BREAKING NEWS: Literary icon Dave Eggers has just announced the opening of an innovative café at Pier 29 as part of the groundbreaking Art + Water project. This café, envisioned as a vibrant cultural hub, is set to redefine the coffeehouse experience in San Francisco and is expected to open in late summer or fall 2026.
The upcoming café is a collaboration between Eggers and Mokhtar Alkhanshali, the visionary behind Oakland’s acclaimed Yemeni café, Mohka House. Alkhanshali expressed excitement about the project, stating, “[Eggers] noticed there was no coffee in that entire area,” emphasizing the need for an inviting space that transcends the traditional café model.
Eggers envisions a space filled with “rugs, pillows, tapestries, silver, copper, and gold,” designed to echo historical coffeehouses known for fostering revolutionary ideas. This bold initiative at Pier 29 is not just a café; it’s part of a larger mission to provide 10 established artists with free studio space in exchange for mentoring 20 emerging artists. This innovative approach moves away from conventional art education, offering a debt-free apprenticeship model.
The Art + Water project covers an expansive 70,000 square feet, with plans for a series of exhibitions and programming aimed at enriching the community. The first installment will showcase the work of Oakland musician and filmmaker Boots Riley.
In partnership with the Community Arts Stabilization Trust, which has secured a two-year lease for the pier, this project will serve as a vital space for visual artists like Paul Madonna and Taraneh Hemani. The initiative aims to create a “satellite” gallery for those priced out of other spaces in the city.
Applications for the nonprofit’s inaugural fellowship will soon be available through Art + Water’s social media channels, promising free classes and gallery exhibitions that aim to engage and uplift the local community.
As excitement builds for this transformative project, keep an eye on updates regarding the café’s opening and the broader impacts on San Francisco’s artistic landscape. This is a developing story that promises to blend culture, community, and creativity in an unprecedented way. Stay tuned for more details as they emerge!
