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Ember Cafe applies for beer and wine license at former Revolution Cafe space

Ember Cafe applies for beer and wine license at former Revolution Cafe space

Built World San Francisco, CA local

Cafe at former Revolution Cafe and Ivory & Vine space targets mid-November opening with beer and wine license pending

October 2nd, 2026: Ember Cafe beer and wine license application appears on state list

Overview

Updated Oct 21

Ember Cafe is aiming for a mid-November opening at 3248 22nd St., the corner where Revolution Cafe closed in 2020. The storefront was more recently a Greek wine bar called Ivory & Vine, and Ember Cafe plans to keep some of that tenant's decor, including four disco ball chandeliers.

The cafe's type 41 beer and wine license application was still listed as applied for, not issued, on the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's public list as of Oct. 2. Plans call for lattes, cold brew and cold-pressed tea by day, with beer, wine and spritzes in the evening; gratuity is built into menu prices.

Why it matters

A new cafe with evening beer and wine could bring back night life to a Mission corner that lost Revolution Cafe in 2020.

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Key Indicators

Pending
Beer and wine license status
Type 41 application with California ABC, listed as applied for but not issued as of Oct. 2
2020
Revolution Cafe closed
Longtime cafe at 22nd and Bartlett closed in 2020; the address later held Greek wine bar Ivory & Vine
Mid-November
Opening target
Owner Ajay Vellayapan aims to open Ember Cafe in mid-November 2026

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People Involved

AV
Ajay Vellayapan
Founder and agent, Ember Cafe LLC
Software engineer seeking to open a cafe in the Mission District

Organizations Involved

EC
Ember Cafe LLC
Limited liability company
Registered with San Francisco, seeking state alcohol license

The business entity behind Ember Cafe, a new cafe at 3248 22nd St.
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
State regulatory agency
Reviewing Ember Cafe's license application

The state agency that issues alcohol licenses in California.
City and County of San Francisco
City and County of San Francisco
Municipal government
Registered Ember Cafe LLC

The city government that maintains business registration records.

Timeline

2020 October 2026

5 events Latest: October 2nd, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Ember Cafe beer and wine license application appears on state list

    Latest Regulatory

    California ABC lists Ember Cafe's type 41 license application as applied for, not yet issued.

  2. Ember Cafe targets mid-November opening

    Development

    Hoodline reports Ember Cafe aims to open in mid-November at 3248 22nd St., with coffee by day and wine, beer, and food at night. The cafe will use a no-tip model.

  3. Ember Cafe LLC registers with San Francisco

    Registration

    Ember Cafe LLC registers with the city, listing Ajay Vellayapan as agent.

  4. Vellayapan posts about opening a cafe at 20th and Mission

    Announcement

    Ajay Vellayapan announces plans on X to open a cafe at 20th and Mission, seeking investors.

  5. Revolution Cafe closes at 3248 22nd St.

    Closure

    Revolution Cafe closed its doors at the corner of 22nd and Bartlett, ending years of concerts and cafe culture.

Scenarios

1

Ember Cafe opens with beer and wine service

Likely Resolves by Jun 1, 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local

The California ABC approves Ember Cafe's type 41 license and the cafe opens at 3248 22nd St., serving coffee, food, beer, and wine. The corner of 22nd and Bartlett gets its first active business since Revolution Cafe closed.

2

Ember Cafe opens without beer and wine

Possible Resolves by Jun 1, 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local

The cafe opens serving coffee and food, but the beer and wine license is delayed or withdrawn. The cafe operates without alcohol service while the license is pending.

3

Ember Cafe project falls through

Unlikely Resolves by Jun 1, 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local

The cafe does not open at 3248 22nd St. The license application is withdrawn or expires, and the space remains vacant.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

2020

Revolution Cafe closes (2020)

Revolution Cafe closed its doors at 3248 22nd St. in 2020, ending years of concerts, comedy shows, and lively cafe culture at the corner of 22nd and Bartlett. The space has sat empty since.

Then

The corner went quiet and the storefront sat vacant.

Now

The address lost its longtime cafe. It later held Greek wine bar Ivory & Vine before Ember Cafe took the space.

Why this matters now

Ember Cafe is moving into the exact space Revolution Cafe vacated, with a similar vision of community programming, beer, and wine.

Sources

(8)
+2
City of San Francisco California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Mission Local Ember Cafe NewsMap Hoodline The San Francisco Standard SFist