The culinary drama at Saluhall is heating up faster than a jalapeño on a hot skillet.

Ikea’s Mid-Market food hall is experiencing yet another vendor shakeup that’s leaving local food lovers with whiplash. Casa Borinqueña, a beloved vegan Puerto Rican restaurant, is being priced out by Ingka, Ikea’s parent company, after failing to negotiate a sustainable lease.

The Rent is Too Damn High

Owner Lourdes Nau didn’t mince words about her impending departure. “We were barely making do, and they’re not working with us,” she said, highlighting the ongoing struggle of small business owners in San Francisco’s competitive restaurant scene. Ingka proposed significant increases to both base rent and revenue sharing, making it financially impossible for Casa Borinqueña to remain.

A Changing Landscape

Since opening in April 2024, Saluhall has been a revolving door of culinary concepts. Initially launching with primarily vegan offerings, the food hall has since diversified its menu, welcoming popular additions like burger pop-up Smish Smash. The transition from third-party management company Kerb Food to Ingka signals a strategic shift aimed at streamlining operations and cutting costs.

What’s Next?

As Casa Borinqueña prepares to serve its final meal on January 1st, Filipino fusion restaurant Izzy and Wooks is waiting in the wings to fill one of the hall’s empty kiosks. The food hall continues to navigate the challenging terrain of San Francisco’s ever-evolving dining scene, leaving small business owners caught in the crossfire of corporate real estate strategies.