Iconic California pier begins crumbling into the ocean forcing demolition of beloved neighborhood cafe

By SOPHIA BAUM - FEMAIL REPORTER, INTERN Published: 18:25, 10 June 2026 | Updated: 18:28, 10 June 2026 A beloved California seaside cafe has been reduced to rubble after engineers warned the crumbling pier beneath it could collapse into the sea. Chit Chat cafe in Pacifica was demolished on June 9 after engineers advised it was at risk of plunging into the Pacific Ocean when the pier beneath began dramatically cracking apart.  A herd of heartbroken locals gathered at the base of the pier on Tuesday morning to watch excavators tear through their quaint community landmark, which has served as a cherished oceanside stop for fishermen, tourists and whale-watchers since the 1990s. Pacifica Oceanfront residence comes with a cost, as the surfing haven has suffered dire coastal erosion and increased deterioration impacting waterfront properties. The demolition came after locals discovered a four-inch crack snaking through the foundation of the Pacifica Municipal Pier last week, raising fears that the structure - and the cafe sitting atop it - could subside.  As crews worked throughout the day Monday to assess the structural integrity of the pier and nearby cafe, city officials said serious damage was found near the pier abutment that anchors it to land. At the city council meeting held Monday night, City Manager Sean Charpentier informed locals an engineering assessment of the structural integrity of the pier concluded it was too hazardous for the cafe to remain.  Shortly after, city officials declared a local emergency and shut nearby beaches amid mounting safety concerns. Locally adored Chit Chat Cafe was taken down on June 9, after locals alerted officials of cracks that started appearing in the building's foundations The pier's continual structural issues have forced the start of the demolition at the cafe  A council meeting on Monday made the unanimous decision that it was too dangerous for the cafe to remain Images from the scene show massive excavators smashing through the cafe’s unique hexagonal roof and distinctive orange walls as stunned onlookers watched behind barriers. For Chit Chat owners Branden Jenkins and Ginger Davis, the destruction has been devastating. The duo told the San Francisco Chronicle they had little warning before disaster struck, only learning of the dire situation when Davis’ mother arrived at the property on Thursday and was barred from entry by city engineers, who deemed the building unsafe. ‘We’re losing everything inside, both sentimental and monetary,’ Davis said as crews attempted to salvage belongings from the doomed cafe.  The Daily Mail has reached out to Jenkins and Davis for comment.  A fundraising campaign launched for the business had already raised more than $19,000 by Tuesday afternoon.  Photos shared online over the weekend for the pair's GoFundMe revealed windows buckling outward and severe cracks stretching through the building as the pier itself visibly shifted toward the ocean. However, Chit Chat's second location in Pacifica, located on Manor Drive, will remain open. 'This is just really so sad,' said Pacifica resident Pam Coppin. 'And it was a nice thing that people liked to come and hang out here.' Heavy machinery tears into the Chit Chat Cafe at the base of the Pacifica Municipal Pier, June 9 A central part of the city's charm, locals and visitors alike mourned the loss of the cafe, evidenced by a crowd of at times more than 50 people at the site Chit Chat owners, Davis and Jenkins, told the San Francisco Chronicle they had no idea of the damage until June 4 Residents described the demolition as a 'painful loss' for the tight-knit beachside community Locals gathered simply to mourn the final moments of a place that had long served as a community landmark and a post-fishing refuge for visitors to the pier.  The future of the pier itself remains uncertain. Pacifica has increasingly found itself on the front lines of California’s battle against coastal erosion and rising sea levels, with oceanfront properties in the city already demolished as cliffs and foundations deteriorate. Stretching more than 1,000 feet into the Pacific and first built in 1973, the Pacifica Municipal Pier has suffered repeated damage from punishing winter storms and corrosive seawater in recent years.   Over the past five years, several brutal storms have resulted in multiple sporadic closures and consequent repairs. However, the damage reached its peak this week, with sections of the pier adjacent to the land fracturing off in chunks. At Monday's city council meeting, Charpentier, the city manager, said the next step after the demolition of Chit Chat would be to reinforce the sinking section of the pier to prevent further damage. Roland Yip, Pacifica’s city engineer and deputy director of public works, shared that the city had approved a contract to begin designing those repairs in April using a close to $1 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Some locals even placed flowers outside the location, a signifier of what this location meant to the community The cafe even played host to live music events The local emergency declaration from officials could help unlock federal funding, but that could still face turbulent waters Yip added the city would inquire whether it could redirect some of that grant to pay for the demolition and reinforcements. 'Unfortunately, the more we look deeply at the assessments, the more money is needed to fix the pier, even before this,' Mayor Christine Boles said, according to the outlet. Officials previously estimated full repairs could cost as much as $19 million. During previous closures, businesses near the pier suffered as a result of a significant drop in foot traffic and subsequent spending. City leaders state the immediate priority is stabilizing the damaged section of the pier and seeking emergency state and federal funding to prevent further collapse.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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