The final Denny’s in San Francisco has locked its doors for good, becoming the latest casualty in a city overrun by crime and skyrocketing costs. After 25 years of serving locals and tourists alike, owner Chris Haque had no choice but to close the 24-hour diner on Mission Street, located near Union Square. Haque cited the steep costs of doing business, rampant vandalism, and the all-too-common occurrence of customers dining and dashing without consequence, as reported by The Post Millenial.

San Francisco's last remaining Denny's has closed: https://t.co/xjxpV6RB7E

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“We were the last ones standing,” Haque shared with SFGATE, underscoring the dire business climate in the city. The shift to hybrid work in the tech industry post-pandemic has left the area deserted, with conventions no longer flocking to San Francisco. Haque didn’t mince words when he pointed out that city officials need to take action to make the area more business-friendly if they want to see any resurgence.

In 2022, Haque’s Denny’s franchise earned the dubious honor of being the priciest in all of California, thanks to the excessive operating costs plaguing the city. To put it in perspective, the Fit Slam, the cheapest Grand Slam meal on the menu, was priced at $17.99— a full $5 more than what diners would pay at a Denny’s in San Diego or Los Angeles.

Earlier this year, another Denny’s location in nearby Oakland also shut down after 54 years, falling victim to a surge in crime that has gripped the city. Even the iconic In-N-Out burger chain had to pull the plug on its Oakland location due to escalating violence.

The exodus from the San Francisco Bay Area has been in full swing since 2020, with major companies like Tesla, Chevron, American Airlines, Oracle, Palantir, and Charles Schwab relocating their headquarters to safer and more affordable locales. Retailers aren’t sticking around either; J. Crew, Old Navy, Whole Foods, T-Mobile, Walgreens, Saks OFF 5th, and Nordstrom Rack have all fled the city’s downtown.

The situation in San Francisco is so dire that even those in power aren’t safe from the rampant crime. Back in April, Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) had his luggage stolen right out of his parked car in a downtown garage. He was left scrambling, forced to attend a speaking engagement and dinner dressed in nothing more than a shirt and hiking vest.