'New people aren't loyal to the community': Longtime Noe Valley eatery shutters

Savor Open Kitchen in Noe Valley has closed after being open for close to 20 years. Savor Open Kitchen in Noe Valley has closed after being open for close to 20 years. Photo: Photo By Andrew D. On Yelp Photo: Photo By Andrew D. On Yelp Image 1 of / 45 Caption Close 'New people aren't loyal to the community': Longtime Noe Valley eatery shutters 1 / 45 Back to Gallery

Longtime neighborhood eatery Savor closed in San Francisco's Noe Valley on Sunday.

The 24th Street spot was in business 19 years with a menu known for its omelettes, crepes, burgers and salads. In 2017, a new owner took over and fully revamped the restaurant.

Charlie Sirhed remodeled the outdoor patio, which was popular with dog owners on weekends, and also refreshed the indoor eating area and kitchen.

The former owner had switched the restaurant to counter service in an attempt to cut expenses, but many customers disliked the change. Sirhed then hired more employees to bring back table service. Lunch specials and a kids-eat-free night were also added to attract customers.

"Unfortunately, business didn't get better so we couldn't catch up any longer with all the expenses, bills and fees," he said.

ALSO: Brown Sugar Kitchen is closing SF Ferry Building location

Sirhed believes the restaurant's demise is partly due to a shift in the neighborhood's demographic.

"I think the whole Noe Valley has changed," he said. "It’s not like before. All the regular customers have gotten old. A lot of new people have moved into the area. It’s all tech people. The new people aren’t loyal to the community. The loyal customers who are left weren’t enough to support the restaurant."

Noe Valley has seen a handful of restaurants close in recent months, including Mexican bar and restaurant Noe's Cantina and breakfast spot Toast.

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman whose district includes Noe Valley said restaurants in the neighborhood and all over the city are struggling to hang for many reasons including increased rents, decreased foot traffic, predatory delivery services, high labor costs and increasing city fees. "I have been saddened to learn of these closures, and I and my office will be working with the Noe Valley community to bring new restaurants to the neighborhood and of course to support the many great establishments that are still here,” Mandelman said in a statement.

Hoodline was the first to report this story.

Find more recent restaurant closures in the gallery above.

This story was updated at 10 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2019.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.