Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square doesn’t just refer to the pieces of delicious chocolate! Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf district, this landmark public space is host to a variety of shops and restaurants. In 1893, Domingo Ghirardelli purchased the entire city block for the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company Headquarters. Born in Italy, Ghirardelli served as an apprentice for a confectioner from a young age and sailed around South America in his 20’s as a chocolate merchant. A friend in Peru carried hundreds of pounds of Ghirardelli’s chocolate with him on a trip to San Francisco mere weeks before the gold rush began. Ghirardelli heard his friend’s stories from California during the gold rush period and joined him there less than a year later to open up a general store, selling a variety of products – his very own chocolate, of course being one of them.
The Square was purchased by William M. Roth in 1962 in order to preserve it from being turned into apartment buildings after Ghirardelli Chocolate Company was purchased by a Macaroni Company and moved headquarters to a different area in California. The Roth family is credited for their philanthropist movement to preserve the square, which was added to the list of National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Ghirardelli Chocolate Manufactory & Soda Fountain still sells its chocolate treats in the square to this day, where you can pick up a classic bag of Ghirardelli chocolate squares, or order one of the famous hot fuge sundaes.
Today, along with the Chocolate Manufactory & Soda Fountain, Ghirardelli Square is host to a variety of shops and restaurants. Be tempted for a chocolate snack during the day or swing by to watch the square glow at dusk; both are delicious!
San Francisco Tours
See Ghirardelli Square
