Chava’s Restaurant, a Mexican eatery just off 24th Street, is closing its doors after 24 years in the Mission District. It has stopped serving food, and is selling all of its kitchen equipment and decorations before shuttering for good on July 15.
Owner Elba Hernandez, who worked as a waiter at Chava’s original location at 18th and Shotwell streets, purchased the restaurant at 2839 Mission St. in 2002. That same year, the original location was forced to close due to a fire.
Hernandez said she is closing because business is tough. “The main reason is the economic situation,” Hernandez said in Spanish. “A lot of my customers have had to leave San Francisco.” Chava’s was never able to fully recover from the pandemic, she said.
She’ll be taking a break, she said, before hopefully finding a smaller location in San Francisco to reopen Chava’s in the future.
She said it was perfect timing; her lease was due, and she decided not to renew.
Hernandez, 61, started working as a waiter at Chava’s in 1995 and purchased the restaurant seven years later.
“I think if I would have stayed longer, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up the cost of running the business,” said Hernandez. She said the landlord gave her until July 15 to clear out and turn in the keys. She stopped serving meals this past Sunday.
“We’re selling everything to see if we can [recoup] anything at all,” she said, wearing a black apron and standing in the restaurant where the tables have been turned into displays.
Plates, silverware, and a jukebox with classic Mexican artists such as Juan Gabriel and Vicente Fernandez are all for sale.
“People can help by coming and buying things,” Hernandez said.
On Wednesday, a couple of workers helped clean and move objects around, while a few visitors came in to look at what was for sale. Others stopped by to show their support for Hernandez and wish her well.
“I started going to Chava’s in 1994,” said Lee, a customer who declined to give a last name and embraced Hernandez with a hug. “I want to thank the owner for being an amazing leader and feeding everybody.”
The restaurant was a cenaduria (family owned sit-down restaurant popular in Mexico) style restaurant, where customers enjoyed homestyle Mexican cuisine such as chilaquiles, Milanesa, birria accompanied by frijoles (beans) with arroz (rice) and hot tortillas.
“We want to thank them for serving the community and wish them luck in their next endeavors,” said Ryen Motzek, president of the Mission Merchants Association.
Hernandez, for her part, said she felt triumphant rather than defeated. “My dream came true,” she said — and that dream was to own a business in San Francisco.
My husband and I had our pre wedding dinner at the Original Chavas on 18th Street. It was a huge success, and Ms. Elba and her staff made sure everything was perfectly done, and there was a woman creating tortillas for everyone by hand! It was the most wonderful evening imaginable. Best wishes for your next adventure!!!
Chavo himself was the cook at the Imperial Club before opening the 18th st location.