Sydna Konstin, a third-generation proprietor of the historic John's Grill restaurant in San Francisco, has died suddenly in Greece at the age of 41. Her family confirmed her death, citing heart failure as the cause.
Konstin, who had been living in Athens, was co-owner of John's Grill, a 118-year-old establishment in Union Square. The restaurant, known for its steaks, cocktails, and significant role in Dashiell Hammett's novel “The Maltese Falcon,” has long been a gathering place for politicians, journalists, and literary figures. It is particularly famous for its large Election Day block parties, where free food and wine are served to thousands of attendees.
John's Grill was established in 1908 and purchased in the 1960s by Sydna's grandfather, Gus Konstin, a Greek immigrant. Under his ownership, the restaurant became a celebrated noir hotspot frequented by influential individuals.
Konstin's family described her as a joyful and warm hostess who contributed to the restaurant's vibrant atmosphere. Her brother, John Jr., noted in her obituary that she "brought people together and made everyone feel better just by being there." A family spokesperson described her as "the bubbles in the champagne," expressing pride in her role in the family business. Her father, John Konstin, shared that she "had a smile that could quiet your worries, a heart that always found room for someone else, and a way of making every person she met feel like they mattered."
At the time of her death on June 26, Konstin was working in real estate. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area but had relocated to Greece.