Mendocino Farms, the stylish and rapidly expanding SoCal sandwich restaurant, has chosen the landmark Merchants Exchange for its San Francisco flagship location. The eatery will occupy the premium California Street storefront vacated by La Boulange following the bakery’s purchase by Starbucks.
The thriving restaurant group, co-founded by husband-and-wife team Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen, launched in 2003 and has since attracted the attention of thousands of hungry sandwich aficionados, as well as a minority stake investment from Whole Foods. Their fast-casual concept, which places emphasis on organic, locally-sourced ingredients and freshly baked bread, promises to be a blockbuster in the heart of the busy and densely-populated Financial District.
We’re thrilled to have Mendocino Farms join our family at the Merchants Exchange,” said Phil Spiegel, Executive VP of Clint Reilly Landmark Properties, which owns the Merchants Exchange. “They’re a great fit for the property and the neighborhood. We like their style, their energy and the dynamism they bring to the space.
Mendocino Farms’ 10-year lease of 5,882 square feet in the nerve center of San Francisco’s Financial District represents a serious opening bid for a share of the City’s fast-casual dining market. With locations across Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, the hip sandwich concept—where you can get a house-smoked chicken torta and wash it down with a cold microbrew—has its sights set on the Bay, with new locations slated for Campbell, San Jose and San Mateo, in addition to San Francisco.
About the Merchants Exchange
Designed by legendary architects Willis Polk, Daniel Burnham and Julia Morgan, the Merchants Exchange is one of San Francisco’s most important office and hospitality properties. The 241,708 square-foot building located at the heart of the City’s vibrant Financial District has served as the epicenter of San Francisco’s business, civic and social activity for more than a century. Boasting breathtaking neoclassical design and unparalleled natural light throughout all tenant spaces, the building has been fully modernized—including a state-of-the-art, on-demand elevator system—for today’s tenants.
In addition to exceptional tenant spaces, the building also boasts two of San Francisco’s most celebrated special event venues, the Julia Morgan Ballroom and the Merchants Exchange Club. Combined, the venues host nearly 300 of the City’s most important corporate, social and philanthropic events each year, from U.S. presidential visits to Fortune 500 product launches.
About Clint Reilly Landmark Properties
Clint Reilly Landmark Properties is a privately held, full-service real estate development, investment and management firm based in San Francisco. Founded in 1995 by Chairman Clint Reilly following his storied career as a political strategist, the company acquires and manages a carefully curated portfolio of office, hospitality and mixed-use properties. Key San Francisco assets include the Merchants Exchange (465 California St.), the Little Fox Theater (535 Pacific Ave.), Leidesdorff Place (340 Pine St.) and the Credo Building (360 Pine St.).
