This Pot Growhouse Is Now a Venture Capital HQ—and You Can Buy It

Written by Liz LindqwisterPublished May 20, 2023 • 7:00am

Folding glass doors and foliage sit on the ground floor of 32 Heron St. in SoMa. | Open Homes Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty

From planting cannabis seeds to investing in seed-stage startups, this warehouse has seen it all.

A 3,102-square-foot building in San Francisco’s South of Market—dubbed “The Growhouse”—was put on the market this week for $3.5 million. The space was recently redesigned to accommodate the hybrid work-residential lifestyle of its tenant, Darling Ventures, but the warehouse had its origins in the pot business.

The space’s previous owners had used it to grow what Darling Ventures tactfully refers to as “medicinal plants.”

“We kept the name ‘The Growhouse’ but did a major pivot in business model to now supporting the growth of startups,” Darling wrote on its website. “It is a beautiful and dynamic space with a fun history.”

Darling Ventures is located at 32 Heron St. | Open Homes Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty

The Growhouse was built in 1924, at a time when SoMa bustled with factories and warehouses as the city’s center for blue-collar workers. The property, located at 32 Heron St., is in a particularly storied section of the neighborhood, across the street from lauded gallery Heron Arts, down the block from kink emporium Mr. S Leather and around the corner from the historic San Francisco Galvanizing Works, which has recently been converted to housing.

It’s also in the center of the Leather and LGBTQ+ Cultural District, near famous queer nightlife spots like the Lone Star and the Powerhouse.

Ground floor amenities include a wet bar, conference rooms and more office space. | Open Homes Photography for Sotheby’s International Realty

The Growhouse’s ground floor operates as a work level, recently renovated to include private offices and conference rooms. The owners even added a wet bar to take the edge off long work days. The upstairs level consists of residential space, including two bedrooms, which the listing says are conveniently separate.

Other fun perks include heated floors, folding glass doors and a private view terrace—but maybe not so private that you can cultivate your own crop of sativa.

The property is listed by Sotheby’s Realty by Mary Lou Castellanos and David Parry. Darling Ventures founder and warehouse owner Daniel Darling was contacted for comment but did not respond by publication time.