Since 1893 Ghirardelli Chocolates has been located in San Francisco down at the water’s edge of San Francisco Bay at the west end of Fishermen’s Wharf, just off of the Maritime Museum. The famous chocolates are a certain stop for the hordes of tourists filing through Fishermen’s Wharf and most San Francisco tours will, at the very least, put the famous landmark building, sign, and clock tower on the tour route even if a stop for chocolate isn’t on the agenda. Though while the chocolate company’s factory was relocated across the San Francisco Bay in San Leandro in the early sixties after the company was purchased by the Golden Grain Macaroni Company, a Ghirardelli Chocolate store has always remained on the premises. The block of buildings which were formerly dedicated to all aspects of the Ghirardelli Chocolate business, were sold collectively in 1964 to new developers who wished to retain the character of the existing buildings. They developed the Ghirardelli Square, turning the chocolate factory into an outdoor, multi-level shopping center, creating the first repurposed factory building in the country and honoring Mr. Ghirardelli by keeping the name attached.
In 2008 and 2009, Ghirardelli Square is once again undergoing refurbishment, but it will continue to honor and maintain its original character. The most recent improvements are meant to transform the Square into an enclave of high-end retail, a luxury spa, fine dining restaurants, food markets, wine tasting, and a private residence club. The establishments have been making a staggered opening over the course of last year and this one, and will continue through 2009, including the launch of a new Gary Danko restaurant this summer.
While the previous version of Ghirardelli Square found itself catering mostly to tourist’s shopping interests, the new complex will be a much more balanced proposition, addressing the interests of not only tourists, but those living in the new private residences on the block and other local San Franciscans as well, with fine dining, a wine bar, a gourmet food market and specialty stores that will support both residents’ and visitors’ interests.
