Jane the Bakery opens 5th shop
“It’s a neighborhood I love. I was excited at the opportunity to open a little spot down there.” Amanda Michael, owner of Little Jane
San Francisco’s popular Jane the Bakery has opened a pocket-size shop in Chinatown with caramelized pineapple kouign amann, fresh bread and hot coffee.
Little Jane on Grant opened Thursday at 752 Grant Ave., the former location of Chinese candy shop Dragon Papa, near Portsmouth Square. The tiny, 180-square-foot space will sell a rotating selection of pastries only available at this location, including a puff pastry filled with persimmon rice pudding and tiger-shaped cookies for Lunar New Year. There will also be Jane standbys like cookies, croissants and grab-and-go salads.
Given the small space, there’s no seating, and the baked goods will be made at Jane’s bakery on Geary Boulevard and delivered to Chinatown.
“It’s teeny tiny and super cute,” said Jane owner Amanda Michael.
One wall has been decorated with a colorful mural of bakers kneading and shaping bread. Local artist Chelsea Wong painted the mural; she also created a food-themed mural outside Hon’s Wun Tun Noodle House on Kearny Street in Chinatown.
The space fell into Michael’s lap through a friend who owns an art gallery nearby. She met with the owner of the Grant Avenue building, whose hopes of bringing new businesses to help revitalize Chinatown persuaded Michael to open there. Owners say business is still lagging in the neighborhood, and many hope Lunar New Year will bring much-needed crowds and sales.
“Walking through there now seeing all the dark storefronts is sad. It’s a neighborhood I love,” said Michael, a San Francisco native who grew up near Chinatown. “I was excited at the opportunity to open a little spot down there.”
Michael started Jane in 2011 with a cafe on Fillmore Street, which became known for its baked goods, coffee and sandwiches on housemade breads. She went on to open three more outposts in San Francisco, including most recently at the nostalgic Toy Boat Dessert Cafe in the Richmond District; Little Jane will bring her mini bakery empire to five locations across the city.
The Chinatown location will be open Thursday through Sunday to start but eventually expand to seven days a week.
Little Jane. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed from 2 to 2:30 p.m. for lunch. Thursday-Sunday. 752 Grant Ave., San Francisco. itsjane.com