In a surprise announcement on social media, Turner’s Kitchen owner Ken Turner revealed on Thursday that he plans to close his tiny sandwich shop that has, for years, been a go-to for parkgoers and sandwich lovers.
“The magic of the space was a reflection of you,” Turner wrote in an Instagram post, which thanked his staff and the neighborhood for his time running the shop at 17th and Guerrero streets. He said his main reason for closing the shop was to lighten his workload: To “slow down, get lost in the woods, smell the fckin roses and have a hot girl summer.”
After the Friday lunch rush, Turner said in an interview that the sandwich shop “wasn’t meant to be here forever;” it was designed as intense experiment of sorts, one that came together within 36 hours when someone showed him a deli listed for sale.
Formerly the chef at Zuni Cafe, Turner took over ownership in 2015 of what was previously Clare’s Deli, kept the original staff, and evolved the hole-in-the wall into a bustling Mission District neighborhood favorite. The menu changed with the seasons, and experimental specials would find inspiration in Turner’s travels: Some days, one could find a Japanese curry-inspired sandwich with sesame and miso; other days, a sandwich would bring flavors of Oaxacan mole or birria.
The restaurant, which served up higher-end sandwiches filled with fresh ingredients that Turner would pick up at the farmer’s market twice a week, was a popular stop on the way to Dolores Park, or addition to a drink at the 500 Club bar on the corner. And Turner himself was often seen working behind the counter and calling out to regulars.
Turner said the dedication of his small, efficient crew, shifting to exclusively takeaway orders during the pandemic and doing almost all his own shopping allowed him to keep prices manageable and the restaurant to thrive.
That also resulted in him working — a lot. Some days, he’d look back and ask himself, “Oh, why did I just work 75 hours last week?”
The shop’s neighborhood feel, plus Turner’s daily Instagram posts with closeups of his cooking process and the daily sandwich specials, also drew a decent following on social media and within the community.
“There are so many great people in this neighborhood,” Turner said, in an online age where in-person interaction doesn’t always come easily. “The shop really has allowed me to meet people I never would’ve interacted [with otherwise]; that was definitely a highlight.”
Turner emphasized that community focus by rejecting delivery services and giving back through fundraisers and workshops for high schoolers.
His announcement of the shop’s closure garnered dozens of comments about the restaurant’s impact and most encouraged him to take a break.
“Excited to follow the next steps in your journey, but I’m admittedly very sad the shop will be closing,” wrote one user. “Turners has been a great pillar of our 17th street community.” [sic]
“How many orders of godfather sando’s and pasta salads can i eat in the next 60+ days, well, i’m about to find out,” wrote another commenter. [sic]
Turner said he does not want to sell the business or transfer it to new ownership, “because, who knows, maybe I’ll reopen it again.” Before his lease ends in November, he plans to host some pop-ups at the 17th Street space, and otherwise focus on his catering business.
Turner’s Kitchen will remain open through the end of March.
This article was updated with comments from Ken Turner.
Tragedy! I’ll be sad to see the kitchen close, but am happy KT will be able to take a breather. Maybe he could offer to sell it to the employees, if they would like to keep it running?
Ken, thank you for all the great sandwiches!
Nooooo!
WoW!!!
hope it returns in the future ..
there is a newish sando shop next to bar Delirium .. wrap and roll ..
excellent!!!
Yes, Wrap and Roll is excellent and a close second, but nobody beat Turner’s with their variety and different spreads and condiments. I was already a regular at KT’s, but I’ll now have to order up a storm before they close. Nothing lasts forever, I guess. 🙁