Showplace Square Open for Business

Many people believe that the San Francisco Design Center caters exclusively to professionals. While it’s true there’s limited public access, some showrooms welcome casual shoppers, especially for small projects. 

The café at the Galleria, tables beautifully set with glassware and napkins, is open to the public, said an employee, “…and the food is quite good”. A to-go menu features light lunch options and pastries from Neighbor Bakehouse. Just two out of sixteen tables were occupied midday on a recent Friday.

A receptionist at Showplace, a building kitty corner from the Galleria, stated that showrooms were only open to tradespeople or wholesalers. However, there’s some flexibility, particularly if a customer already has a relationship with a shop or designer. 

Showrooms are filled with colorful fabrics, luxury furniture and high-end finishings: tile, lighting fixtures, and cabinets. A walnut Vladimir Kagan “Gigi Chair” in the Holly Hunt showroom is on offer for $27,000. The Sloan Miyasato showroom featured a stunning chandelier made of blown-glass leaves in the “Foglia” collection of Healdsburg-based Studio Bel Vetro. 

 “While all neighborhoods were significantly affected by the pandemic, the Design District experienced some bright spots, benefiting from a surge in home goods sales during that time,” said Santino DeRose, Principal at Maven, a commercial real estate agency.

Several furniture stores have opened in Dogpatch and Potrero Hill over the past several years. Minneapolis-based Blue Dot, on Missouri Street, and RH, on 20th Street, cater to upwardly mobile demographics. 

Near the SFDC Galleria, the space that previously housed The Grove, at 1 Henry Adams Street, has remained vacant since closing in 2022. Gas warmers that once kept customers toasty sit rusting underneath an awning. Another restaurant, “The Henry,” on Showplace’s ground floor, is “coming soon” with no opening date identified.

San Francisco Design Center maps indicate vacant showrooms. More than 10 units are either papered over or obviously empty. The spaces feature brick walls and large windows, a potential inspiring base for a business. 

“Most of San Francisco’s neighborhood retail corridors currently have vacancy rates below ten percent,” said Santino. “The Design District’s vacancy rate is slightly higher, largely due to the presence of larger spaces and diverse ground floor uses.” 

The San Francisco Design Center offers student memberships for $10 a year; licensed interior designers, architects, and contractors can join for $50 annually. Members receive exclusive event invitations and parking discounts.