S.F.’s Ghirardelli Square getting a face-lift

There’s always been enough hot fudge at Ghirardelli Square to flood Market Street, but the San Francisco tourist attraction will have some new claims to fame later this month when an updated version of the venerable landmark is unveiled.

The square, a working chocolate factory in the late 1800s, was turned into a shopping and dining complex in the ’60s and granted National Register of Historic Places status in 1982. It has long been a gathering place for tourists, with restaurants, retail shops and great views of San Francisco Bay drawing visitors to its terraced, red-brick storefronts.

And, most visitors made a stop at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop, known for its shakes and hot fudge sundaes.

But in recent years, the square was beginning to feel a bit too touristy.

The revitalized square, which will be unveiled June 18, will feature high-end retail, fine dining, artisanal foods, wine shops and a 10,000-square-foot spa.

New landscaping, outdoor seating and renovated terraces are among the improvements at Ghirardelli Square.

Shops now open or opening in the near future include Cellar 360, a wine and food bar; Marche on the Square, a specialty food market; Kara’s Cupcakes; Lola’s of North Beach; O’Neill’s Irish Pub; and Peekadoodle Kidsclub, a full-service indoor family club. Existing restaurants include the chocolate shop, of course, plus McCormick & Kuleto’s, Ana Mandara Restaurant and Lori’s Diner.

The Square will also include private residence club homes at Fairmont Heritage Place, a fractional ownership facility.

–Rosemary McClure, Los Angeles Times Assistant Travel Editor

[Photos: Ghirardelli Square, top; a rendering of the new Mustard Deck at the square, middle / Ghirardelli Square]

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 12:01 pm by Rosemary McClure and is filed under Family & Kids, Islands & Beaches, San Diego, San Francisco, Weekend Getaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed.