Tag Archives: Sam Balesteri

So Long Fisherman’s Wharf, Was Nice To Know Ya

Posted on by

A visit to the wharf for some KarmelKorn may be in order to see the place before it turns into another tacky tourist trap.

Louie Linguine greeter
Homer

The City of Monterey confirmed Friday it is in talks with San Francisco based firm SFO Forecast Inc. to lease Balesteri’s old spot on Fisherman’s Wharf.

Sam Balesteri owned a gift shop at the location for five decades but failed to negotiate a new lease with the city in 2016. In August Balesteri received an eviction notice and in December vacated the property.

SFO Forecast Inc. already manages two properties in Monterey, Louie Linguini’s and After the Quake, both are on Cannery Row.

So Long Fisherman’s Wharf, Was Nice To Know Ya

Monterey Wants More Wharf Money

Posted on by

Fishermans Wharf

Last year, the city decided to change its policy, after negotiations on rental agreements failed. Those changes caused several businesses to get eviction notices.

“When leases are up we want to get to market rate that doesn’t mean that it has to go from where it is today to market rate tomorrow and we expressed interest and council expressed interest in taking some time and ramping up market rate over a period of years,” said city manager Mike McCarthy.

Last month, Balesteri’s Wharf Front was evicted after being in its location for nearly 40 years. Owner Sam Balesteri said he had been paying $4,000 in rent on a month to month basis for the past two years.

Monterey Wants More Wharf Money

Protest March Over Wharf Leases

Posted on by

The real soul of Monterey history. Don’t lose it.

wharf night

The protest and review of policies comes on the heels of the eviction of longtime business Balesteri’s Wharf Front gift shop earlier this month. That was after the store, the Paluca Trattoria Italian restaurant and The Coffee House, all located on the wharf and part of property leased by Sam Balesteri, were sent lease termination letters notifying them that their current leases were up at the end of August. Despite that, both the gift shop and coffee shop have remained open pending a lawsuit between Balesteri and the city. Balesteri wants compensation for the many improvements he has made to his building.

In June, Chris Shake, owner of Old Fisherman’s Grotto restaurant, complained about the negotiation process with the city, which led him to request a demolition permit to tear down his building when its lease expires in summer 2021.

Both Shake and Sam Balesteri’s son, Ben, said that they plan to join the march on Tuesday. In fact, Shake is closing his restaurant from 3 to 6 p.m. that day.

“My employees and families — they want to support it and be a part of it,” said Shake, who applauded Barrett for, as he put it, “having the common sense to bring this back for consideration.”

Protest March Over Wharf Leases

Wharf Businesses Evicted

Posted on by

This will change the old Fishermans Wharf atmosphere as Canner Row style tourist traps take over the wharf.

wharf night

Monterey’s Housing and Property Manager Rick Marvin confirmed that Balesteri’s Wharf Front gift shop, the Paluca Trattoria Italian restaurant and The Coffee House, all located on the wharf and part of property leased by Sam Balesteri, had been sent lease termination letters notifying them that their current leases were up at the end of the month.

Last year the Monterey City Council voted to shorten lease agreements with wharf tenants. Since the new guidelines, the city has negotiated with three existing tenants and has offered lease terms that exceed 10 years due to the improvements the tenants want to make to the premises.

Wharf Businesses Evicted