A casual spot for Cuban sandwiches and drinks in the Mission is closing after more than six years.
Media Noche, 3465 19th St., announced via a message on Instagram that its last day of business will be Oct. 28.
“It has been a great joy to serve this community from our little (mission) corner. We hope to see your faces in the next two weeks,” the message reads in part.
Owner Jessie Barker cited recent weak business development as the reason for the closure. “We remained open throughout the pandemic, even during the two weeks when all stores were closed,” she said. “The numbers we’re seeing now are almost lower than those numbers.”
Opened in 2017, Media Noche attempts to capture the atmosphere of a Cuban cafe, but with a modern look, in a 1,500-square-foot space at the corner of 19th and Lexington Streets.
The restaurant’s menu focused on Cubano sandwiches – with fried pork shoulder in mojo sauce, smoked ham, Swiss cheese and pickles – as well as versions with fried chicken, coconut salad and crispy eggplant. Other dishes include protein-filled bowls with rice or black beans, salads and empanadas.
Barker said she ultimately decided to close after experiencing mechanical problems with her food truck, which was initially a blessing for the business.
“Without the food truck and the robust business we had seen over the past few years, it just didn’t make sense,” Barker said. Now she’s hoping to find a new tenant as her 10-year lease expires.
“It really makes me sad,” said Casey Rebecca Nunes, a chef at Media Noche from 2017 to 2020 who is now culinary liaison at the restaurant Che Fico. “With the way things are going in the Bay Area, no restaurant is truly safe. It just sucks.”
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