Will The Center SF Survive? | Teahouse News

The Center SF, a popular community hub in San Francisco's Lower Haight neighborhood, is facing issues with the city over selling tea without proper permits and zoning. Here are the key points: - The Center SF has operated as a "magical tea house" along with offering yoga classes, events, and a community space since 2016.[1][2][3] - In 2021, a health department inspection found The Center did not have the required permits or facilities (handwashing station, specific building materials, etc.) to legally sell food and beverages like tea.[3] - The city's planning department also determined The Center's business activities did not match the property's zoning.[3] - To bring the tea service up to code, The Center estimates needing around $50,000 and several months of renovations.[3] - As a result, The Center was forced to stop selling tea in May 2024 while they figure out a path forward to comply with regulations.[3] - For now, they have scaled back to providing complementary simple snacks and drinks without a permit to keep the space operational.[3] - The tea house will remain closed to the public until June 10th, but The Center is still hosting events, classes, and welcoming the community during this period.[3][4] So in summary, the beloved tea house aspect of The Center SF has been disrupted due to permitting issues with the city over food service and zoning requirements.[1][2][3][4] Sources [1] THE CENTER SF https://www.thecentersf.com [2] The Center SF: Tea, Movement, Community - SF YOGA MAG http://www.sfyogamagazine.com/blog/2016/4/11/the-center-sf-tea-movement-community [3] Popular SF hippie hub clashes with city over selling tea https://sfstandard.com/2024/06/01/the-center-sf-permit-issues-tea-zoning/ [4] THE CENTER SF - Updated June 2024 - 194 Photos & 272 Reviews https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-center-sf-san-francisco [5] Japanese Tea Ceremony | Guide | Travel Japan https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/tea-ceremony/