Radio Habana Social Club, a long-standing sliver of a bar on Valencia Street, took a hit this afternoon when 35 mph gusts of wind blew its parklet into the bike lane.
Co-owner Leila Mansur awoke to calls from a friend, Patrick Golden, alerting her to the event and the street’s newest obstruction. The city came quickly, wrapping the capsized van-sized parklet in a belt of caution tape and laying down traffic cones so that traffic could continue to move.
The parklet was installed in 2021. Initially, it was placed atop a bed of concrete, affixing it to the street in a manner befitting a “permanent” structure, according to Mansur.
She says that during the city’s post-installation inspection, however, inspectors maintained that parklets could not be affixed to any street or sidewalk and needed to be easily removable. Unfortunately, that proved to be the case on Thursday.
Another parklet requirement: Providing drainage underneath the structure. That’s something the original concrete fixture did not offer, according to Mansur.
The parklet remained relatively intact: The heavy-duty plexiglass, wood structure and art inside the structure were unscathed. The roofing, however, came apart on impact. The social club has extra roofing in storage, the owners said.
The social club, co-owned by Mansur and Victor Navarrete since 1998, has been struggling financially in recent years. The parklet and regular live music have helped them get by.
“The musicians play for free,” said Mansur on the business’ struggles. “We can’t afford to pay them, but I try to do the best I can, paying them however I can and passing around a tip jar.”
Already this month, she said, they have spent $600 on permit expenses. The parklet blowing over has pushed the business closer to the edge.
“There’s a new permit every month,” said Mansur, who nearly got evicted last year. “We’re barely making it.”
This sucks. Radio Habana Social Club are good people, and the vegan tamale pop-up there on the weekends, Nixta Foods, is amazing. I’ll keep an eye out for any fundraising to build them a new parklet soon. Long term, SF should widen the narrow sidewalks on Valencia so that there’s plenty of space to put out tables, umbrellas and windbreaks during the day, and businesses don’t have to worry about building their own structures.
Yes! Close Valencia to cars. Put in a walking and biking plaza that is accessible to service and delivery vehicles in the mornings. Would do wonders!
I’m just blown away.