Quince & Co. files WARN notice for San Francisco closure

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Quince & Co. told California labor officials it plans to close its San Francisco restaurant at 490 Pacific Avenue, affecting 34 employees. The notice sets a closure date of January 16, 2027, but it is a filing of intent, not proof the jobs have already ended.

The filing puts a Michelin-starred Jackson Square restaurant into the state's WARN process, which requires covered employers to give 60 days' notice before mass layoffs or closures. The restaurant's parent company has also been in a trademark dispute with the online retailer Quince.com since 2024.

Why it matters

The notice starts a 60-day clock for 34 workers and signals that a 20-year-old Jackson Square fine-dining anchor may close.

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Key Indicators

Affected employees

The WARN notice reports 34 employees at the 490 Pacific Avenue site.

Affected site

The notice covers the Quince restaurant location in San Francisco.

60 days

WARN notice period

California's WARN process requires covered employers to give at least 60 days' notice.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Michael Tusk

Chef and co-owner, Quince

Co-owner of the restaurant group that filed the WARN notice

Lindsay Tusk

Co-owner, Quince

Co-owner of the restaurant group that filed the WARN notice

Organizations Involved

Quince & Co. LLC

Restaurant group

Filed WARN notice for San Francisco closure

The parent company of the Michelin-starred Quince restaurant in San Francisco's Jackson Square.

Quince

Fine-dining restaurant

Subject of closure notice

A Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco's Jackson Square neighborhood.

California Employment Development Department

State agency

Receives and publishes WARN notices

The state agency that collects and publishes WARN notices for California employers.

Timeline

2003 January 2027

4 events Latest: 3 days ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

January 2027
Planned closure date listed in WARN notice
Upcoming Scheduled closure

The notice sets this as the date the San Francisco site is expected to close.
January 16th, 2027
November 2026
Quince & Co. files WARN notice
Latest Layoff notice

The filing reports 34 affected employees at 490 Pacific Avenue and a closure date of January 16, 2027.
3 days ago
February 2024
Trademark dispute with Quince.com becomes public
Legal

Quince's owners contest the online retailer Quince.com over use of the Quince name.
February 2024
2003
Quince opens in Jackson Square
Founding

The restaurant begins operating in San Francisco's Jackson Square neighborhood.
2003

Scenarios

Quince closes on January 16, 2027 as noticed

Likely Resolves by Jan 16, 2027

Discussed by: California WARN notice filed by Quince & Co.

The notice sets a closure date and lists 34 affected employees. If no withdrawal or extension is filed, the restaurant at 490 Pacific Avenue stops operating on that date.

Quince & Co. withdraws or delays the closure

Possible Resolves by Jan 16, 2027

Discussed by: No public statement from the company; WARN filings can be changed

A WARN notice is an intent, not a final closure. The company could withdraw the filing, extend the date, or keep the restaurant open. No such step has been reported.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2003

Quince opens in Jackson Square (2003)

Quince opened in 2003 in San Francisco's Jackson Square neighborhood. It built a reputation for chef Michael Tusk's tasting menu and later underwent a year-long renovation.

Then

The restaurant became a fixture of the neighborhood's fine-dining scene.

Now

By 2026, it was the subject of a WARN notice listing 34 employees and a January 2027 closure date.

Why this matters now

The notice puts a two-decade-old restaurant into a state process designed for mass layoffs and closures.

February-March 2024

Quince and Quince.com trademark dispute (2024)

Quince's owners were in a trademark dispute with online retailer Quince.com over the Quince name, alleging customer confusion. The retailer rejected a $12 million settlement offer, and the restaurant sought a preliminary injunction.

Then

A hearing on the injunction was scheduled for April 18, 2024.

Now

The case was ongoing as of the March 2024 report.

Why this matters now

The closure notice comes as Quince & Co. was already contesting use of its name, though the filing does not cite the lawsuit as a cause.