Scott James

Embattled sandwich king Ike Shehadeh has created a T-shirt to promote his cause

The saga of San Francisco’s über-popular sandwich shop Ike’s Place has taken a new turn, and might now include a new casualty: a longtime, beloved sushi restaurant.

Ike's is tiny – just a doorway with a kitchen – but the eatery has become a foodie phenomenon, attracting hordes of hungry fans. Neighbors complained that the popularity of Ike’s disturbed their lives. Dennis Drobisch, landlord of the building that houses Ike’s on 16th Street in the Castro, began eviction proceedings earlier this year after four upstairs neighbors threatened to sue. 

Now the landlord is taking a new approach. 

The shop is actually located in a subleased back room of Daimaru Sushi, which has had permits to operate as a full-service restaurant since 1998. 

Ike Shehadeh, the owner of the sandwich shop, said he received an e-mail on June 9 from Drobisch’s lawyer, Arlene Helfrich, saying, “We intend to pursue termination” of the Daimaru Sushi lease, “which will result in the sub-tenant’s loss of possession.”

The e-mail said that subletting the space to Ike’s led to “multiple violations” of Daimaru’s lease. However, the two instances cited involved permits and the use of a storage space — not the disruption neighbors have complained about.

The e-mail also tells the sandwich shop to halt installation of a ventilation system. “We continue to encourage Mr. Shehadeh to find an alternative location for his business,” it says.

Attorney Helfrich did not respond to requests for an interview. In the past she has said, “My practice is to refrain from comment on active matters.” A message left for Jerry Chau, the leaseholder for Daimaru, was not returned.

“I think it is unfair and wrong,” said Shehadeh, who is fighting the eviction. “If Mr. Drobisch wants to spend a lot of money in court just to end up losing a decision there, that's his prerogative.”

But if the eviction proceeds, San Francisco will lose a corner that has been a destination for diners for a dozen years.