PIER 39 Profile & Historical Milestones
PIER 39 Profile
Whether it's family fun, distinctive shopping, an up-close look at California's playful sea lions, an encounter with a street performer or superb dining, San Francisco's PIER 39 is the place to be -- for PIER FUN!
A year-round festival marketplace, PIER 39 is San Francisco's Premier Bay Attraction. The 45-acre open air complex has two levels of shopping, dining, and entertainment. PIER 39, a property which is owned, leased and managed by Moor + South/PIER Management Co., LP, opened on October 4, 1978 and houses more than 110 shops, 13 full-service restaurants, entertainment and numerous attractions.
Best of all, PIER 39's location provides the picture perfect backdrop for postcard views of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, Alcatraz, Angel Island on San Francisco Bay and the City skyline. PIER 39 is located two blocks east of Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, at Beach Street and The Embarcadero. Parking is conveniently located in the PIER 39 Garage directly across from the Entrance Plaza.
Mailing Address
PIER 39
P.O. Box 193730
San Francisco, CA 94119-3730
Phone: 415.705.5500
Fax: 415.981.8808
Physical Address
PIER 39
Beach Street & The Embarcadero
Stairwell 2, Level 3
San Francisco, CA 94133
PIER 39 is a 200,000 square foot festival marketplace.
Ownership: PIER 39 Limited Partnership
Sensational Shopping
Splashy Sea Lions
Beautiful Bay Views
Historical Milestones
| August, 1977 | - | PIER 39 breaks ground. Authentic 1910 wood from Piers 34 and 3 is used to erect new structure. |
| October 4, 1978 | - | PIER 39 opens on schedule to fanfare in San Francisco. Originally, PIER 39 had 23 restaurants, 50 stores, a diving pool and street performers. |
| August, 1981 | - | Moor + South acquires property, forming the PIER 39 Limited Partnership. |
| May, 1983 | - | Diving pool removed from PIER 39, Venetian Carousel moved from inside the Palace of Fun Arts to where it presently exists close to the Bay end of PIER 39. |
| December, 1988 | - | PIER 39 is named the third most-visited attraction in the country by Amusement Business. |
| January, 1989 | - | PIER 39 is named the third most-visited attraction in the country by USA Today. |
| January, 1989 | - | Economic Research Associates tallies PIER 39 attendance to be 10.5 million annually. |
| January, 1990 | - | California sea lions begin arriving in droves on PIER 39's K Dock, creating a local and international sensation. To date, the population has grown as high as 900. |
| March, 1990 | - | NAMCO takes over Funtasia games arcade. Arcade becomes NAMCO'S Cyber Station featuring bumper cars and more than 100 games. |
| March, 1992 | - | PIER 39 named third most-visited attraction in the world by The London Observer. |
| August, 1992 | - | Turbo Ride Simulation Theatre opens its doors. |
| November, 1995 | - | The Great San Francisco Adventure at the Cinemax Theatre opens its doors. |
| April, 1996 | - | Underwater World now Aquarium of the Bay opens its doors at PIER 39. |
| June, 1997 | - | Blue & Gold Fleet expands bay cruise service to include Alcatraz and Angel Island, plus commuter ferry service to Sausalito and Tiburon. |
| July, 1998 | - | PIER 39 "Best Place to People Watch (San Francisco)" and "Best Video Games Arcade" as voted by the San Francisco Chronicle's Readers' Choice competition. |
| November, 1998 | - | PIER 39 receives the national First Place Media Kit award from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). This national designation honors the design and compilation of materials in the PIER 39 Media Kit. |
| December, 1998 | - | PIER 39 retail, restaurants and attractions sales gross more than $149 million. |
| February, 1999 | - | Forbes Island, the world's only man-made, floating island opens to the public in PIER 39's West Marina. |
| July, 1999 | - | PIER 39 "Best Place to People Watch (San Francisco)" as voted by the San Francisco Chronicle's Readers' Choice competition. |
| December, 1999 | - | PIER 39 retail, restaurants, and attractions gross more than $160 million. |
| December, 2000 | - | PIER 39 retail, restaurants, and attractions gross more than $167 million. |
| November, 2001 | - | Robert S. MacIntosh named President and Chief Executive Officer of The PIER 39 Companies. |
| March, 2002 | - | Two-tiered San Francisco Carousel with 1,800 lights and handpainted depictions of San Francisco opens to the public. |
| May, 2002 | - | Riptide Arcade family entertainment center opens with more than 100 video games, virtual reality units, novelty and prize redemption games. |
| August, 2002 | - | Hard Rock Cafe opens at PIER 39. |
| December, 2002 | - | PIER 39 retail, restaurants and attractions sales gross more than $151 million. |
| October, 2003 | - | PIER 39 celebrates its 25th anniversary on San Francisco's historic waterfront. |
| December, 2003 | - | PIER 39 retail, restaurants and attractions sales gross more than $156 million. |
| December, 2004 | - | PIER 39 retail, restaurants and attractions sales gross $168 million. |
| April, 2005 | - | Theatre 39 begins featuring live theatrical performances. |
| December, 2005 | - | PIER 39 retail, restaurants and attractions sales gross more than $178 million. |
| December, 2006 | - | PIER 39 retail, restaurants and attractions sales gross more than $181 million. |
| December, 2007 | PIER 39 retail, restaurants and attractions sales gross more than $175 million. | |
| March, 2008 | Tony n' Tina's Wedding debuts at Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant. |