Episode Details
Back to EpisodesBeers, Burgers, and Baseball: How Tommy and Max Created A Sunset Destination
Description
The Sunset is changing, and few businesses have captured the neighborhood's attention quite like Two Pitchers Brewing Company and Maillards.
In this special episode, Jessica is joined by guest co-host Ted Manahan, a Sunset resident and longtime supporter of local businesses, to sit down with Tommy Hester and Max Ponzurick, the founders behind the popular Noriega Street destination.
Together, they discuss the journeys that brought them from college baseball, homebrewing, and farmers market pop-ups to craft beer, smash burgers, and one of the most talked-about new businesses on San Francisco's west side. Tommy shares how Two Pitchers grew from a passion project into a regional brewery, while Max discusses the evolution of Maillards from a beloved Outer Sunset Farmers Market vendor to a permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant.
The conversation explores entrepreneurship, partnership, food and beverage craftsmanship, and the realities of building a business in the Bay Area. They also discuss why the Sunset was the right place to grow, how local destinations like Andytown, Devil's Teeth, Hook Fish, and Palm City helped demonstrate the neighborhood's potential, and whether the west side is experiencing a new era of investment and community-building.
If you care about local businesses, neighborhood identity, entrepreneurship, or the future of San Francisco's west side, this episode is for you.
Special thanks to Ted Manahan for joining as a guest co-host for this episode.
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✉️ Email: jessica.jasmine.ho@gmail.com
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