Board committee backs renaming Mission Street in Excelsior for Elsie "LC" Tonelli

The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted Oct. 16 to send to the full Board a resolution to add the commemorative name “LC Tonelli Street” to Mission Street between Santa Rosa and Excelsior avenues, honoring Elsie Tonelli’s decades of service to the Excelsior neighborhood.

Supervisor Asha Safai (District 11), who sponsored the resolution, described Tonelli as “a pioneering businesswoman who owned and operated Central Drugstore for over 73 years,” noting she died Jan. 17 at age 96 and left a large extended family and long community ties. Safai said the naming would help address the underrepresentation of women among street honorees in San Francisco.

Family members filled the public‑comment lectern in support. Paul Tonelli, identified himself as one of Tonelli’s children and recounted the store’s history going back to about 1910 and the family’s stewardship across multiple generations. “Central Drugstore … has been a huge part of the Excelsior District,” he said. Other family speakers described Tonelli’s personal care for customers and long presence in the neighborhood.

Additional community speakers including longtime customers and neighborhood advocates voiced similar support, saying the commemorative name would recognize the store’s social and cultural role in the district.

After public comment, Safai closed with thanks to the family and community and Chair Myrna Melgar moved the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation. The clerk recorded unanimous committee support (Vice Chair Dean Preston, Member Peskin, Member Paskin, and Chair Melgar).

The resolution will next appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for Oct. 24.