By David Caraccio
The founder of sustainable footwear brand Rothy’s is moving his family from San Francisco, California, to Texas, where he will renovate a 100-year-old house in the suburbs of San Antonio.
That means Roth Martin, an heir of the prominent de Young dynasty, and his wife Emily have put their refurbished 1908 mansion in the tony Pacific Heights neighborhood on the market for nearly $15.5 million, according to a representative of Compass real estate firm.
“We are redoing a 100-year-old house,” Roth Martin, who continues to work as Rothy’s chief of creative, said in a statement. “It was the next chapter and something that will be fun for the two of us.”
Emily’s great-grandfather built the Texas home that the couple will be remodeling.
The gorgeous San Francisco home for sale at 2312 Pacific Ave. spans four levels and 7,200 square feet. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom estate was redesigned by a renowned team consisting of AD100, designer Steven Volpe, architect Houman Sharif and Clayton Timbrell Construction, according to Compass.
The Martins bought the property in 2020 for $8.75 million, according to property tax records.
Luxury home sales surge
Ultra luxury homes in San Francisco have made a comeback this year, Compass listing agent Neal Ward said.
“San Francisco is a boom and bust city — we always have been,” Ward said in a statement. “From January through March, sales of San Francisco homes priced at $10 million and up hit $191 million, compared with $64 million during the same period in 2024. More buyers are out there wanting to purchase and feeling good about what’s happening here.”
The Martins’ home is distinguished by 11-foot ceilings, white oak floors and a grand foyer with a sweeping staircase.
The chef’s kitchen pops with Calacatta marble and rift-cut white oak cabinetry, plus a center island and dining area that opens out to a wonderful garden.
The primary suite on the upper level includes a Danube limestone bath and dual walk-in closets.
Sky lights brighten the top floor rooms, where a media lounge, two additional bedrooms and a solarium with access to a terrace are found.
Down at the ground level, there’s a gym, guest suite and three-car garage.
Extensive renovation
The Martins took on an extensive upgrade to make the Pacific Heights home contemporary and their own. The work included:
▪ Taking the entire interior down to shell across all four floors;
▪ Improving mechanical elements, such as HVAC, plumbing, eectrical, lighting, water heaters and appliances;
▪ Installing new doors with raised heights;
▪ Inserting windows throughout, except in the sunroom;
▪ Creating moldings and baseboards;
▪ Re-doing the hardwood floors;
▪ Enhancing lighting, automation, security alarm and cameras;
▪ Remodeling the kitchen, cabinetry and appliances;
▪ Rebuilding fireplaces utilizing herringbone brick and 18th-century mantles;
▪ Putting in a new primary staircase.
An elevator serving all four floors was already in place.
“The distinguished residence strikes the perfect balance between sophisticated entertaining and comfortable family living just moments from Fillmore Street amenities, prestigious schools, and iconic San Francisco parks,” the official property listing states.
Roth Martin is a great-great grandson of M.H. de Young, co-founder of the San Francisco Chronicle and namesake of the famous museum. Martin’s San Francisco-based company gained prominence for its eco-friendly approach to crafting shoes from recycled plastic bottles and 3D-knitting technology to minimize waste.
This story was originally published April 8, 2025 at 10:14 AM.
David Caraccio is a video producer for The Sacramento Bee who was born and raised in Sacramento. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and longtime journalist who has worked for newspapers as a reporter, editor, page designer and digital content producer.
