Avery dear old friend who was a long-time resident of San Francisco told me 10 years ago about a major change coming. The Mission Bay neighborhood of SF would become the commercial heartbeat of The City.
Indeed, Third Street running from Oracle Park down to Chase Center has undergone major gentrification. Dozens and dozens of modern (read: boxy) large residential and commercial buildings – most notably the UCSF campus of medical and research buildings – stand in contrast to the old Victorian buildings in Alamo Park just a few miles away, or the 70s-skyscraper architecture of the Financial District.
Mission Bay is a “mixed-use” region consisting of residential housing and commercial enterprises. Indeed, high-tech companies Lyft, Uber, VISA and Open Ai, among others, call Mission Bay home. Knowing there are few vacancies in the surrounding condos proves the mixed-use program has taken hold. But is Mission Bay worth a visit when a game or concert isn’t in the offing?
Its epicenter culturally and commercially is Thrive Center, the open pavilion next to Chase Center. Here’s a large expanse surrounded by restaurants like Gott’s Roadhouse and Flush at Thrive, an expansive sports bar with dozens of flat and projection screens to watch major sporting events. But outside this, what awaits?
A stroll up Third reveals some charms. It starts with Spark, an open region that contains food trucks, a miniature golf lot, lots of shrubbery and benches. It’s meant to convey some breathing space amidst the steel and asphalt. That the miniature golf course contains a hole where the Salesforce Tower fights the Transamerica Building suggests someone has a strong SF-based sense of humor.
Across from Spark on the UCSF campus you’ll find unique sculpture from noted artist Richard Serra. Called “Ballast,” two 50-foot high, 70-ton steel plates tilting in opposite directions stand like sentries. Earlier, when walking along the eastern side of Chase Center we came across cut-up remnants of the torn-down cantilever section of the Bay Bridge. Alas, Ballast and the bridge remnants have nothing do with each other.
Strolling north on Third reveals Arsicault, a bakery near Third and Channel that has been rated to have the best croissants in The City. Indeed, mine was flaky and light. The apple turnover the same. Turning around the corner of this region you’re off the Third Street and among the newer buildings. Looking up you can see the left field stands of Oracle Park. And to the right you come to Via Aurelia. A member of the Che Fico restaurant group, this Tuscan-inspired restaurant is noted for its bright interior and stunning Italian fare. Reservations are recommended.
Turning left toward Third Street you come across Quik Dog, which is about as friendly a space can be for kids. Sitting outdoors while noshing a Puppy Dog is kinder heaven. A small pizza place, a juice bar, a small grocery store and a Starbucks also are available, but one key element that most traditional San Franciscans
will notice a lack of is the neighborhood bar.
Indeed, Flush at Thrive seemed to be the only place to dive in for a beer. But about 10 blocks south on Third Avenue, there’s the funky, irascible Dogpatch, formerly the center of San Francisco ship building and repair. On Maryland St., you’ll find a remodeled, gentrified building housing the Scuderia scooter dealership next to Breadbelly, another amazing bakery, and the Standard Deviant Brewing Co. So, Mission Bay: Modern? Yes. Efficient? Certainly. Offering SF charm? Getting there.
By Ted Johnson, Resident since 1991