Haight-Ashbury’s Legacy Businesses
In San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury, where the Summer of Love left its mark in 1967, there are a handful of businesses have stood strong for decades. These shops, bars & restaurants aren’t just places to grab a pizza or a tie-dye shirt. They have also helped shape the history of the neighborhood. There are only a few that were open in 1967 when the Haight became one of the most well known neighborhoods in the country, but they have all been around for at least 30 years, which is pretty impressive. The city’s Legacy Business Program, started in 2015, shines a light on these gems. From funky boutiques to cozy bookstores, here’s a look at the program and the nine Haight-Ashbury businesses it honors. I love to spend time in Haight-Ashbury and have been to all of these spots multiple times. Places like Zam Zam, which I still usually refer to as Aub Zam Zam as it was known previously, is one of my favorite bars in the city and Cha Cha Cha still serves a tasty meal after all this time. There is a reason why some places are able to stay in business for decades.
San Francisco’s Legacy Business Program
San Francisco’s Legacy Business Program is a big deal and it was the first of its kind in the United States. Launched in 2015, it spots businesses that have been around for 30 years or more and make the city special. To qualify, a business needs to add to a neighborhood’s history or vibe, whether through art, food or just being a local hangout. Getting on the Legacy Business Registry means more than a pat on the back. Businesses get marketing help, grants and support to help the business continue to thrive, even as rents climb. In a city where change is constant, the program fights to keep places like Haight-Ashbury’s shops alive. It’s about saving the spots that make San Francisco feel like home and draw tourists eager for a taste of the real thing.
For Haight-Ashbury, these businesses are time capsules. They carry the neighborhood’s hippie roots, its punk edge & its never-say-die spirit.
Haight-Ashbury’s Legacy Businesses
Mendels
Arts / Crafts / Hobbies
Mendels is a crafter’s paradise filled with fabric, glitter and costume supplies since 1958. You’ll find everything from wigs to wiggle eyes, perfect for a Halloween outfit or a Burning Man project. This family-run shop moved to its current spot in 1968, just after the Summer of Love packed the Haight with dreamers. It’s a go-to for locals sewing their own style and tourists hunting unique souvenirs.
Mendels
1556 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Zam Zam
Bar
Zam Zam is a cocktail bar with a story. Opened in 1941, its curved bar and Persian-style mural, showing a love tale from ancient lore, give it a 1940s glow. Known for martinis, it’s been a Haight hideout for ages, pulling in poets, punks & now techies. The bar’s original owner, Bruno, was known for shooing out loud folks and was an icon at the bar. Bruno Mooshei died in November 2000, but his legacy lives on. Zam Zam feels like a time machine, letting you sip where hippies once schemed. It’s the Haight’s cozy corner for a quiet drink and a nod to the past.
Zam Zam
1633 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
The Booksmith
Books / Comics / Media
The Booksmith has been open since 1976. Its shelves hold novels and magazines, plus cool gifts. This indie shop hosts author talks, like Neil Gaiman or Roxane Gay, making it a nerdy hotspot in the coolest way possible. During the Summer of Love, bookstores like this were where ideas sparked. The Booksmith keeps that flame, giving locals a place to browse and chat.
The Booksmith
1727 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Love on Haight
Clothing
Love on Haight screams hippie chic. Since 1989, it’s sold tie-dye tees, bohemian dresses & sparkly accessories, many made right in San Francisco. Over 175 artists sell their work here, keeping the Haight’s artsy roots alive. The shop’s bright colors and peace-sign vibes are a direct line to 1967’s flower power. It’s a big deal because it carries the Summer of Love’s spirit forward, letting visitors take home a piece of the Haight’s magic.
Love on Haight
1400 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Piedmont Boutique
Clothing
Piedmont Boutique is hard to miss, thanks to the giant legs in fishnets swinging from its window since 1995. Open since 1972, this shop is all about bold, filled with sequined dresses, feather boas and drag queen outfits. It started in the Castro, moved to the Haight in 1981, and became a go-to for party clothes and self-expression. Piedmont’s key to the Haight because it celebrates being you, whether you’re a performer or just feeling wild. Those legs? They’re a neighborhood icon, snapping selfies with tourists daily.
Piedmont Boutique
1452 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Cha Cha Cha
Restaurant
Cha Cha Cha brings Caribbean flair to the Haight since 1983. It is a tapas restaurant, so it’s great for groups so you can try all kinds of different flavors. They have jerk chicken, sangria pitchers and these little potatoes with a red sauce that I can’t get enough of. Live music and funky decor, like tropical murals, make it a party spot. During the Haight’s punk days, it was a haven for artists needing a cheap, tasty bite. It’s important because it adds a global twist to the neighborhood’s food scene, drawing locals and visitors for a lively night out.
Cha Cha Cha
1801 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Escape From New York Pizza
Restaurant
Escape From New York Pizza has been serving slices since 1987 and its neon sign a Haight Street beacon. Known for thin-crust pies with names like “Pesto Escape,” and walls plastered with art and concert posters, including a Matt Groening sketch. The Haight’s music fans flock here post-show, and its late hours save hungry partiers.
Escape From New York Pizza
1737 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
FTC Skateboarding
Specialty Store
FTC Skateboarding, open since 1986, is the Haight’s skate culture core. It sells boards, gear, and streetwear. Founded by Kent Uyehara, FTC grew into a brand with its own clothing line and videos, shaping global skate trends. In the ’90s, it was where Haight skaters planned tricks at nearby piers. It matters because it keeps the neighborhood’s rebel streak alive, giving kids and pros a place to connect. The shop’s raw energy is pure Haight, from its graffiti art to its loyal crew.
FTC Skateboarding
1632 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Pipe Dreams
Specialty Store
Pipe Dreams, a Haight staple since 1967, sells tobacco pipes, smoking gear, and quirky gifts. Born at the Summer of Love’s peak, it’s one of the oldest head shops around, with glass pipes and vintage posters that scream ’60s. It’s been a quiet rebel, serving hippies, punks, and now curious tourists. Pipe Dreams is key because it holds the Haight’s counterculture roots tight, offering a peek at the neighborhood’s free-spirited past. Step inside, and it’s like the Love-In never ended.
Pipe Dreams
1376 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Coming Soon?
You may have noticed one of the most iconic businesses on Haight Street missing from the list, Amoeba Music. Since it opened in 1997, right after Park Bowl shut down, it isn’t quite at the 30 year benchmark for the Legacy Business Program. However, I think it’s pretty safe to say that they will be added to the list soon. Even better, as a place that has hosted an incredible lineup of shows with artists that you may not normally get to see in such a small space, maybe their Legacy status will be accompanied by a kick-ass lineup of live music or even a full on festival on Haight Street.
Haight-Ashbury’s legacy businesses help to tell the story of the neighborhood. Mendels sparks art. Zam Zam pours history. The Booksmith shares ideas. Love on Haight and Piedmont Boutique dress the Haight’s wild side, while Cha Cha Cha and Escape From New York feed its soul. FTC and Pipe Dreams keep it real, rooted in skate and smoke culture. Together, they weave a tapestry of the Haight’s past—hippie dreams, punk nights and today’s eclectic buzz. The Legacy Business Program helps them thrive, with grants and support to battle rising costs. In 2025, with over 400 businesses citywide on the registry, the Haight’s nine stand out as cultural anchors.
For San Francisco, these spots are gold. They draw tourists chasing the Haight’s legendary attractions like the Grateful Dead house or Joplin’s old pad, while giving locals places to gather.
