Fringale opened in 1991 to rave reviews for its French bistro fare with a Basque slant and was heralded as a pioneer of the SoMa District long before a ballpark and many condo buildings arrived.

On Jan. 25., Fringale (570 Fourth St.) will permanently close.

“It was a good run. I met a lot of good people over the years,” said owner Jean-Marie Legendre. “It’s sad to leave now, but it’s time to do it.”

Legendre said there’s been constant construction right outside Fringale’s building due to the Municipal Transportation Agency’s Central Subway Project. It began six years ago, causing business to drop by 30 percent and stay that way, he said.

He also noted that the neighborhood’s changes — namely, an influx of tech workers — hurt Fringale’s lunch business.

“They don’t go out for lunch anymore, because they all get food from their offices,” he said. “The duck confit takes 15 minutes to cook — these people are always on the clock and they want everything right away.”

Fringale was founded by Gerald Hirigoyen and Jean-Baptise Lorda. Hirigoyen went on to open Piperade and the now-closed Bocadillos, and in 2005, Lorda sold Fringale to Legendre, who had been a server at the restaurant since it opened.

The restaurant counted former Chronicle restaurant critic Michael Bauer among its fans. He raved about its sauteed prawns in Pastis and frisee salad topped with a warm bacon dressing and a poached egg in a review shortly after Legendre took over.

French restaurants have been having a tough time staying open in San Francisco: Jardiniere, Castagna, Garcon and Plouf all closed last year.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker