Broadway closure hits Burlingame hard

However, the effects of the closed intersection at Broadway and California Drive Wednesday and Thursday were felt by the business community.

After Pacific Gas and Electric investigated a power outage at the intersection Tuesday evening, petroleum product not used by the utility was found in the underground utility vault at a gas station on the northwest corner of the intersection with California Drive. A hazardous material crew contracted by PG&E has been on-site since Wednesday and is continuing to remove the petroleum product as it enters the vault. PG&E is remaining on-site and is supporting the city, county and state to determine the source, according to a spokesperson for the utility.

All businesses affected by the power outage are up and running again, but only by the help of 14 generators installed Wednesday and Thursday, sustaining power to 127 customers. The city said the generators will be running until they are no longer needed.

Businesses are able to keep their doors open, but the road closures on the main thoroughfare off Highway 101 significantly diluted both car and pedestrian traffic for nearly two days.

The usual lunch rush at Yangon, a Burmese and Mandarin restaurant located at 1136 Broadway, was nonexistent Thursday afternoon due to the street’s closure still in place. Only one individual patronized the restaurant in the first three hours after it opened Thursday afternoon, owner Frank Wang said.

Despite the slow business, Wang said closing up for the day wasn’t an option. 

“I can’t afford to, I have employees to pay, and they need to be paid,” Wang said. 

In addition to Wang and his wife, three employees were working Thursday, anxious for someone to come in the door. Wang estimated they would lose approximately 85% of revenue for the day. 

“We have power, but the street closures, no one can park or they don’t think we’re open,” Wang said. 

Across California Drive, Maverick Jack’s showed little life behind the nearby caution tape that intended to block off the intersection but consequently made the restaurant appear closed. 

At 1:30 p.m. Thursday, only two parties were seated at the popular restaurant next to the railroad tracks. 

Owner Michaél Mallie said the business was likely losing 70%-80% of its usual revenue, as well. 

Maverick Jack’s power remained out far longer than other businesses down Broadway; while other business’ power went in and out Tuesday and Wednesday, Maverick Jack’s stayed out consistently. 

Staff had to haul all of its perishable product to the business’ San Mateo location early Wednesday morning, only to return it all later that afternoon once a generator was installed for the business. 

Most businesses on Broadway that lost power have incurred a burden of costs due to food spoilage and paying staff without streams of revenue. Many also had to hire private electricians to accompany PG&E workers as they installed generators, John Kevranian, former president of Broadway’s Business Improvement District, said. 

“My concern is how do we get our businesses to be back in business and start making money to pay off the costs they’ve incurred,” Kevranian said. 

Though Kevranian retired from his former position, which he maintained for over a decade, in November 2025, he has stepped up while the district looks for a new leader. The crisis has hit Kevranian hard, who said everyone running a business on Broadway has become his friend.

“It’s devastating,” Kevranian said. “It’s one of the worst things we’ve seen on Broadway in many years.” 

As the main point of contact with PG&E, Kevranian has worked to keep business owners as informed as possible. 

While Mallie said he doesn’t think it’s fair to put any blame on any particular party because “life happens,” he did wish there was more communication from PG&E or other agencies about what they’re finding out regarding the hazardous material. 

As of Thursday afternoon, the petroleum substance was still being removed as it entered the vault. 

The traffic lights at Broadway and California Drive were back on around 5 p.m. Thursday, and streets will subsequently reopen as possible, with likely minimal closures around the gas station’s location.

That same intersection also had trouble over the weekend when the Caltrain gate was stuck down for about 10 hours Saturday.