05/14/2026
Customer Spotlight!
We’d love to introduce you to Lorena — a San Francisco icon with roots that run deep in the Mission.
Lolo first discovered Grand through her regular visits to Lucky Pork next door, stopping in for a coffee with her husband Jorge during their back-and-forth between San Francisco and Guadalajara. They made the move permanent in 2009 and Grand has been a part of their routine ever since.
You may know Lorena as the creative force behind Lolo on Valencia — a beloved Mission staple she opened with her husband in 2010. This celebrated restaurant was named in her honor and built from the same philosophy she brings to everything: soul first. Every wall, lamp, and carefully placed spoon in that space comes from her hands and her heart. No rulebook — just instinct, memory, and a lifetime of collecting, repurposing, and constant reimagining. She credits her mother as a great creative influence on her process and recalls aiding her in sewing slipcovers from fabric remnants, constantly experimenting with new looks for their home. Outside of Lolo, Lorena is a jewelry designer, specializing in pieces inspired by timeless Mexican imagery like the huarache, sombrero, and even tortillas. She further cements the immortality of these images by casting them in silver and bronze, featuring them on runways in shows dedicated to reflections of belonging.
These days, you’ll find Lorena at Grand Too more often than not — settling into a corner sofa, running into friends, and cycling through her order depending on the day: a matcha, a cappuccino, or even our tepache inspired drink, La Pinata when the afternoon calls for it.
“I’ve had every kind of conversation here,” she says. “Deep ones, silly ones — even crying ones. A full spectrum of emotions.”
That’s the thing about Lorena. Whether she’s lining the bar counter with guía Roji road maps or chatting with someone new over coffee, she brings her whole self. San Francisco is lucky to have her.
Thank you, Lolo, for being part of our community — and for allowing us to be part of yours.
Find her work
