This week we’re looking at theaters fighting for survival, tech doubling down on ownership, a major Wharf retail play, and new affordable housing on the coast. Let’s get to it.

San Francisco Theater Reset
Since 2020, 21 Bay Area theater companies have closed, including 15 in San Francisco, as attendance among older audiences has dropped more than 20 percent and some senior segments between 50 and 67 percent. Production costs have surged nearly 20 percent in a single year, leaving many companies operating at an average 7 percent deficit. Even major venues like the Curran Theatre recently sold for 13.65 million dollars, below its 16 million dollar purchase price in 2010, highlighting the financial reset facing the city’s performing arts sector.

San Jose Tech Headquarters Buy
Infinera, owned by Nokia, purchased its 82,100 square foot office and research building at 6373 San Ignacio Avenue in South San Jose for just under 27 million dollars. The property includes a ground floor optical chip manufacturing hub expected to create up to 200 tech jobs as part of Nokia’s 2.3 billion dollar acquisition of Infinera in 2025. At a time when many firms are downsizing office footprints, the decision to buy signals a long term commitment to Silicon Valley operations.

Fisherman’s Wharf Flagship Space
A 29,756 square foot, 3 level retail opportunity at 211 Jefferson Street in Fisherman's Wharf is being marketed for a large scale food, entertainment, or tourist concept. The site sits between Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square and next to the future flagship of Raising Cane's expected to open in summer 2026. With flexible floor plates from 1,687 to 12,072 square feet and nearly 49,698 residents within 1 mile, the offering reflects renewed retail investment along Jefferson Street.

Moss Beach Affordable Housing
Construction has begun on Cypress Point in Moss Beach, a 71 unit affordable housing community developed by MidPen Housing on an 11 acre former military training site. The project includes 16 one bedrooms, 37 two bedrooms, and 18 three bedrooms, with 18 homes reserved for farmworkers, plus a 3,370 square foot community center and 142 parking spaces. Roughly half the property will remain open space with trails and a community garden overlooking Highway 1 near Montara Mountain, balancing new housing with coastal preservation.

Buyer activity is picking up early for spring with renewed interest from homebuyers despite tight supply and elevated mortgage rates.

Housing inventory remains extremely low in key markets like San Francisco, keeping sellers in control and pushing competition for listings.

Mortgage rates have stabilized around 6 percent, which is encouraging some buyers back into the market but still keeping overall affordability tight.

Price growth is moderating, with some areas showing modest increases while others cool slightly compared with recent years — signaling a more balanced market.

Luxury and core urban segments remain strong, particularly in San Francisco and Marin/San Mateo, even as broader regional patterns vary

📩 Want to better understand what this means for the future of Bay Area housing? We’re here to help — send us a message at [email protected].

SF Beer Week – A multi-day celebration of local breweries and tap takeovers across San Francisco running through early March.

Noise Pop Festival 2026 – Indie music festival with concerts and showcases across venues in SF, continuing into late February and early March.

Super Spelling Bee (Putnam County) – Musical comedy running at San Jose’s Theater through March 8.

Opera San José Presents Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci – Classic opera performances in San José through March 1.

Causwells Opening (Menlo Park) – Newly expanded restaurant expected to debut in March 2026.

The DeLuxe Jazz Lounge Reopening (San Francisco) – Historic club revival expected in March.

FandomCon Silicon Valley – Pop culture convention at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center (April 10-12).

Godspell Musical (San Jose) – Family musical production running late April through early May.

Easter and Spring Festivals (San Francisco) – Seasonal celebrations including Easter events across the city in early April.

Cherry Blossom Festival (Japantown) – Two weekends of cultural performances, food, and celebration in mid-April.

That’s it for this week’s newsletter. If you found something useful, please share it with friends and neighbors who like staying plugged into what’s happening around the Bay. Thinking about making a move in 2026 or just want to understand what these shifts mean for your home value? Reach out anytime and let’s build a strategy together.

Want to discuss your options? Reach out anytime at [email protected]