Reem’s California, the renowned Arab street food restaurant started by Palestinian-Syrian Chef Reem Assil, announced today that it will close its Mission District location for the next two months, after learning that a hit-and-run that damaged the storefront last month may have caused structural damage.
Reem’s California at Mission and 25th streets will be closed for two months for renovations following a hit-and-run last month. Photo by Oscar Palma.
The restaurant will stay open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday, Aug. 1st, according to a post on Reem’s Instagram.
“Initial estimates put the cost of repairs at almost $200,000,” the post added. “Because foundational damage may have been done to the building, the work may require pulling permits from the city, which could add up to six weeks to the timeline,” .
“We hope insurance will cover costs, but we have yet to hear a definitive response regarding what they will cover.”
The June 10 hit-and-run, which damaged the north side of Reem’s facade, came at an especially bad time, as Reem’s prepared to open a new storefront in Jack London Square in Oakland (the location went on to open in late June).
Management at first boarded up the damaged section and continued operations, but later announced on July 12 that it was ceasing dine-in operations and reducing its hours in order to facilitate repairs.
Assil initially started Reem’s as a pop-up at the Mission farmers’ market, before joining La Cocina business incubator. She opened Reem’s California at 2901 Mission St., after the building’s owners reached out, saying that they wanted a community-minded business to fill the storefront that was once occupied by Mission Pie.
Reem’s opened in March, 2020, just before the pandemic prompted a citywide lockdown.
Despite this, the business thrived. In 2022, Assil published Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora, a cookbook featuring over 100 recipes as well as personal essays on family, food and identity.
Assil, who has been an advocate for the Palestinian people, has been a target of death threats online attacks in the past. But, Assil wrote in a text, the facts did not lead her to believe the June hit-and-run had been a targeted incident.
“It was just unfortunate that our restaurant happened to be on the wrong intersection that night.”
Assil hopes her employees will be able to return to work once the Mission location reopens.
“Our message to our loyal clientele is the same as it always has been..gratitude for keeping us an anchor space all these years,” Assil continued. “Our desire is to continue serving our community despite the circumstances.”
A fundraiser to help with the cost of repairs can be found here.