CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR Legacy Business Registry Staff Report HEARING DATE DECEMBER 9, 2019 MUMS – HOME OF SHABU SHABU Application No.: LBR-2019-20-008 Business Name: Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu Business Address: 1800 Sutter Street District: District 5 Applicant: Isidore Tam, Owner Nomination Date: August 5, 2019 Nominated By: Supervisor Vallie Brown Staff Contact: Richard Kurylo [email protected] BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu (“Mums”) is a family-owned Japanese American restaurant located on the first floor of the Kimpton Buchanan Hotel in Japantown. The restaurant was founded in 1979 as part of a project to bring Japanese culture to San Francisco by Kintetsu Enterprises Company of Osaka, Japan. It is currently owned by former employee Isidore Tam. Over the 40 years it has been in business, Mums has remained committed to bridging Japanese and American culture through its dining space and cuisine, becoming a vital gathering place for the surrounding Japantown community. Kintetsu Enterprises Company of America was founded in San Francisco in 1961 by Kintetsu Group Holdings of Osaka, Japan. The company sought to bridge Japanese and American cultures. They began in San Francisco, which had been Osaka’s Sister City since 1957. At the time, Japantown had recently undergone redevelopment so Kintetsu brought new life to Japantown by encouraging the proliferation of Japanese businesses in the area. They opened the Kyoto Inn in 1975 and, realizing that guests needed a place to enjoy Japanese food, opened what was then called Café Mums just four years later. Isidore Tam, current owner of Mums, came to America from Hong Kong with the dream of owning a business. When he started his new temp job as a dishwasher at Mums in 1981, he was busy balancing culinary school, a second job at the Holiday Inn and a growing family. But with hard work and the close mentorship of Shinji, Isidore quickly became irreplaceable at Mums; rising in rank to Assistant Manager in just five years. Shinji relied on Isidore to maintain the authenticity of the menu in his stead. The business is located on the northwest corner of Buchanan and Sutter streets in Japantown. CRITERION 1: Has the applicant operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, with no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years? 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR Yes, Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu has operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, with no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years: 1800 Sutter Street from 1979 to Present (40 years). CRITERION 2: Has the applicant contributed to the neighborhood's history and/or the identity of a particular neighborhood or community? Yes, Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu has contributed to the history and identity of Japantown and San Francisco. The Historic Preservation Commission recommended the applicant as qualifying, noting the following ways the applicant contributed to the neighborhood's history and/or the identity of a particular neighborhood or community: • The business is associated with the Japanese cuisine and specifically shabu shabu. • The restaurant was included on a list of Japantown cultural resources in the Japantown Cultural Heritage and Economic Sustainability Strategy (JCHESS), which is the first document in San Francisco to focus specifically on how to preserve and promote a neighborhood's cultural heritage. • The property has a Planning Department Historic Resource status code of “C” (No Historic Resource Present) due to its age of less than 45 years. • The business has been cited in the following publications: A Modern Guide to San Francisco’s Japantown (7X7 Magazine, April 11, 2018) TOP CHOICE 2015 medal for their “exquisite menu and friendly service” by Lianorg, a tourist information website for China, Japan and other Asian countries, January 25, 2015. Michelin Guide Recommended (Michelin Guide San Francisco 2013: Restaurants and Hotels, October 24, 2012). San Francisco: Decoding shabu shabu (Budget Travel, October 3, 2012). Bar Bites: Mums (San Francisco Chronicle, March 6, 2008). Mums Home of Shabu-Shabu (tablehopper, October 23, 2007). Mums Home of Shabu Shabu (Mon Monthly, June 2007). Celebrating Inn Progress (San Francisco Chronicle, July 5, 2007). San Francisco Japantown Mums Renewal Opening (BaySpo, June 1, 2007). Japantown hotel hopes pop infusion will boost district / Makeover starts with public contest for a new name (SFGate, October 10, 2006). Fall Gourmet (BaySpo, September 30, 2005). Winter Gourmet (BaySpo, January 16, 2004). Japanese Fruit Dessert Refreshes Palate, Calms Psyche (SFGate, July 17, 2002). CRITERION 3: Is the applicant committed to maintaining the physical features or traditions that define the business, including craft, culinary, or art forms? Yes, Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu is committed to maintaining the physical features and traditions that define the business. 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The Historic Preservation Commission recommends that Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu qualifies for the Legacy Business Registry under Administrative Code Section 2A.242(b)(2) and recommends safeguarding of the below listed physical features and traditions. Physical Features or Traditions that Define the Business: • The name “Mums” and chrysanthemum logo reflecting a revered symbol of Japanese culture. • Traditional Japanese dishes, including shabu shabu, mixed with American cuisine. • Two circular windows. • Interior mural. CORE PHYSICAL FEATURE OR TRADITION THAT DEFINES THE BUSINESS Following is the core physical feature or tradition that defines the business that would be required for maintenance of the business on the Legacy Business Registry. • Restaurant featuring Japanese cuisine. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the San Francisco Small Business Commission include Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu currently located at 1800 Sutter Street in the Legacy Business Registry as a Legacy Business under Administrative Code Section 2A.242. Richard Kurylo, Program Manager Legacy Business Program 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR Small Business Commission Draft Resolution HEARING DATE DECEMBER 9, 2019 MUMS – HOME OF SHABU SHABU LEGACY BUSINESS REGISTRY RESOLUTION NO. _________________________ Application No.: LBR-2019-20-008 Business Name: Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu Business Address: 1800 Sutter Street District: District 5 Applicant: Isidore Tam, Owner Nomination Date: August 5, 2019 Nominated By: Supervisor Vallie Brown Staff Contact: Richard Kurylo [email protected] ADOPTING FINDINGS APPROVING THE LEGACY BUSINESS REGISTRY APPLICATION FOR MUMS – HOME OF SHABU SHABU, CURRENTLY LOCATED AT 1800 SUTTER STREET. WHEREAS, in accordance with Administrative Code Section 2A.242, the Office of Small Business maintains a registry of Legacy Businesses in San Francisco (the "Registry") to recognize that longstanding, community- serving businesses can be valuable cultural assets of the City and to be a tool for providing educational and promotional assistance to Legacy Businesses to encourage their continued viability and success; and WHEREAS, the subject business has operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, with no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years; or WHEREAS, the subject business has operated in San Francisco for more than 20 years but less than 30 years, has had no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years, has significantly contributed to the history or identity of a particular neighborhood or community and, if not included in the Registry, faces a significant risk of displacement; and WHEREAS, the subject business has contributed to the neighborhood's history and identity; and WHEREAS, the subject business is committed to maintaining the physical features and traditions that define the business; and WHEREAS, at a duly noticed public hearing held on December 9, 2019, the San Francisco Small Business Commission reviewed documents and correspondence, and heard oral testimony on the Legacy Business Registry application; therefore 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR BE IT RESOLVED that the Small Business Commission hereby includes Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu in the Legacy Business Registry as a Legacy Business under Administrative Code Section 2A.242. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Small Business Commission recommends safeguarding the below listed physical features and traditions at Mums - Home of Shabu Shabu: Physical Features or Traditions that Define the Business: • The name “Mums” and chrysanthemum logo reflecting a revered symbol of Japanese