SAN FRANCISCO — A North Beach restaurant that has spent years operating under the Petite Lil’s preview name is marking its official opening this week — and the celebration will take over part of Powell Street for four days.
Lillie Coit’s, at 1707 Powell Street, is holding its grand-opening period from Thursday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 11. The first-night focal point is a publicized 7:33 p.m. “Flip the Switch” sign lighting on Thursday.
What happens at 7:33 p.m. Thursday?
The opening-night event is called “Flip the Switch: The Sign Goes On.” The organizer’s listing says doors open at 4 p.m. and the exterior sign is scheduled to be switched on at 7:33 p.m.
The listing says the time is a nod to 1933, the year Coit Tower opened. It also says the sign was made from the old bar top of the former Washington Square Bar & Grill.
For Thursday specifically, the event listing says the kitchen runs until 1 a.m. or later and the venue closes at 2 a.m. Lillie Coit’s own site describes its regular kitchen and bar hours as 4 p.m.–1 a.m. daily.
Where is Lillie Coit’s?
Lillie Coit’s is at 1707 Powell Street in North Beach, near the Powell, Columbus and Union street intersection.
The restaurant says Petite Lil’s has been its neighborhood preview before the formal Lillie Coit’s opening. The business describes itself as a late-night restaurant and bar inspired by San Francisco figure Lillie Hitchcock Coit.
Which street closes for the grand opening?
SFMTA says Powell Street between Columbus Avenue and Union Street will close at 12 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 and remain closed through 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11.
That means this is not just a Thursday-evening closure: the block remains closed through the full four-day opening period.
How does the 39 Coit bus change?
The outbound 39 Coit toward Coit Tower will be rerouted for the duration of the opening. From Columbus and Powell, buses will use Columbus and Union before returning to the regular route.
The Union Street & Columbus Avenue stop is skipped. SFMTA lists Powell & Filbert and Union & Stockton as alternate stops.
Sunday is more complicated: SFMTA says the 39 Coit will have a different reroute in both directions for part of the day because the Italian Heritage Parade also moves through North Beach.
Why might North Beach be especially busy this weekend?
The grand-opening weekend overlaps Fleet Week and Sunday’s Italian Heritage Parade. That puts a four-day Powell Street closure into an already crowded North Beach and waterfront weekend.
Readers heading into the neighborhood can also use SF News Today’s Fleet Week guide for waterfront transit, ship tours, Blue Angels times and rideshare restrictions.