SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — As you walk down Fillmore Street in the heart of San Francisco, you'll be greeted by several familiar businesses – some of which have been here for decades. But that could soon change.
Since the beginning of the year, a billionaire venture capitalist has purchased several buildings in this neighborhood.
And many of those business owners say they are being forced to leave.
“We are scared. We don't want to lose everything,” said Steve Amano.
Amano is co-owner of Ten-Ichi, a sushi bar opened in 1978 by his Japanese immigrant parents.
Amano feels like they are being pressured to close next month.
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“I signed the severance agreement because they said things like, 'We're going to bill you for this.' All these numbers they were throwing at us that we would have to pay. It totally panicked us,” Amano said.
Across the street, at La Mediterranee, Vanick Der Bedrossian told us a similar story.
His restaurant was opened around the same time as Ten-Ichi by his father, a Lebanese immigrant.
Their lease doesn't expire until May and Der Bedrossian says the new landlord has shown no interest in negotiating a new lease.
“We have over 20 employees working here. We have a very strong following here in the community. And we want clarity about our future,” said Der Bedrossian.
The buildings in which both Ten-Ichi and La Mediterranee operate were purchased by companies linked to venture capitalist Neil Mehta.
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Mehta could not be reached for comment, but one of his business partners, nightlife entrepreneur Cody Allen, sent us this statement, which reads in part:
“Our investment in Upper Fillmore was made on behalf of our nonprofit SF Reserve Foundation, with the goal of attracting more small businesses rather than introducing chains or traditional retail tenants. Our foundation's goal is to attract an even greater variety of food and beverage vendors, revitalize the iconic Clay Theater, and restore Fillmore's storefronts.”
On Monday, Supervisor and mayoral candidate Aaron Peskin held a press conference on Fillmore Street to announce plans to introduce legislation that would make it harder for long-standing businesses to be displaced.
“It's important to the family, in this case a multi-generational family that has literally lived here for almost half a century. It's important to the community that sees this as a gathering place. It's important to the fabric of a neighborhood,” Peskin said.
Good news for people like Amano, who is trying to find a new location for Ten-Ichi but doesn't know what will happen next.
“I mean, we have no choice. There is no other option. But we will not give up. I can't. We have to keep working,” he said.
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