Former Restaurant Space for
For Sale
Contact for pricing
1039 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Former restaurant location along El Camino Real that can work for an owner-user or investor seeking flexible reuse.
Property Size5,421 SF
Price / SF$645.64
Days on Market57
Property Features for 1039 El Camino Real
General Information
Standard status
Active
Size
5,421 SF
Class
C
Property subtype
Retail
Zoning
CL00C3
Building Details
Year Built
1950
Stories
1
Units
1
Listing Agency:
Wilbur Properties
Listed By:
Anne Wilbur · License #00823559
Source:
Crexi
Added: Jun 19
Changed: Aug 10
Last Checked: Aug 13 at 5:14PM
Displayed information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All listing content including descriptions, pricing, images are the copyrighted material of Wilbur Properties
Investment Insights
Based on property information with market context.
This offering is a former restaurant space previously operated as Yum Cha Palace. The property is presented as commercial real estate for sale, with a setup suited to foodservice use and potential conversion for a new operator, subject to applicable approvals.
Located along El Camino Real in Menlo Park, California, the site benefits from the visibility and accessibility associated with a major retail corridor. The property’s address at 1039 El Camino Real positions it within a well-known commercial area, making it relevant for buyers evaluating location-driven reuse.
For owner-users and investors, the space offers a starting point for continuing restaurant operations or pursuing alternative concepts that fit the existing improvements. The public remarks also reference future development opportunities, which may be considered by buyers evaluating longer-term site options. Prospective parties should review the property’s current condition and applicable permitting requirements to confirm the best fit for their intended use.
Located along El Camino Real in Menlo Park, California, the site benefits from the visibility and accessibility associated with a major retail corridor. The property’s address at 1039 El Camino Real positions it within a well-known commercial area, making it relevant for buyers evaluating location-driven reuse.
For owner-users and investors, the space offers a starting point for continuing restaurant operations or pursuing alternative concepts that fit the existing improvements. The public remarks also reference future development opportunities, which may be considered by buyers evaluating longer-term site options. Prospective parties should review the property’s current condition and applicable permitting requirements to confirm the best fit for their intended use.
Key Highlights
- Former restaurant space along El Camino Real in Menlo Park
- Former Yum Cha Palace location
- Year built: 1950
Financial Insights
Estimated NOI and Cap Rate
NOI = area × lease_rate × (100 − vacancy) / 100 × (1 − expense_ratio). Net Operating Income — what the owner takes home each year before mortgage payments and income tax. Effective rent (asking rent minus vacancy losses) minus operating costs (taxes, insurance, maintenance, management).
NOI / Yr
$116,240
Cap rate = NOI / list price × 100. Capitalization rate — annual return on a fully cash purchase, before financing. NOI divided by price. Higher means more income per dollar invested, but usually also more risk or older condition. 5–8% is typical for stabilized commercial property; double digits often signal distressed deals.
Cap Rate
3.32%
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates
Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality.
Typical U.S. stable-market ranges:
Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+)
Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand)
Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically)
Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher)
Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk)
Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5%
Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5%
Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term
Rules of thumb:
Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%).
Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C.
Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI.
Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$2,324,800
$2.3M
Cap Rate 7%
$1,660,571
$1.7M
Cap Rate 9%
$1,291,556
$1.3M
Market Conditions
NOI Build-Up for 5,421 SF
Vacancy — income lost from leasable area expected to sit empty during the year, subtracted from gross rent.
EGI (Effective Gross Income) — gross rent minus vacancy losses, the realistic income before paying operating costs.
OpEx (Operating Expenses) — recurring costs to operate the property (property tax, insurance, utilities, maintenance, management); excludes financing and capital improvements.
NOI (Net Operating Income) — income a property generates after operating costs but before financing and taxes.
Gross rent
$162.6K $30.00/SF
− Vacancy
−$7.6K −$1.41/SF
EGI
$155.0K $28.59/SF
− OpEx
−$38.7K −$7.15/SF
NOI
$116.2K $21.44/SF
Area
San Mateo County, CA
Vacancy
4.70%
Lease Rate
$30.00 /SF/Yr
Expense Ratio
25.00%
Simulate Cap Rate and NOI
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates
Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality.
Typical U.S. stable-market ranges:
Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+)
Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand)
Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically)
Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher)
Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk)
Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5%
Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5%
Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term
Rules of thumb:
Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%).
Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C.
Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI.
Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$2,324,800
Cap Rate 7%
$1,660,571
Cap Rate 9%
$1,291,556
Alternative Uses
Best Use
Specialty Retail
$1.66M
$1.45M – $1.94M
NOI $116,240 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 3.32%
Second Best
—
—
no second resolved use
Theoretical Best
Warehouse
$4.31M
$3.77M – $5.02M
NOI $301,418 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 8.61%
Zoning and permitted uses should be independently verified with authorities.
Property Analytics
Property Profile
Current Use
Location Intelligence
Trade Area within ½ mile
2,968
Businesses Nearby
Under-served
Demand for This Use
Explore this area
Business Placement
Demographics for 94025, CA
42,354
Population
16,259
Households
2.6
Avg Household Size
39
Median Age
73%
College-Educated
94%
High-School Grad
8.4 sq mi
ZIP Area
5,042
Density / Sq Mi
$215,871
Median Household Income
$98,160
Median Earnings
$3,169
Median Rent
$2,000,001
Median Home Value
Market
Vacancy Rate% for Retail in West region
Questions? Ask Rey
Realmo’s AI knows this listing — price, zoning, demand, history. Ask anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of property is this?
Conventional restaurant - Former restaurant location along El Camino Real that can work for an owner-user or investor seeking flexible reuse.
Where is this conventional restaurant located?
The property is located at 1039 El Camino Real Menlo Park, CA.
What is the asking price?
The asking price for this property is $3,500,000.
What are key features of this property?
This property features: Former restaurant space along El Camino Real in Menlo Park; Former Yum Cha Palace location; Year built: 1950
