San Francisco Residence Club

June 2, 2006 10:30 PM

San Francisco MeFites! Does anyone know what happened to the San Francisco Residence Club at 851 California St. (very near Powell)? It was an old (built in 1906) hotel/hostel/residence club with the nicest people. Lots of young people from all over the world stayed there and - I just found out it has closed! Has something taken its place? Anybody know what happened? I stayed there many times over the years and I'm still in shock. Can't find info anywhere. Can any Bay Area MeFites help? So many great memories there....I am sooo sad.
posted by Gerard Sorme to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

Never heard of it, but as someone who stayed in a residence club when I first moved into the City years ago, I feel for you. I've put a reminder in my calendar to walk by and check it out on Monday (when I'll next be downtown -- too bad you didn't post this on a weekday eve!). I'll try to find out what's up there, so check back.

Cheers.
posted by trip and a half at 11:22 PM on June 2, 2006

Oh and, just out of curiousity, how did you find out that it has closed? Could there be further leads from that source?
posted by trip and a half at 11:37 PM on June 2, 2006

maybe it closed because of smoke bans in california?
posted by brandz at 8:03 AM on June 3, 2006

I stayed there at the end of 1999/beginning of 2000 and also remember it fondly. A guy who I used to talk to over dinner had lived there for decades. They seemed to get a ton of business from people going to language schools, so it's surprising that they had to close. Sorry I don't have any info though.
posted by teleskiving at 8:15 AM on June 3, 2006

Sorry I haven't been back to the thread until now. (Slept in late.) I found out they closed when going to their website and it was no longer there. I then called the phone number and it just rang and rang. I called a friend who had stayed there a few times and he told me he found out they had shut their doors about a year ago, but he knew absolutely nothing about why it closed, if they sold the building, what's their now, etc. He's been wondering too,

@teleskiving: I remember the man you are talking about, he used to take his breakfast on the patio and his name is on the tip of my tongue. You are right, their international business with students at the art and language schools was huge, that's why I am so surprised.

@trip and a half: Thanks for the offer to do a walk-by. I hope you might remember and tell me what's there now.

Sometimes......I just HATE change.
posted by Gerard Sorme at 2:20 PM on June 3, 2006

Oh, crap. I did forget. But only because today was the craziest day ever at the office and I just wanted to run out of there and get home.

I've put another reminder in for tomorrow. I'll try again then. Keep checking!
posted by trip and a half at 7:24 PM on June 5, 2006

Okay, so tonight I remembered to walk by and check it out and it looks like... a residence club. By every indication, it looks very much like an operating concern. The table lamps in the lobby were lit, and there were fresh cut flowers in a vase on the old wooden hutch. There's a brass plaque on the outside front wall that says "851 Residence Club". There were no other signs (like "For Sale", or "Coming Soon -- Four Story Starbucks", or anything).

After a moment's hesitation, I pressed the intercom button that said "Office", but there was no response. (This is perhaps not too surprising: it was almost 6:30 pm.)

So, there you go. Not a lot of information, I know, but as far as I could tell it looked like a residence club.

Cheers
posted by trip and a half at 7:23 PM on June 6, 2006

Thank you trip and a half! That helps! Sorry it took so long for me to respond - I've been out of town dealing with a family medical crisis. Life's tough. Thanks again, friend!
posted by Gerard Sorme at 11:16 AM on June 13, 2006

Update on March 6, 2007:

The San Francisco Residence Club is, indeed, closed. The building is now for sale.
Very sad.

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posted by Gerard Sorme at 5:52 PM on March 6, 2007