Flintstone House Sushi pop-up closes due to city ‘concerns’

A sold-out sushi pop-up at Hillsborough’s famous Flintstone House was temporarily closed before it even began due to “concerns” from the city.

Catering company Stoneage Omakase announced Monday night that it was temporarily suspending operations at the Flintstone House. Less than a week earlier, it had issued $230 tickets for upscale sushi dinners prepared by a Michelin-starred chef. Reservations reportedly sold out in less than a minute.

“Due to the concerns raised by the City of Hillsborough, we have temporarily suspended our catering operations at this location. As we are a catering business and not a restaurant, we are working diligently to resolve these issues with Hillsborough and will keep you updated on our progress,” the company wrote on Instagram.

Neither Stoneage Omakase nor city officials responded to requests for comment.

It’s not the first time the owner of the Bay Area landmark has clashed with the city. In 2019, the city of Hillsborough sued Florence Fang after she placed a herd of giant dinosaur sculptures and a sign reading “Yabba Dabba Doo” on the multimillion-dollar hillside property. The city, which later settled, claimed the additions were made without the proper permits and said they “are a highly visible eyesore and violate community standards.” Fang, a former editor of the San Francisco Examiner, countersued the city, claiming she was discriminated against based on her race. As a condition of the settlement, she dropped her lawsuit.

After news of the sushi pop-up shop broke last week, several San Francisco Chronicle readers questioned the legality of the business and wondered if there would be backlash because of the Flintstone House’s history.

People who paid for reservations at Stoneage Omakase will receive their money back, according to an Instagram post. The post says the company plans to offer sushi at other Bay Area locations.

References to the Flintstone House were removed from the company’s website on Monday evening, although photos of dinners in a cavernous space remained. Stoneage Omakase’s CEO and co-founder is Sean Fang, the grandson of Flintstone House owner Florence Fang. A promotional caption about him, which has since been removed from Stoneage Omakase’s website, said: “He is committed to carrying on the legacy of the Flintstone House and ensures that the company maintains its core values ​​while exploring new opportunities.”

Reach Elena Kadvany: [email protected]