Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 2:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. | Business Building 218
Have you always wanted the inside scoop on what it takes to start a restaurant or bar in San Francisco? Now's your chance to hear about the F&B entrepreneurial journey from serial restaurant/bar entrepreneur, Karim Salgado. Karim is a successful entrepreneur willing to share her journey (good, bad, and haunted!) to opening and running several establishments in San Francisco. Come listed, ask questions, and become immersed in the world of San Francisco food and beverage!
Hosted by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative and Alumni Association, we are delighted to invite the larger SFSU LFCoB community to hear about how Karim Salgado became a serial restaurant entrepreneur, starting out with a double major in Criminal Justice and Sociology from SFSU in 2000. In this scheduled 'fire-side chat,' Karim will be speaking candidly about what it's like to open restaurants and bars in San Francisco. Listen to her stories, learn about the hyper-local issues facing F&B entrepreneurs in San Francisco, learn from her experiences and has questions.
Speaker Biography
Karim Salgado
Karim is co-owner of Legacy Bar which soft opened in March 2024 and officially in April 2024. It has consistently earned praise for its great drinks, friendly service, lively atmosphere and a fun neighborhood feel.
Karim Salgado is also a SFSU alum. She double majored and earned her degrees in Sociology and Criminal Justice from San Francisco State University in 2000, making her the first in her family to earn a college degree. Karim has been very generous to SFSU. She established two endowed scholarships at San Francisco State University in the Business and Literature Departments in honor of her loved ones to help support students economically.
Before opening her own business, Karim worked for several San Francisco based companies including, Wells Fargo Corp., the Gap, in their Loss Prevention Departments and U.S. Customs. In 2002, she went on to open her business on the UCSF campus. Karim has also volunteered and worked with several community organizations over the years.
As of recently she has served on the:
- Daly City Partnership Board of Directors (2023-2024)
- SFMTA Citizen Advisory Committee (2020-202)4
- San Francisco State University Honoree Doctorate Committee (2023)
- Western Neighborhoods Project Board of Directors (2020 - 2022)
Presently, she is a(n):
- Commissioner for the City of SF Dept. of Public Health (2024 to present.)
- Board member North Beach Business Association (2025 to present)
- SFSU-Foundation Board Member
- SFSU Alumni Hall of Fame Committee Member
- SFSU Alumni Relations Committee Member