Growing Up on Cortland: Pizza Express’ Paul Halteh’s Family Legacy

Paul Halteh represents the second generation of a family deeply rooted in Bernal Heights’ business community. In this interview, Paul shares his family’s journey from the Middle East to San Francisco, their entrepreneurial ventures, and his connection to the neighborhood where he raises his children.

Let’s start with a little background about your family. When did they come to Bernal and start there?

My parents moved to the United States in 1979. My mother was born in Bethlehem, Palestine, and my father was born in Jordan. They met here in America. They moved to Bernal Heights in 1983 and opened Pay Little.

Pay Little is at the former location of what’s now the SF Tequila Shop, correct? Have your parents been in retail, or was this a new venture?

Correct. It was a completely new venture for them. As newcomers to a foreign country, they didn’t know much about jobs or career paths. They figured they could save enough money to buy a business and build from there.

Your family has expanded beyond that initial store. You have the pizza restaurant, and your cousin has the Seafood Station. How did you progress from one store to multiple businesses?

My uncle has the Seafood Station. My father sold Pay Little to my uncle Sam, who owns the restaurant next door. My dad then opened another business in Potrero Hill by the hospital on Hampshire Street. That was the third location because they initially opened one by Golden Gate Park off Cabrillo. My dad and his brothers started there together; then, my dad branched off to open Pay Little in Bernal. When my Uncle Sam was old enough to take over, my dad sold it to him and opened the third store on Hampshire.

How did they manage to expand into other businesses?

They focused primarily on buying property in Bernal Heights. They worked hard, saved money, and invested in real estate, which became their real business strategy. Coming from the Middle East, property ownership was extremely important to them. In 1948, the creation of Israel forced my grandfather out of Palestine. He lost his land, his house, and everything he had. So when my parents moved here, their priorities were clear: open a business, save money, and buy property.

Paul’s Dad and the Twins outside Pay Little

How old were you with your twin brother and dad in that photo?

That was around 1987 or 1988. My dad is selling a refrigerator in that picture. When he came to this country, he went to school to learn refrigeration. He thought, “Everyone needs refrigerators, so let me learn how to fix them.” He’d buy broken refrigerators, repair them, and sell them out front on Cortland Avenue.

Fast-forward to today—you’re the second generation of entrepreneurs. When did you launch Pizza Express?

I bought Pizza Express 13 years ago. The former owner, Ramesh, was like a brother to my father. He was from Nepal and owned Little Nepal restaurant down the street. Anytime he had an issue, he’d call my dad, who would immediately help fix whatever needed fixing, or they’d hang out together. After Ramesh passed away, his wife asked my dad to help manage the restaurant because she didn’t know what to do. I had just graduated from college, and my dad asked if I could manage it. While running the business, I realized I loved it and wanted to continue. So, I asked her if she wanted to sell it, she agreed, and I bought it.

You grew up in Bernal Heights and worked in your parents’ stores on the corridor. What does Bernal Heights mean to you?

This is home. It’s a community that we helped build and remain a part of. We have connections to both the old Bernal – people who lived here a long time ago – and with people who’ve moved here in the last five to ten years. The neighborhood has gone through significant changes.

It was pretty challenging when your parents initially moved in.

It was very challenging. Not many people wanted to buy in Bernal back then. Now, you can’t afford to buy in Bernal – that’s a different story.

I was researching and found that in 2014, the National Association of Realtors designated Bernal Heights as the #1 Hottest Neighborhood.

It’s a great neighborhood – probably one of the most neighborly in San Francisco. Everyone knows each other, there are many families, it’s safe, and parks are everywhere. The apartment we live in now is the same one I lived in as a baby. I lived there until about fourth grade, when we moved to Brisbane so we could attend schools in San Mateo County. We still kept the businesses here but lived in Brisbane. After getting married, we found that our old apartment had opened up, so we moved back in. It’s nice raising my kids in the same apartment where I lived when they were their age. It’s like déjà vu.

Paul plays Santa at Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center

Tell us about running the pizzeria for 13 years. What’s that like?

It’s hard work, but it’s great, fun, and rewarding. I care for my employees because they do a great job when they’re happy. I pay them wages they can live on. When running a business, every day brings something different – you must be prepared for anything.

I can attest that your product is great. We order takeout about once a week. It’s my daughter’s second favorite pizza. She grew up in Berlin, Germany, and for some reason, the pizzeria there still ranks as her number one, but I think that’s just a childhood memory.

Number two in the world is good – I’ll take that!

We love your product and appreciate your friendly staff. Looking at the corridor, what do you hope to see happen there?

First and foremost, I want to help build a stronger community bond in this neighborhood. That’s always been Bernal Heights’ character – community, community. Everyone knew everyone for as long as I can remember. It’s a little different now, but you knew everyone on your block growing up. My wife was born and raised on the same block near Healthy Spirits. Her family owned that liquor store.

I understand you met your wife on Cortland.

Exactly! Ironically, she would work at her family’s liquor store in the early 2000s before we met, while I’d work at my uncle’s Pay Little. Our families were very close; my parents would walk to Lizzy’s family store to say hello to Shukry (Lizzy’s grandfather) and Lizzy’s aunts. However, we never crossed paths until her cousins started working at my pizzeria. She would come to visit them, and that’s how we met. We liked each other, started dating, and a few years later, we married.

Paul Halteh’s story embodies the American immigrant experience and highlights the deep community ties that have defined Bernal Heights for generations. From his parents’ arrival from the Middle East in 1979 to establishing Pay Little in 1983, the Halteh family has built a legacy of entrepreneurship and community investment in the neighborhood.

The family’s business strategy—opening stores to generate income for property investment—was directly informed by their experiences of displacement in Palestine. This demonstrates how cultural history shapes economic decisions across generations. This approach allowed them to expand from a single corner store to multiple businesses along Cortland Avenue.

Paul’s acquisition of Pizza Express continues this family enterprise tradition and highlights the importance of personal connections in the Bernal Heights business community. His purchase of the restaurant from the widow of his father’s close friend, Ramesh, demonstrates how business relationships in the neighborhood often transcend mere economic transactions.

Perhaps most poignant is Paul’s full-circle journey—raising his children in the same apartment where he spent his early years. This physical connection to place mirrors the emotional and communal bonds the Halteh family maintains with both long-time residents and newcomers to Bernal Heights.

As the neighborhood has transformed from a once “dicey” area to a highly desirable real estate market, Paul remains committed to preserving the close-knit community atmosphere that has characterized Bernal Heights. His business philosophy emphasizes fair wages and employee well-being, recognizing that maintaining the human element is essential to business success and community strength.

The serendipitous meeting with his future wife—whose family owned a competing liquor store blocks away—further illustrates how deeply intertwined this community’s business and personal relationships are. Their story is a testament to Bernal Heights’ character as a place where families put down roots, build businesses, and create connections that span generations.

Calendar – Bernal Heights and Beyond