2025: A Turning Point for Mid-Market
2025 marked a turning point for Mid-Market.
From landmark building acquisitions to the launch of the Mid-Market Entertainment Zone, the neighborhood saw investment and energy from all directions: nonprofit arts organizations, private developers, city partners, and the creative community that has always called this corridor home. This year alone, 10 new businesses opened in the neighborhood, and there were 6 major building purchases.
Our Market Street Arts initiative was honored with an International Downtown Association Pinnacle Award for Excellence in Urban Recovery and Resilience—national recognition that celebrates all we've built together.
As goes Mid-Market, so goes San Francisco.
What We Built Together
UNSTAGED returned this summer, launching the Mid-Market Entertainment Zone—where attendees 21+ could grab drinks from neighborhood establishments and enjoy them on the street. Highlights included a Juneteenth celebration curated by SF Black Wall Street Foundation, a visual arts showcase with Root Division and Building 180, a Filipinx creative showcase with Kultivate Labs, new murals by Matley Hurd and Malik Seneferu, and a $75,000 grant from the Svane Family Foundation.
Our live music program continued bringing daily performances to Mid-Market sidewalks—80 performances, putting over $80k directly into the pockets of local artists throughout the season.
Presented in partnership with Workshop SF, this free crafting series paired hands-on artmaking with the neighborhood's food and drink scene at the Beer Hall, HARU, Montesacro, Rumpus Room, Saluhall, and SAM's. A total of 1,554 crafters joined us this year to experience the joy of creativity and try something new.
Our three Creative Hubs celebrated one year in Mid-Market this summer.
Roar Shack Live! secured a lease extension through 2026 and kicks off Season Two with a featured performance at the Pivot Festival on January 31.
The Red Tail wrapped up its 12-month Market Street engagement in August. The owners opened The Green Heron in the former Hobson's Choice location this fall.
Holy Stitch! continues serving as a hub for fashion, design, and youth education. Founder Julian Prince Dash was recently recognized with the Community Champion Award at the SF Chamber of Commerce's Excellence in Business Awards.
Market Street Arts partnered with Heart of the Game, Tenderloin Tapestry, Psyched Radio Festival, and All The Way Live Foundation to bring hip-hop, sports, music, and community storytelling to Mid-Market.
Through our Market Street Shines partnership with SF Shines, we supported businesses in securing grants for improvements and security upgrades. We hosted three Mid-Market Business Working Group meetings in the neighborhood in 2025. This group comprises over 100 people, bringing together 80+ Mid-Market businesses for collaboration and community.
Major Building Acquisitions
2025 saw significant investment in Mid-Market real estate, with new owners committing to arts-driven uses:
CAST & KALW acquired the Warfield Building (988 Market) for $7.3M, creating "Warfield Commons"—a hub for arts, media, and culture
Hospitality House purchased a permanent home for its Community Arts Program, which has served the neighborhood since 1969
Odd Fellows Temple (1101 Market) sold for $6.75M—its first sale in 145 years—with new ownership committing to preserve arts tenants including Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Frontier Tower (995 Market) sold for $11M to Deep Ink Ventures, with plans for a "vertical village" combining co-living with tech and creative industry spaces
Artist Hub on Market (1687 Market) – SF's first affordable housing program for artists, with 90+ units, a black-box theater, and creative workspace. Construction begins early 2026.
Brownstone Shared Housing (1049 Market) – $700/month sleeping pods offering affordable housing for creatives and workers priced out of traditional rentals.
What's Next
The momentum continues into 2026. During SF Art Week in January, internationally acclaimed artist eL Seed will create simultaneous murals at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and on BroadwaySF's Orpheum Theatre—physically linking incarcerated people with the outside community through Arabic calligraphy featuring a line from Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. The murals unveil January 18.
Thank You
Thank you for being part of Mid-Market's transformation. Whether you attended an UNSTAGED event, grabbed a drink at a local establishment, or simply walked down the corridor and noticed something different, you're part of this story.
