A Brief Giftcenter History

Prior to the 1970's, the South of Market District, or "SOMA" was San Francisco's industrial zone. As property values grew, it became an area of unusual office buildings, showrooms and large warehouses serving the gift, electronics and interior design trades. Along with this commercial development, SOMA began to attract a large number of nightclubs and modern restaurants.

Built in 1912 in the heart of SOMA, the Giftcenter first appeared as a carbon battery manufacturing plant. Since that time, the building has functioned in a variety of capacities, including a training site for police dogs, and a paper warehouse for the Blake-Moffit-Towne printing and paper company.

Since it's renovation and re-opening in 1983, the Giftcenter's five-story atrium has offered event coordinators multiple levels for seating, interactive games, photography or food and beverage stations. Each level is serviced by both a grand staircase and two glass elevators, which allow guests a spectacular view of the excitement below. The terrazzo dance floor stretches across the atrium, bordered by a multi-tiered, finished hardwood stage. Above this stage hangs the canopy, housing a stateof- the-art lighting and sound system which, in keeping with it's history, makes the Giftcenter the most versatile event venue in the San Francisco Bay Area.