SPARK Social SF
SPARK Social SF operates an open-air food truck park and community event space in San Francisco's Mission Bay, serving families, pet owners, foodies, and corporate groups through rotating food trucks, bars, reservable event spaces, mini golf, and Bay Area catering, with a second location opening in San José in Spring 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What SPARK Social SF does
SPARK Social SF operates an open-air food truck park and community event space at 601 Mission Bay Blvd. North in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood, with a second location scheduled to open in San José's Creekside District in Spring 2026. The core product is a rotating lineup of 150+ local food trucks supported by two full-service bars (SIP Bar and Watering Hole Bar), reservable event spaces (Fire Pits, The Alcoves, The Pavilion, Backstage, Porch, Corner Cove), and the adjacent Stagecoach Greens 18-hole outdoor mini golf course plus a 1AMSF spray-painting workshop. Founded in 2013 by the team behind SoMa StrEat Food Park, with CEO Carlos Muela and co-founder Ashlyn Badea, the company has positioned itself as a third-space community hub with recurring programming (Cider Fest, Bark at SPARK, Latinas Forever, weekly library story time) and partnerships with UCSF, SF Public Library, Playworks, Muttville, and SF Animal Care & Control.
Revenue is generated across four streams: food and beverage sales from on-site vendors, one-time venue rental and event hosting fees, mini golf tee time bookings at Stagecoach Greens, and catering services delivered on-site and off-site across the Bay Area. Pricing is modular and event-driven: event space rentals range from $10 to $40 depending on space, while signature events like the San Francisco Fall Cider Fest use tiered ticketing from $20 designated driver passes to $500 VIP alcove reservations. Catering is quote-based with named enterprise clients including Marriott Hotel, Y Combinator, SF General, Stern Grove, and the Golden State Warriors. Marketing is primarily organic and event-driven through Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Eventbrite, and community partnerships, with earned media in publications such as The Infatuation, Eater SF, and the San Francisco Standard.
The company is privately held with 13 employees and no disclosed funding rounds. Strategic emphasis is on geographic expansion (San José in 2026), deepening the food truck vendor network as a small-business launchpad, and scaling the catering business beyond the Bay Area's flagship venue. The underlying technology is operational rather than digital: the rotating vendor platform, event management ticketing, and venue ledger are the core systems, with no proprietary software product or AI infrastructure in evidence.
SPARK Social SF firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SPARK Social SF
- Legal name
- SPARK Social SF
- Website
- https://sparksocialsf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SPARK Social SF operates an open-air food truck park and community event space in San Francisco's Mission Bay, serving families, pet owners, foodies, and corporate groups through rotating food trucks, bars, reservable event spaces, mini golf, and Bay Area catering, with a second location opening in San José in Spring 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SPARK Social SF industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Truck Park and Event Venue
- NAICS
- Mobile Food Services (722330), Food Service Contractors (722310), Food Services and Drinking Places (722)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pop-Up Food Vendors (Temporary Stands/Markets) (THAFAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mobile / On-Site Catering (Food Trucks for Events, Pop-Ups) (THAFAIAJ), Off-Premise / Mobile Event Catering (THAHAKAD), Food Festivals & Culinary Events (Ticketed Tastings, Pop-ups) (THAJAGAL), Food, Drink & Culinary Community Festivals (Community-Led) (MPAGAEAF)
Keywords
Where SPARK Social SF is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
SPARK Social SF business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Food and Beverage Sales: Revenue from food trucks, bars (SIP Bar, Watering Hole Bar), and beer garden operations. Vendors operate on the property and presumably pay rent or a percentage of sales.
- Venue Rental and Event Hosting: Revenue from renting reservable event spaces including Fire Pits, The Alcoves, The Pavilion, Backstage, Porch, and Corner Cove for private events such as birthday parties, corporate mixers, and family celebrations.
- Mini Golf Operations: Stagecoach Greens mini golf course operated separately, generating revenue through tee time bookings. Located adjacent to SPARK Social SF in Mission Bay.
- Catering Services: On-site catering at SPARK parks and off-site catering across the Bay Area. Partners with 150+ food trucks to provide customized menus for corporate events, parties, and community gatherings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | San Francisco Fall Cider Fest 2025 - Ticket tiers |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | San Francisco Fall Cider Fest 2023 - Ticket tiers |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Event Space Rental Fees |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
SPARK Social SF product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SPARK Social SF operates an open-air food truck park in San Francisco's Mission Bay, hosting 150+ rotating food trucks alongside full-service bars (SIP Bar, Watering Hole Bar) and reservable private event spaces. The company also offers on-site and off-site catering services and operates adjacent entertainment concepts including Stagecoach Greens mini golf and 1AMSF art workshops.
Product overview
SPARK Social SF operates as a multi-venue outdoor food and events destination, with its flagship location in San Francisco's Mission Bay and a second location launching in San José in Spring 2026. The core offering centers on rotating food truck lineups (150+ vendors), full-service bars (SIP Bar, Watering Hole Bar), and reservable event spaces (Fire Pits, Alcoves, Pavilion, SPARK Bus). Adjacent and sister offerings include Stagecoach Greens (18-hole mini golf), 1AMSF (spray painting workshops), and comprehensive catering services for on-site and off-site events throughout the Bay Area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Food Truck Park Open-air food truck park hosting 150+ rotating third-party food trucks, open to the public for casual dining and socializing in San Francisco's Mission Bay.
- Full-Service Bars On-site full-service bars (SIP Bar and Watering Hole Bar) offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to park visitors and event attendees.
- Private Event Venue Rentals Reservable event spaces including Fire Pits, Alcoves, and Pavilion for private parties, corporate events, weddings, and other celebrations.
- Catering Services Catering services delivered on-site at SPARK Social SF or off-site at customer locations, leveraging the venue's rotating food truck vendor network for group meals.
- Stagecoach Greens Mini Golf Adjacent mini golf entertainment offering operating alongside the SPARK Social SF venue, available to park visitors and event attendees.
- 1AMSF Art Workshops Adjacent art workshop offering operating alongside the SPARK Social SF venue, providing creative activities for visitors and event groups.
Quantifiable outcome
- Hundreds of small businesses launched or grown through the SPARK platform, with some (Señor Sisig, Al Pastor Papi, Mestizo) progressing from food trucks to brick-and-mortar locations
Companies that use SPARK Social SF
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SPARK Social SF technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SPARK Social SF partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Creekside DistrictcoreSPARK Social San Jose will join the Creekside family in downtown San Jose near SAP Center and Diridon Station. Creekside is an emerging district already hosting Local Color, Good Karma Bikes, Creekside Art Corridor, and Hapa's Outdoor Beer Garden. SPARK Social joins as the flagship food and entertainment anchor.
- Local ColorminorLocal Color is a nonprofit arts organization and existing Creekside District anchor that will share community-focused programming synergy with SPARK Social San Jose.
- Good Karma BikesminorGood Karma Bikes is a nonprofit and existing Creekside District anchor focused on community wellness and cycling, sharing community-focused values with SPARK Social.
- LUMA Hotel SFminorLUMA Hotel San Francisco partnered with SPARK Social for the San Francisco Fall Cider Fest, offering exclusive discounted rates for attendees staying for the event weekend.
- 30+ Craft Cider MakersminorOver 30 craft cider makers participate in the annual San Francisco Fall Cider Fest, showcasing unique blends and seasonal releases including honey-sage, sour blood orange, and passionfruit flavors.
- ParklabcoreParklab is the development partner behind SPARK Social SF, having collaborated to transform vacant lots into thriving social spaces in SF's Mission Bay neighborhood. Parklab also developed adjacent Parklab Gardens and Stagecoach Greens mini golf.
- LMNOP DesigncoreLMNOP Design created the physical space and aesthetic design of SPARK Social SF, designing the venue to inspire connection with great food, fun, and community.
- Stagecoach GreenscoreStagecoach Greens is San Francisco's only interactive outdoor miniature golf course featuring 18 holes themed around the city's Boom and Bust history. Located just across the street from SPARK Social SF, it provides an integrated entertainment experience for visitors.
- Playworks Northern CaliforniaminorPlayworks Northern California hosts its annual Spark Play community event at SPARK Social SF, featuring free community recess, games, raffles, and photo booth for families and children.
- SF Public Library Mission Bay BranchminorSF Public Library Mission Bay Branch hosts weekly Family Story Time at SPARK Social SF's Corner Cove location, bringing early literacy programming to the community gathering space.
- TogetherSF MobilizeminorCommunity cleanup events co-organized with TogetherSF Mobilize, where SPARK provides fire pit reservations and UCSF provides lunch coupons for volunteer participants.
- SF Animal Care & ControlminorSFACC partners with SPARK for Paws for a Cause events featuring pet-friendly activities, vendor booths, and photo opportunities supporting animal welfare.
- International Veterinary Outreach (IVO)minorIVO partnered with SPARK Social SF for the Bark at SPARK: Summer Pawty 2025 event, bringing veterinary outreach services to pet owners.
- 150+ Food Truck NetworkcoreSPARK Social partners with over 150 food trucks across the Bay Area for catering services and park operations, enabling diverse culinary offerings and supporting local micro-entrepreneurs. Notable partners include Señor Sisig, Al Pastor Papi, Mestizo, and many others.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SPARK Social SF competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Steelcraft: Southern California-based container food hall and beer garden concept with rotating vendors and outdoor seating. Closely mirrors SPARK's rotating-truck, multi-vendor outdoor destination model.
- Chomp Chomp Food Truck Park: Established food truck park concept with multiple locations featuring rotating vendors, bars, and event spaces. Closely comparable format to SPARK Social SF and San José expansion.
- The Yard: Mission Bay-adjacent outdoor food, drink, and event venue serving a similar Bay Area consumer and corporate-event audience. Closest geographic and format competitor to SPARK Social SF.
- Downtown Container Park: Las Vegas open-air retail, dining, and entertainment destination built from shipping containers. Comparable as a mixed outdoor food/entertainment destination with rotating vendors.
- SoMa StrEat Food Park: San Francisco food truck park and predecessor to SPARK Social SF, operated by the same founding team before SPARK. Directly comparable in format (rotating food trucks, event spaces) and target customer.
- Smorgasburg LA: Large weekly outdoor food market featuring rotating vendors, breweries, and curated culinary programming. Closely comparable to SPARK's rotating food-truck events and festival programming.
- Public Market Emeryville: Bay Area food hall offering rotating vendors, bars, and event programming in the East Bay. Comparable in operating model (multi-vendor curated food destination) though indoors rather than open-air.
Regional players
- Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture: San Francisco waterfront venue hosting food festivals, cultural events, and private rentals. Competes for the same festival-goer, corporate-event, and tourism segments that SPARK targets.
- Eat Real Festival: Bay Area food festival organization producing ticketed culinary events similar to SPARK's Cider Fest and signature programming. Comparable in ticketed event format and food-truck vendor curation.
Emerging players
- Burger Beast: Adjacent culinary event and food-truck curation specialist in the Florida market with rotating vendor events. Comparable as an event-driven food-truck platform targeting festival and catering segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SPARK Social SF social profiles
Digital presenceSPARK Social SF financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SPARK Social SF leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
SPARK Social SF subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
SPARK Social SF funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SPARK Social SF M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SPARK Social SF
What does SPARK Social SF do?
SPARK Social SF operates an open-air food truck park in San Francisco's Mission Bay, hosting 150+ rotating food trucks alongside full-service bars (SIP Bar, Watering Hole Bar) and reservable private event spaces. The company also offers on-site and off-site catering services and operates adjacent entertainment concepts including Stagecoach Greens mini golf and 1AMSF art workshops.
Is SPARK Social SF a public or private company?
SPARK Social SF is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SPARK Social SF founded?
SPARK Social SF was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SPARK Social SF based?
SPARK Social SF is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does SPARK Social SF make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Food and Beverage Sales are the primary driver. The others are venue Rental and Event Hosting, mini Golf Operations and catering Services.
Who are SPARK Social SF's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Steelcraft, Chomp Chomp Food Truck Park, The Yard, Downtown Container Park, SoMa StrEat Food Park, Smorgasburg LA and Public Market Emeryville. Regional players are Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture and Eat Real Festival. Burger Beast is listed as an emerging player.
Does SPARK Social SF have an API?
No public API is recorded for SPARK Social SF.
What industry is SPARK Social SF in?
SPARK Social SF's product category is Food Truck Park and Event Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAHAE, Pop-Up Food Vendors (Temporary Stands/Markets), with a secondary code of THAFAIAJ, Mobile / On-Site Catering (Food Trucks for Events, Pop-Ups). Its NAICS code is 722330 and its SIC code is 5810.