Buca di Beppo in San Francisco's SoMa shutters after 20 years

According to a permit filed with the city of San Francisco on June 29, the 12,000-square-foot building that housed the restaurant at 855 Howard Street will be renovated into office space.

According to a permit filed with the city of San Francisco on June 29, the 12,000-square-foot building that housed the restaurant at 855 Howard Street will be renovated into office space. Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Buca di Beppo in San Francisco's SoMa shutters after 20 years 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

Buca di Beppo, a restaurant chain known for serving Italian food family-style, has closed its South of Market Street location after 20 years in operation.

According to a permit filed with the city of San Francisco on June 29, the 12,000-square-foot building that housed the restaurant at 855 Howard Street will be renovated into office space.

"San Francisco, thanks for all the memories," a flyer posted to the restaurant's front glass door reads. "We have loved being part of your family!!"

Photo: SFGATE SFGATE

The Orlando, Fla.-based restaurant chain also recently closed locations in Georgia and in Santa Monica, Calif, but still runs restaurants in Palo Alto, Campbell, San Jose, and Sacramento.

"You might call it the invasion of the gigantic plate of tomato-sauced pasta," the San Francisco Chronicle wrote in 1997 before the restaurant opened. "If nothing succeeds like excess, then Beppo, a lively trattoria, is on the right track."

"We love San Francisco and had a great long run in that location," a spokesperson for the company tells SFGATE. "The lease was up, the new rent was too high and we made a tough decision to let the location go. We would love to open again in San Francisco and are keeping our eyes open for a new location."

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.