'It's heartbreaking': Pacifica Pier cafe demolition begins after massive crack discovered

PACIFICA, Calif. (KGO) -- Crews began demolishing a beloved restaurant on the Pacifica Pier on Tuesday after officials discovered extensive structural damage and rapidly expanding cracks that threatened collapse.

The demolition of the Chit Chat Cafe comes after the city closed off the area last week and declared an emergency, citing safety concerns. Fences remain in place around the pier as crews continue to tear down the structure, leaving a growing pile of debris.

City Manager Sean Charpentier said the decision to remove the café was necessary to prevent it from falling into the ocean.

"We anticipate the demolition being completed today," Charpentier said. "And then from after that, we'll continue with our assessment of how to shore up the abutment to prevent future damage, to prevent continuing damage to the abutment."

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The abutment he referenced supports the pier, but Charpentier said reinforcing it will not lead to an immediate reopening. There is currently no timeline for when the pier might reopen.

For many in the community, the loss of the cafe is deeply personal.

"It's been heartbreaking because my son is autistic and every day, I have to remind him when he gets off of the bus. He says, 'Mommy are we going to the pier and I say it's not available right now,'" said Bae Cadotte, a regular at the cafe.

The cafe's owners watched the demolition from nearby, holding each other as crews worked. At one point, demolition paused briefly so workers could salvage artwork and return it to the owners, prompting cheers from onlookers.

Jelani Sylvan, who worked at the coffee shop, said the sudden loss has been difficult to process.

"To see it go like this and I had no option (but) to just like, say goodbye, I still really can't fathom it to this day," Sylvan said.

Others acknowledged the emotional toll while recognizing long-standing issues with the pier.

"It's heartbreaking. And yet it's somewhat bittersweet because this has been going on a long time. We know the pier has problems and you can't begin anew until you start the process," said David Belkin, who started the "Save Pacifica Pier" Facebook group.

The Pacifica Pier sustained damage during storms in 2023 and never fully reopened. City officials plan to update the City Council on June 22, though Charpentier noted the situation remains dynamic and could change as assessments continue.

If you like to donate to Chit Chat Cafe's GoFundMe, here's a link.