Richmond Buzz: Imminent BBQ, Bi-Rite Grocery Rumors Swirl

“Richmond Buzz” is a recurring column on changes, tidbits and other news from the Richmond. Got news? Send us tips at tips@missionlocal.com.

Spring seems to have come early.

The sun shone all over the city last weekend, bringing temperatures in the 70s to the northwest corner of town. Only the lightest of layers were required as your Buzz correspondent scoped out the scene all the way from China Beach to the Clement Street Farmer’s Market.

Still, there’s buzz afoot. Yes, a handful of new cafes are slated for the neighborhood; that’s mostly old news here at Mission Local. We hit the streets (and maybe got a little sunburned in so doing) to bring you the latest.

First, a handful of restaurants along the inner Clement St. corridor have closed temporarily, but plan to return soon.

Storefront of Chapeau! restaurant with a beige awning, green trim, window art of a face with a hat, and papers posted on the door. — Chapeau at 126 Clement St. on March 9 2026. Photo by Nicholas David.

Chapeau at 126 Clement St. closed Monday for kitchen remodeling, according to a sign in the window. The Parisian Bistro will be back to serving traditional French fare March 11, the sign noted.

Storefront of Y&Y Vietnamese Cuisine with yellow signage, menu photos in the window, and an adjacent doorway displaying signs with Chinese characters. — Y&Y Vietnamese restaurant at 914 Clement St. on March 8 2026. Photo by Nicholas David.

Vietnamese restaurant Y&Y at 914 Clement St. will also return soon after nearly two months of hiatus, according to a sign out front. It will reopen March 12 with new business hours (Weds-Sun, 10:30 AM – 7:30 PM), also posted out front.

Storefront of a business named "Clementina" with large windows and a glass door, located on a city street with parked cars and buildings reflected in the windows. — Clementina at 343 Clement St. on March 8 2026. Photo by Nicholas David.

At 343 Clement St., Italian restaurant Bettola shuttered last month. Its owners, however, haven’t gone anywhere: they’ll be opening a new concept in the same location under the name Clementina.

Like its predecessor, Clementina will serve Italian cuisine, but will maintain a “100% gluten free kitchen” according to the restaurant’s Instagram.

Clementina will have sister restaurants in SoMa’s Montesacro and 54 Mint.

Storefront of Pho Kim Son Vietnamese Restaurant at dusk, with people dining inside and blue signage above the entrance displaying the restaurant's name and phone number. — Pho Kim Son at 4613 Balboa St on March 8 2026. Photo by Nicholas David.

Pho Kim Son at 3614 Balboa St. reopened Friday, March 7 after a six-month closure, according to a worker there. The restaurant appeared well-patronized over the weekend.

Three notices on a glass door announce the temporary closure of a business location due to staffing shortages, with contact information and instructions for customers. — Sign at Moonmade Boutique on Clement St., pictured on March 8 2026, announce temporary closure and help wanted. Photo by Nicholas David.

Clothing store Moonmade Boutique at 455 Clement St. has closed temporarily, according to a sign posted in the store’s window. The sign cited “temporary staffing shortages.” A timeline for the store’s return has not been established, but signs also say its Cupertino location remains open.

Street view of a corner market with “6001 California Market” and “Apple Delecta Fine Food Market” signs, large front windows, and a tree to the right of the building. — 6001 California St. on March 8, 2026. Photo by Nicholas David.

At 6001 California St., a new tenant appeared slated to take over the former grocery store space (according to, you guessed it, a sign in the window). In recent weeks, rumors swirled about at nearby local businesses that the space would be a future outpost of Bi-Rite Market. This new location for the local grocery chain, which started on 18th Street, would be its fourth S.F. market.

Earlier today, the San Francisco Standard reported Bi-Rite’s expansion into the space.

When contacted by Mission Local, Bi-Rite’s CEO Patrick Mills confirmed that they are looking to expand into the neighborhood, though he declined to confirm that 6001 California St. would be that location. There is, he said, “still a ways to go” before we see an outpost in the area.

City filings indicate that no business has been registered at the location since 2024.

Double glass doors are covered with multiple identical posters displaying event or business information; the number 2140 is above the doors. Gray building exterior and planter boxes are visible. — Posters at 2140 Clement St., pictured here on March 8 2026, advertise the arrival of a new outpost of Smokin’ D’s barbecue. Photo by Nicholas David.

A new tenant has been identified for the restaurant space at 2140 Clement St., formerly K-Elements BBQ.

Posters advertising the imminent arrival of Smokin’ D’s BBQ covered the doors of the 23rd Ave. and Clement St. building. This forthcoming location will be the East-Asian-and-Mexican influenced Texas barbecue restaurant’s second brick-and-mortar. The first is also on 23rd Ave., but about two miles due south at 2181 Irving St. in the Sunset.

Smokin’ D’s also offers street food at the Grand Lake Oakland and Stonestown farmers markets.

As we wrote in January, employees of the 4-Star Theater across the street from this new Smokin D’s outpost will miss the familiar faces and $8.50 rice bowl at K-Elements. Perhaps there’ll be some consolation in the brisket bao or gochujang pulled pork buns at Smokin’ D’s.

That’s all for now.