San Francisco's Historic Cliff House Restaurant remodel awarded to BDL Mill

BDL Mill's Architectural Woodwork and Doors, Frames and Hardware divisions have been awarded the Historic Cliff House Restaurant remodel project. Construction of the 51,380 square foot project is being managed by Nibbi Brothers Construction and entails the renovation and preservation of beautifully ornate woodwork of the existing restaurant, as well as the addition of an entire new and extremely modern wing. BDL Mill brings its knowledge of the woodworking industry and extraordinary craftsmanship to accomplish this eclectic blending of the old and the new.

The original Cliff House was built in 1863. It was visited by Presidents and the wealthy families of California. It burned down on Christmas Day, 1894.

The second Cliff House was built in 1896 by the previous owner, Adolph Sutro. It was built to resemble a French Chateau and was much grander than the first. It was never used as a hotel but rather served as a beautiful site for entertaining, dining, and dancing. The structure survived the infamous San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, but was destroyed again by fire the following year.

In 1909, Adolph Sutro's daughter Emma, rebuilt the Cliff House for the third time. It continued to be a famous place for dining. However, the surrounding area declined n the Depression and following worlds wars. The Sutro family sold the property in 1952 to George Whitney. He remodeled the Cliff House many times before it became the property of the National Park Service in 1977.

Today it is preserved as a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Project Manager Patrick Grubb is looking forward to this interesting and challenging job. Production and installation for the Cliff House will begin in the later part of April of this year and shall continue through March of 2004. Patrons of the venerable restaurant which overlooks the surf of Ocean Beach and the gigantic ships leaving the Golden Gate should be back to enjoy the renovation shortly thereafter.