Founded by two Sicilian families of fishermen who immigrated in the U.S. in the 1800s, Sabella & LaTorre is among the four longstanding crab stands situated within the bustling Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

Since 1927, this beloved institution has drawn flocks of tourists and locals alike for their speciality in dungeness crab. However the stand is facing its most daunting challenge yet: Survival.

The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated legacy restaurants throughout the city. Tom Sabella and Gina LaTorre, 59 and 55, have watched their revenue plunge 70% and as a result, they have laid off 30 of their 36 employees as they cling onto the business that their families have left them.

In addition, they face the uncertainty that the younger generation of the Sabellas and LaTorres will continue the business once Tom and Gina retire. This may be their last stand.