeks and a sign in the window promises "an exciting new venture in August." Said new venture is still a mystery. A search online brought us to a Zagat post that is both off-key and clueless. The listed phone number rings unanswered, emails to the folks at Tao aren't returned
and we haven't been able to connect with anyone on site. 
