Grand Theater

1. 1914

   Before the theater, the site held a one-story building with five shopfronts.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
2. 1939

   A Russian-run barber shop traded here in 1939.

   Nina Bogdan, Russian American Historic Context Statement, San Francisco Planning Department, adopted by the Historic Preservation Commission October 15, 2025
3. October 13, 1939

   The building permit for the new theater was issued, filed under 2671 Mission Street.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
4. 1940

   Built by Cahill Brothers.

5. 1940

   The Grand Theater, 1940, by G. Albert Lansburgh, who turned from Classical and Eclectic work to the Streamline Moderne in the 1930s.

   Modern Architecture and Landscape Design Context Statement, adopted 2011
6. 1940

   The Grand Theater went up as a one-story Streamline Moderne movie house of about 75 by 122.5 feet with two small shops, built for the Robert A. Lurie Co. (Peoples Theater Company) at a permitted cost of $44,700.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
7. 1940

   Theater operator D.B. Levin took a 99-year lease from the Lurie Co. to run the new theater, which cost about $250,000 to build and fit out; the Levin family ran it for many years.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
8. March 1940

   The Grand opened as a family movie house for the Mission, the last movie theater built in San Francisco before World War II; it seated about 870 on a single raked floor.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
9. 1950

   Fire-insurance mapping showed the theater at 2665 Mission flanked by small stores at 2663 and 2671, built of reinforced concrete and steel with steel trusses.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
10. 1950

    In the 1950s one of the small shops was a candy store, possibly doubling as the theater's concession stand.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
11. 1970

    Photographed, showing the Grand Theater.

    San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection (SFP 162), San Francisco Public Library
12. 1970

    Like other Mission District cinemas, the Grand switched to Spanish-language films in the 1970s and 1980s.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
13. circa 1977

    The Grand Theater, one of two Mission District cinemas showing Filipino films in the 1970s.

    San Francisco Filipino Heritage: Addendum to the South of Market Historic Context Statement, 2013
14. Dec 1984

    Permit 8412838 $$$ $1,243

    Add awning to existing building.

15. June 16, 1986

    Robert Durden photographed the property, showing Grand Theater.

    Robert Durden Color Slide Collection (SFP 42), San Francisco Public Library
16. 1988

    The Grand closed as a movie theater, one of the last cinemas still running on Mission Street.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
17. 1990

    A permit converted the old theater into two shops: the raked floor was built up level, the screen removed, the proscenium walled in and a dividing wall run down the auditorium.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
18. Sep 1990

    Permit 9018270 $$$ $80,000

    Const. partitions and restrooms for retail showroom.

19. Nov 1990

    Permit 9023830 $$$ $1

    Fire protection plans sprinklers fees paid under #9018270.

20. August 10, 1991

    Robert Durden photographed the property, showing Grand Theater.

    Robert Durden Color Slide Collection (SFP 42), San Francisco Public Library
21. Sep 1991

    Permit 9116672 $$$ $25,800

    Changing contractor, same desing with approved #9023830.

22. Sep 1991

    Permit 9117999 $$$ $1

    Ventilation system under #9018270.

23. Jun 1992

    Permit 9209198 $$$ $3,000

    Cut 4 holes for parapet investigation of reinforcement.

24. June 7, 1995

    The Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board recommended starting landmark designation of the Grand Theater.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
25. October 19, 1995

    The Planning Commission voted against making the Grand Theater a landmark.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
26. January 2, 1996

    On appeal, the Board of Supervisors upheld the Planning Commission's refusal to designate the theater a landmark.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
27. Jan 1996

    Permit 9600567 $$$ $18,488

    Reroofing.

28. May 2000

    Withdrawn Permit 200005250968 $$$ $1

    Change of use from retail to office & retail, no construction work to be done under this permit.

29. 2009

    A permit removed the dividing wall to make one large retail space; the old ticket booth was gone by then.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
30. Apr 2009

    Permit 200904035503 $$$ $10,000

    Remove existing partition non bearing wall, combine 2 retail spaces into 1.

31. Nov 2009

    Permit 200911171475 $$$ $20,980

    Change of use from retail to a coffee shop without food prep & no seats. work include new counters/partitions, lighting, electrical, plumbing, disabled accessability upgrades.

32. Jun 2014

    Permit 201406259448 $$$ $32,000

    Owner improvement to remodel an existing retail space. lighting reconfiguration, construction of new parition walls. expansion of second level. accessibility upgrades. sprinklers under separate permit. change of use from m, b to a1, m, b, & e.

33. 2015

    The digital-arts nonprofit Grey Area renovated the building before moving in, adding a two-story interior block at the back of the auditorium and uncovering and restoring the proscenium; most of the lobby transom was filled in.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
34. Jan 2015

    Permit 201501307093 $$$ $2,450

    Add (2) upright sprinklers and (1) sidewall sprinkler for new mezzanines. t.i. app#201406259448.

35. Feb 2015

    Issued Permit M563127 $$$ $1

    Mta permit (meters only).

36. May 2015

    Permit 201505015179 $$$ $7,530

    Install fire alarm system with voice evacuation. ref app#201406259448 r-1.

37. Jun 2015

    Permit 201506169092 $$$ $3,775

    1st floor: add 10 pendent sprinklers for new offices. no underground work. ref. t.i.appl.# 2014.0625.9448.

38. Oct 2015

    Permit 201510270928 $$$ $1

    Change of occupancy from a-1 to a-2 per fire department request, ref. 201406259448. no change to existing exits, no occupant load change.

39. Aug 2019

    Permit 201908067984 $$$ $1

    Change of use from retail to limited restaurant (ice cream store) ti improvement. entrance for barrier removal. new counter/portion.

40. Sep 2021

    Issued Permit 202109098102 $$$ $1

    Submit furniture layout plans for fire review.

41. February 2023

    The partly restored neon on the tower sign was switched on, lighting the letters G-R-A-N-D for the first time in over 30 years.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
42. July 25, 2023

    The Board of Supervisors voted to start landmark designation of the Grand Theater, this time successfully.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
43. November 15, 2023

    The Historic Preservation Commission recommended the Grand Theater for landmark designation after a public hearing.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
44. March 5, 2024

    Designated San Francisco Landmark No. 315, Grand Theater.

    SF Planning, landmark designation

3 nominal $1 street-space or sidewalk permits are omitted from the timeline. 3 expired or cancelled permits are not shown. The Modern design context statement gives the Grand Theater three different street numbers — 2665, 2671 and 2761 Mission Street.