The Original San Francisco Philz Coffee Shop is Closing

“Philz Coffee – 24th/Folsom – SF, CA” by ericheath is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The original Philz Coffee location in the Mission District of San Francisco is closing, the company confirmed this week.

Formerly a convenience store owned by charismatic Philz Coffee Founder Phil Jaber, the shop opened at the corner of 24th and Folsom in 2003. The company said the shop’s last day will be Oct. 16.

The closing was first reported by Mission Local.

With hodgepodge furniture, scrawled chalk signs, walls awash in murals and vintage posters from the company’s past, the shop has over the past two decades become something of a relic, both of San Francisco counterculture and of 20th-century bohemian coffee shop culture.

“We have loved serving the Mission District community over the past 20 years,” the company said in a press statement. “After a long and fulfilling journey, our lease ended and we have made the difficult decision not to renew. Though the physical space may close its doors, the Mission will always hold a special place in our hearts as our first home, where Philz Coffee was born and nurtured.”

A sign at the original Philz in the Mission. “Philz Coffee sign 2” by Pest15 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The company is offering all employees positions at other Philz locations, including the more than a dozen shops throughout San Francisco.

Philz secured its first major capital investment 10 years ago, before raising at least $60 million more through two additional funding rounds for national retail expansion. The company operates more than 60 stores throughout California and Chicagoland. Earlier this year, Philz pulled out of the Washington D.C. market.

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