Jun 16
Explosive used in Castro neighborhood bakery burglary, owners say
John Ferrannini READ TIME: 2 MIN.
A beloved Castro neighborhood bakery was broken into and burglarized over the weekend using “an explosive on the window,” according to a Facebook post from the business June 14.
It’s not the first time Le Marais Bakery has been broken into. A 2022 KPIX-TV report stated that an incident in December of that year was the sixth time for the French restaurant at 498 Sanchez Street on the corner with 18th Street.
San Francisco Police Department Public Information Officer Paulina Henderson stated to the Bay Area Reporter on June 16 that officers responded to the business at 7 a.m. June 14.
“Officers arrived on scene and contacted an employee of the business who advised that a window was damaged, and property was stolen,” Henderson stated. “No arrests have been made at this time.”
The business itself provided more context in a Facebook post later that day.
“Our Castro location was broken into and robbed again last night, and all our tablets, registers, safe, cash from the days before, once again stolen,” the post stated. “It seems they put an explosive on the window. Sometimes it’s really not easy being a family business in San Francisco.”
The post urged patrons to make a visit nonetheless.
“On a brighter side, our cafe is all dressed up for Pride celebrations. Please come by and try our Pride Crêpe with fruits of the season, housemade strawberry jam, lemon zest and topped with ice cream. It’s so delicious, and all proceeds will be donated to [the San Francisco LGBT Community Center].”
Asked to confirm the use of an explosive device, Henderson stated, "We have no further details to provide at this time." The bakery’s owners didn’t return an interview request.
KRON-TV reported earlier this month that Patrick and Joanna Ascaso, who own the bakery, unexpectedly lost their lease at the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero for The Grand Creperie, which had opened in 2022. The news was “sudden,” the spouses said in a statement, and they “struggle[d] to understand how our space could be offered [to another tenant] when we had been given a new lease, when we transformed it into a beloved gathering spot with lines out the door.”
“This sudden decision is going to make things very difficult,” the statement, posted to Instagram, continued. “Artisanal bakeries have narrow margins, things must be kept in a balance to support our commissary, where we make everything from scratch, and all our employees. We will be tremendously thankful for your support of our Le Marais locations and through delivery and catering. We love San Francisco, this city is our home, and we want to be able to continue to have our bakeries and cafés here. Thank you so much, Mille mercis.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
Updated, 6/17/25: This article has been updated with comments from SFPD.
