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6d ago

Pacifica Demolishes Chit Chat Cafe as Municipal Pier Is Declared an Emergency

Widening cracks at the pier’s abutment have created a public-safety hazard that leaves the city seeking outside funding to decide whether to repair, rebuild or remove the structure.

A community member puts down a frame that was taken from inside of Chit Chat Cafe before it was demolished in Pacifica.
A demolition worker runs with a hose past a semi-demolished Chit Chat Cafe.
A demolition vehicle digs into the popular Chit Chat Cafe, located at the entrance of the Pacifica Municipal Pier.
The owner of Chit Chat Cafe receives belongings from his soon-to-be demolished business located at the entrance of the Pacifica Municipal Pier in Pacifica. 

Overview

  • Demolition crews began tearing down the red-tagged Chit Chat Cafe on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, after engineers found widening cracks and separation near the pier’s abutment.
  • The City Council declared a local emergency, closed the pier and adjacent sidewalks and beaches, and has contractors and the U.S. Coast Guard on site to assess structural risk.
  • A 2023 condition report estimated roughly $19 million to repair the pier but city officials say recent damage likely raises that cost and are exploring state, federal and private funding.
  • Cafe owners were not allowed to retrieve belongings because engineers deemed the building unsafe and the community has mounted a fundraiser and public calls for solutions.
  • The pier, built in 1973 and repeatedly battered by storms and coastal erosion, now faces an uncertain future that could reshape local recreation, fishing businesses and shoreline planning.