San Francisco's Retail Scene

[craeg]

I suppose this thread was destined to get all faggy.

I want to hear more about the paparazzi who follow Tyra Banks around her New York loft that somehow relates to Los Angeles!

To quote mr garrison "Recently I came out and admitted I was a homosexual so now I can say the word "fag". On television, they usually don't allow "fag," but since I'm gay, it's okay. And with the new approval of the word "shit," I can now say: "Hey there, shi**y shi**y fag fag, shi**y shi**y fag fag, how do you do? Hey there, shi**y shi**y fag fag, shi**y shi**y fag fag, how do you do?"

http://www.southparkquotes.com/images/mrg.jpg

And to throw my faggy opinion into the ring, I shop in union SQ.
I can get there in 15 minutes from home.

*dont ban me, i just happened to catch this particular episode last night*

[blueberry]

That's a great point, and one well taken. When I say stuff like that, I guess I'm posing questions borne of a curiousity to see the bigger picture of how a great city like SF ticks. I can't say I'm fond of certain parts, but I'm honestly trying not presume anything - So thanks to you and SF_Eddo for not jumping up my ass like the others.

well when you makes claims like "union square doesn't even appeal to locals", that's a pretty hefty presumption. and an incorrect one at that.

[blueberry]

This week's SF Business Times has an article entitled "Sixth Street Revival". It says since 2003 14 new business have opened (and stayed open) on 6th between Market and Harrison, 3 more will open soon. Further it says there have been 35 facade and tenant improvement projects in the area and 50 more are underway. Four new retail leases have been singed in the past 2 months, 2 in storefronts that have been vacant for at least 5 years and one that has been vacant for four decades.

But, as the article concludes, "upgrading 6th St. remains a work in progress. Pawn shops still outnumber banks or credit unions or pizza joints and about 20 retail spaces remain vacant, with gritty metal gates pulled down tight. Half of those spaces are ready to lease, the rest require landlord imporvement to make them habitable."

Still, I didn't realize all this was happening there. It's good news, I think.

forget sixth street... what about mid-market between van ness and the SF center? that's the most conspicuous retail "blight" in SF, and the location simply doesn't warrant that. i don't mind the strip clubs or the tourist shops so much, it's just seeing so many vacant storefronts that are now homeless encampments.... so much potential.

:slob:

[fflint]

I suppose this thread was destined to get all faggy.
And now, this thread is blessed with the gentle ruminations of a sensitive artiste!

[dimondpark]

I suppose this thread was destined to get all faggy.
Not to worry, we'll get you a ball gown from Jessica McClintock too:yes:

union square can easily contend to be the most comprehensive and diverse downtown retail district in the nation.... moreso than Fifth Ave, Michigan Ave, or Rodeo Drive (which are heavily focused on high fashion and big department stores). seriously, a map is in order
This is a really overlooked aspect of Union Square.

[BTinSF]

forget sixth street... what about mid-market between van ness and the SF center? that's the most conspicuous retail "blight" in SF, and the location simply doesn't warrant that. i don't mind the strip clubs or the tourist shops so much, it's just seeing so many vacant storefronts that are now homeless encampments.... so much potential.

:slob:

Well, as other people have suggested in other threads, it IS possible to walk and chew gum at the same time. I share your concern about mid-Market and hold my very own supervisor, Chris Daly, responsible for the lack of progress in fixing things.

Mid-Market remains a work in progress
Two projects underway, but redevelopment plan stalled
San Francisco Business Times - June 23, 2006
by J.K. Dineen
When developer David Addington bought 1028 Market St. at the edge of the Civic Center last year, a Shorenstein executive asked him why he had made the investment. Addington told the seasoned veteran that the San Francisco neighborhood was ripe for change, that abutting districts were picking up (ed. note: i.e. 6th St.), that prosperity would inevitably sweep along the depressed blocks between Fifth Street and Upper Market.

"He said, 'I want you to know that is exactly why we bought our parking lot next door to your building in 1964," recalled Addington.

The message is that when it comes to the Civic Center and Mid-Market areas, change comes slowly. Despite national residential developers Crescent Heights, ArchstoneSmith, and Forest City buying up -- or bidding on -- development sites in the Mid-Market and Civic Center areas for more than two years, little dirt has moved. And with construction costs rising and the housing market softening, some question whether market conditions will once again drag down the rebirth of the neighborhood, which continues to battle with drug dealing and vagrancy.

Addington, who has an application in with the Planning Department to build 400 units at 1028 Market, said that until "San Francisco commits the resources to stop simple public nuisance crimes like urination and drug sales, it's going to be hard for somebody to look at new construction here."

"It costs as much to build at 1028 Market it does on Rincon Hill or SoMa," he said. "And I've got a lot tougher sell."

Government workers and condos
Thus far only two big projects in the greater Civic Center are under construction: The federal office building on Mission Street, now expected to be ready at the end of the year, and the SoMa Grand, a $120 million 246-unit development at 1160 Mission St. A joint venture of TMG and AGI, with Joie de Vivre Hospitality providing amenities, the highrise should be complete in 2007.

Alexis Wong, a principal with project developer AGI, said she remains convinced that the Mid-Market area is poised to become a super-vibrant arts and culture enclave, with an edgy, only-in-San Francisco appeal distinct from the emerging highrise neighborhoods closer to downtown.

"We are pioneering and we're excited to be first," said Wong. "We're going to bring a real interesting and lively touch to urban lifestyle."

Trinity Plaza moves forward
At 1177 Market St., Trinity Plaza, the mother of all Mid-Market projects, continues to work its way through the approval process. (See accompanying story.) The 1,900-unit development could head to the Planning Commission this summer.

Senior Planner Craig Nikitis said the Arquitectonica-designed development will have a "profound and beneficial effect on the area" with a large public plaza, outdoor dining, and a pedestrian cut-through linking Mission and Market streets. He said the combination of fritted and vision glass, combined with high-quality stone and metal finishes, would "be unlike anything seen in San Francisco." But he cautioned that the entire project would take years to construct.

SPUR president Jim Chappell said the city should do everything it can to fast-track the Trinity Plaza project.

"It will fundamentally change the dynamic there," he said. "Can you imagine 1,000 middle-class people walking downtown from 10th Street?"

Controversy over redevelopment
Meanwhile, the city's controversial Mid-Market plan continues to be stalled, and Supervisor Chris Daly, whose district includes Mid-Market, said it is dead unless more affordable housing and other community benefits are added.

"Given that the redevelopment area they are proposing is in my district, and I oppose it, it's not going anywhere," said Daly.

The plan would turn Market Street between Fifth and 10th streets into a redevelopment zone, and spur development by diverting tax money away from city coffers into a fund the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency would spend on infrastructure and an arts and entertainment district.

It would include provisions that allocate 50 percent of projected tax increment funds to the financing of affordable housing and an allocation of 20 percent of projected tax increment for arts uses that would generate approximately $40 million in funding.

Tenant activists, who have fought redevelopment for decades, argue that, with the level of investment activity in the neighborhood, there is no reason to hand control of the area over to redevelopment. Developers on the other hand, generally support the scheme, but also grumble that it offers little in terms of height or density bonuses.

Land use attorney Mary Murphy, who has a client with several Mid-Market development sites, said the plan "would be nice to see" but that probably won't make or break the revitalization of the neighborhood.

"The one thing about the Mid-Market plan is it doesn't really re-imagine the space very dramatically, there are not big height increases, no big bonuses to the plan," said Murphy, a partner with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher. "It's one of the reasons nobody is pushing very hard."

Addington said it "offers nothing that can't be gotten with a conditional use permit."

Tom Hart, an executive vice president with Shorenstein, which has a development site next to the Golden Gate Theater, agreed. "There has been no new investment in decades. People have been saying for decades, 'It's coming, it's coming,' but there have been no real incentives for developers to take a greater risk," he said.

Veteran booster hopeful
Still, attorney Jim Haas, who has been fighting to preserve and improve the historic Civic Center area for decades, is hopeful. He points to the new Conservatory of Music at 50 Oak St. and to Anschutz Entertainment Group's bid to take over and pump new life into the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. He also looks at Forest City Development's proposal to turn the soon-to-be-vacated federal building at 50 U.N. Plaza into apartments. He mentioned a dozen or so neighborhood housing developments that are in the pipeline.

Said Haas, "In five years there could be 3,000 or 4,000 people living here who are not here now."

J.K. Dineen covers real estate for the San Francisco Business Times.

But I also am very happy when a long-time down and out place like 6th St. shows signs of revival. As for mid-Market's vacant storefronts, I'm not sure what they portend. As the article above suggests, quite a few buildings along Market St. are now in the hands of developers (ed. note: like 1028 Market) or potential developers and, if the potential for successful development were to suddenly improve (such as if Daly changes his mind or when Trinity Plaza gets underway), some of those vacant storefronts could suddenly bloom with activity to convert the buildings to condos and the storefronts themselves to nice retail (with an artsy focus).

[DubbaG]

You guys are awesome.

[BTinSF]

To quote mr garrison . . . .

I would rather quote my avatar, "How would you like to . . . ." (Not you craeg--the person who said we were being f*ggy :previous: )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfiUBiaD6Lk&mode=related&search=

*Don't ban me either--I just stumbled onto this clip but it seemed such an appropriate response to assertions of f*gginess and I figured if they can show it on TV, I can use it on skyscraperpage*

[DubbaG]

Why is everyone so concerned about getting banned?

The mods done lost they minds!

[fflint]

^That's it, DubbaG, you're banned!

[DubbaG]

How bout them downtown ground floor retail tenents?

[SSLL]

Good for SF getting a Barney's flagship downtown!

[BTinSF]

I just discovered that Bell Market (a Kroger subsidiary) is closing their Post St. location (between Gough and Franklin). A few weeks ago, I noted that Albertson's is shuttering their nearly new store in the outer Richmond on Clement (presumeably as a result of the company recently being sold). I haven't checked up on the other newish Albertson's at Fulton and Masonic but I think it's stying open for now. And of course there's the more upscale places like Molly Stone's, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's as well as the discounters CostCo, Smart & Final and FoodsCo. But it sure seems like Safeway is eliminating the competition in mass market grocery sales in San Francisco, one by one. Anybody got any insight into this?

[DubbaG]

:previous:
I'm upset about the closing of Albertsons Outer Richmond Flagship Store since it's just down the street. Looks like I'm stuck with Calafoods, a shitty old Safeway and Trader Joe's.

[fflint]

Albertson's had an Outer Richmond flagship?

[BTinSF]

Albertson's had an Outer Richmond flagship?

It had a very nice outer Richmond store on Clement St adjacent to the Lincoln Park golf course. I think his use of the term "flagship" was a hint of sarcasm at our earlier "flagship" discussion.

[dimondpark]

Albertson's had an Outer Richmond flagship?
:haha:

Only in San Francisco.

[DubbaG]

Robin Williams' assistant shops there and once I even saw Sharron Stone gorging on Ringdings and Pepsi.

[dimondpark]

Although it probably goes without saying that the Albertsons' in more upscale areas then San Francisco have FAR higher sales and harder to find designer food products:D

[fflint]

I think his use of the term "flagship" was a hint of sarcasm at our earlier "flagship" discussion.
Nothing makes a joke less funny than an earnest explanation.

[BTinSF]

Nothing makes a joke less funny than an earnest explanation.

Well, I must say, I don't find the increasing lack of grocery shopping options a joke, so I'm not sorry at having thrown cold water on efforts to make one of it.

[BTinSF]

Although it probably goes without saying that the Albertsons' in more upscale areas then San Francisco have FAR higher sales and harder to find designer food products:D

I believe you meant "more upscale areas thAn San Francisco".

But some of us here in fantasyland don't believe in overpaying for basic food pruducts and, in the absence of a WalMart Supoercenter, which our betters on the Board of Supes have decided would be bad for us, we try to stick to a budget at regular grocery stores. But those are now also disappearing, which was my point in the first place. Soon the designer food showrooms like WholeFoods and the East Bay's own (Safeway) may be all there is.

[dimondpark]

I believe you meant "more upscale areas thAn San Francisco".

But some of us here in fantasyland don't believe in overpaying for basic food pruducts and, in the absence of a WalMart Supoercenter, which our betters on the Board of Supes have decided would be bad for us, we try to stick to a budget at regular grocery stores. But those are now also disappearing, which was my point in the first place. Soon the designer food showrooms like WholeFoods and the East Bay's own (Safeway) may be all there is.
I believe you meant "Wal Mart Supercenter":D

As far as cheap, I've found several cheaper grocery chains here such as FoodMaxx, Pak'N'Save etc.

One in particular, WinCo, is very cheap.

To find it is to love it.:crazy2:

[fflint]

Well, I must say, I don't find the increasing lack of grocery shopping options a joke, so I'm not sorry at having thrown cold water on efforts to make one of it.
Oh, dear Augusta, how could I have ever forgotten the vital Importance of Being Earnest?

[BTinSF]

As far as cheap, I've found several cheaper grocery chains here such as FoodMaxx, Pak'N'Save etc.

One in particular, WinCo, is very cheap.



We don't have any of those here in Boutique City as far as I know.

[BTinSF]

Oh, dear Augusta, how could I have ever forgotten the vital Importance of Being Earnest?

It IS a puzzle.

[blueberry]

Time to share some of my photos. Here are some Union Square shots that I took this weekend with my Nikon D50 camera. Enjoy!

http://static.flickr.com/77/180432326_770f30e7dc_o.jpg
View of the square from the top of Macy’s. There's an even better shot of the square that I neglected to visit (the elevator ride at the Westin St. Francis). Next time!

http://static.flickr.com/69/180432332_e6b16b2c2c_o.jpg
The square’s icon.

http://static.flickr.com/64/180432333_ace6488a94_o.jpg
Overview of the square… public galleries are a mainstay of the square.

http://static.flickr.com/76/180434509_146a8e22d0_o.jpg
A bustling square on a Saturday afternoon… the ultimate success of the new and improved square.

http://static.flickr.com/49/180432327_3b7c017018_o.jpg
Westin St. Francis as the classic backdrop.

http://static.flickr.com/64/180437582_2b453e4a7d_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/64/180436537_529a68d5d7_o.jpg
Maiden Lane, home to many of the city’s couture boutiques. YSL, Chanel, Escada, Marc Jacobs, etc reside here.

http://static.flickr.com/71/180436529_6b197f509b_o.jpg
Maiden Lane is also home to the city’s only Frank Lloyd Wright building, the Xanadu Gallery.

http://static.flickr.com/75/180436536_488c4749de_o.jpg
Neimen's – aka Needless Markups. ;)

http://static.flickr.com/47/180436533_acd7713dfe_o.jpg
Macy’s flagship – the largest in the nation outside of NYC’s Herald Sq. This is just the women’s department store. Men’s department is a separate building.

http://static.flickr.com/45/180434511_9d34bc0659_o.jpg
Emporio Armani took over a former banking hall… great example of re-use.

http://static.flickr.com/74/180437586_a35cf888c0_o.jpg
The massive Tiffany store on the square.

http://static.flickr.com/48/180436531_4f76f3cf51_o.jpg
The flagship Forever 21 store… located also in a former banking hall. Few cities have retail stores that occupy such grand historic architecture. I wanted to get a shot of the gilded, chandelier-ed interior but the security guard intervened.

http://static.flickr.com/47/180437584_6d1d460ef5_o.jpg
Virgin Megastore at the corner of Stockton and Market Street.

http://static.flickr.com/53/180437589_323fba8501_o.jpg
Stockton Street facing Market, home to the future Barney’s NY, Crate & Barrel, Ghirardelli, Cody’s Books, A/X, Benetton, Men’s Warehouse, and the Apple flagship. Quite an eclectic mix.

http://static.flickr.com/58/180445113_440136de2f_o.jpg
The much bally-hooed H&M flagship, first on the West Coast, with throngs of happy shoppers out front.

http://static.flickr.com/56/180443985_278e1d82e5_o.jpg
Dior, Loro Piano, Jessica McClintock, and Gucci.

http://static.flickr.com/69/180449974_f90e077f02_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/75/180449975_2b528dd58a_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/71/180445119_474410fc81_o.jpg
Three streetscape views of Grant Street, home to a bevy of stores like Bebe, Camper, Energie, Gimme Shoes, Ted Baker, Guess, agnes B., Sisley, Hermes, Tumi, Stuart Weitzman, Longchamp, Mont Blanc, Christophe, Swatch, Kenneth Cole, Coach, the flagship Banana Republic, and the future Juicy Couture store. All in just 3 short blocks.

http://static.flickr.com/52/180443981_2f2d42eeed_o.jpg
The Diesel flagship… the largest in North America. There is another Diesel store in the Castro which carries a smaller but more select merchandise.

http://static.flickr.com/77/180449976_cc41547acf_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/76/180442720_cf1f5aa71a_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/49/180442719_3621c50cdb_o.jpg
Three streetscape views of Post Street, the northern spine of Union Square. Home to two Sak’s Fifth Ave department stores, Tiffany, William & Sonoma flagship, Levi’s Nike, Armani, Burberry, Pink, Zara, Ann Taylor, Brookstone, Sak’s for Men, Shreve & Co., Max Mara, Bvlgari, Cartier, Piaget, Rockport, Gump’s (an SF institution), Talbots, Elizabeth Arden, Sharper Image, Northface, Brooks Bros., Diesel, GAP, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Versace.

http://static.flickr.com/77/180445115_a1a587bf63_o.jpg
Geary Street – the southern spine to Union Square and increasingly becoming home to new stores like G-star, Agent Provocateur, and Juicy Couture, just one block south of Post. Here you’ll find the Macy’s flagship, “reportedly struggling” Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, Neimen Marcus, Lacoste, Betsey Johnson, Georgiou, Prada, Bottega Veneta, Frette, etc.

http://static.flickr.com/75/180436530_60b20418e7_o.jpg
Where else can you find an FCUK store right across the street from a locally-grown indi-record store Rasputin? It’s all about variety here.

http://static.flickr.com/54/180437587_a7efe116bd_o.jpg
Last but not least, a shot of Union Square with the financial district backdrop. The quintessential visual of the quintessential downtown commercial hub.

:bowtie:

[BTinSF]

Really excellent shots. You should take them over and drop them on the heads of our LA friends who think they have anything to match Union Square in their burg.

[blueberry]

:previous:

haha, thanks. yeah, i don't understand what LABeauty's problem is. Nobody ever said SF had more couture options. But one thing's for sure, and that is SF has the largest and best urban, downtown shopping district outside of Manhattan (and possibly Chicago). and things are going to get better fairly soon.

[EastBayHardCore]

Such a quaint shopping district we have in our fishing village.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Man those pictures bring me back. A friend of mine and I were in the city in 2003, on our way back from a work/mission trip in Washington state, and decided to visit San Francisco. We took the BART from Berkeley to Union Square and looked like a couple of hobos because we'd been working in Yakima and didn't have any "clean clothes." Like morons, we walked into the Diesel jeans store and an Armani store (I think they were both near Union Square?) and were given dirty looks by the stores' employees (I was wearing a dirty pair of blue jeans and an old Ohio State sweatshirt). Come to think of it, I don't think any bums asked us for change.

I may or may not be drunk and rambling on just to hear myself talk.

[fflint]

Great shots of the Union Square shopping district--big, beautiful and well-lit.

[BTinSF]

:previous:

haha, thanks. yeah, i don't understand what LABeauty's problem is. Nobody ever said SF had more couture options. But one thing's for sure, and that is SF has the largest and best urban, downtown shopping district outside of Manhattan (and possibly Chicago). and things are going to get better fairly soon.

Truth is, I think it's better than Chicago but I don't want to start a fight with them too. But the problem with Chicago for me is that theirs seems to be in two parts--there are some stores like Marshall Field in the Loop, but most are over on Michigan Ave. Then there's the fact that in winter, at least, Michigan Ave. is a cold, harsh place. It a wide street and can seem kind of forbidding.

What those pics remind me of more than anything else outside of SF is SOHO. Some of them (like Grant St.) look very much like the main shopping streets in that part of Manhattan.

[BTinSF]

Great shots of the Union Square shopping district--big, beautiful and well-lit.

If only the city would allow a little NEON in Union Sq. :omg:

[DubbaG]

From beginning
http://static.flickr.com/77/180432326_770f30e7dc_o.jpg

To end.
http://static.flickr.com/54/180437587_a7efe116bd_o.jpg

[dimondpark]

Wow.
What an awesome set of pics-there's just no substitute for a strong downtown. No glass roofed mall or gussied up suburban street could ever compare. Nope.

[blueberry]

Man those pictures bring me back. A friend of mine and I were in the city in 2003, on our way back from a work/mission trip in Washington state, and decided to visit San Francisco. We took the BART from Berkeley to Union Square and looked like a couple of hobos because we'd been working in Yakima and didn't have any "clean clothes." Like morons, we walked into the Diesel jeans store and an Armani store (I think they were both near Union Square?) and were given dirty looks by the stores' employees (I was wearing a dirty pair of blue jeans and an old Ohio State sweatshirt). Come to think of it, I don't think any bums asked us for change.

I may or may not be drunk and rambling on just to hear myself talk.

:laugh:

yeah, that's a typical retail experience, and union square shops are no exceptions. i don't get why 20-something nobodies who work in some hip clothing store can actually think that they're somehow superior to a casually-dressed shopper. for all they know you could be the biggest-spending customer of the year.

:koko:

[San Frangelino]

Great Pics, Union Square is still my favorite shopping district in America having been to most the other big ones (albiet I am biased to things in the west)...Question?? Does Anyone have any pictures of Geary east of Grant ave leading toward the Ritz-Carlton Residences. And does anyone know if the grand floor will have any retail space to be made available. I remember that was the side of the street changing hands to a higher end shops. Has anyone leased the Paulines Books and Media space??

[blueberry]

Truth is, I think it's better than Chicago but I don't want to start a fight with them too. But the problem with Chicago for me is that theirs seems to be in two parts--there are some stores like Marshall Field in the Loop, but most are over on Michigan Ave. Then there's the fact that in winter, at least, Michigan Ave. is a cold, harsh place. It a wide street and can seem kind of forbidding.

What those pics remind me of more than anything else outside of SF is SOHO. Some of them (like Grant St.) look very much like the main shopping streets in that part of Manhattan.

thanks everyone for your comments. and as most locals know, those pics don't even represent all that's union square... i skipped the SF centre, Crocker Galleria, and Sutter Street.

BTinSF, hey, i'm with you there. i think Chicago is debatable - they do have the couture selection, and i will say that Michigan Ave is beautiful and more grand than Market Street could ever be. however, the retail stretches across a long distance and is not centralized, and the concentration does not include such a large variety of stores and uses. there are quite a few shiny malls that flank the Mag Mile but that's probably more the result of weather if anything. i like the fact that union square is actually a public square that's flanked by retail, restaurants, hospitality, galleries, etc etc.

Post and Grant are very SoHo-esque, indeed. in fact, much of downtown SF from the FiDi to the Tenderloin is the most Manhattan-esque urban fabric of any city in NA... ie, densely packed early-20th century midrises.

[blueberry]

Great Pics, Union Square is still my favorite shopping district in America having been to most the other big ones (albiet I am biased to things in the west)...Question?? Does Anyone have any pictures of Geary east of Grant ave leading toward the Ritz-Carlton Residences. And does anyone know if the grand floor will have any retail space to be made available. I remember that was the side of the street changing hands to a higher end shops. Has anyone leased the Paulines Books and Media space??

i can try to take some pics today, i'll be around that area in a bit. yes, the Ritz-Carlton will anchor the start of Geary and i recall reading somewhere that Geary is fast expanding its retail offerings, as witnessed by the recent openings of G-star and Agent Provocateur. does anyone know where the new Mango boutique will be? i can think of many tenant spaces that can be replaced by high-profile brands.

[San Frangelino]

i can try to take some pics today, i'll be around that area in a bit.

Thanks blueberry:tup: I use to work at Henry Cotton's which vacated the space Juicy Couture is taking up now. It's a pretty massive 10,000 square foot store with three levels above and one below. Lots of room to stock bootylicious sweat suits...jk. Pretty building, I use to love the busts that lined the top.

Whats going on with the huge building across maiden lane from Hermes where Brooks Brothers use to be? When I worked there, I remember the talk being Helmut Lang, Fendi, and Church's shoes were going to take it up. Of course that got dropped being that they belonged to the Prada Group. Then I read last year in the business times that Prada was going to use half the space for an expanded store. Of course that hasn't seemed to happen either. In that same article I believe they said the office part of the building was completly leased. Be interesting to see if it gets filled with the retail boom. I always dreamed Wilkes Bashford would buy the building and expand.

Also like to see if any interesting leases come into Yerba Buena Lane or the Crocker Galleria( which looked a little depressing last time I was in the city).

[dimondpark]

Sixth Street revival
S.F. small businesses see opportunity on skid row
San Francisco Business Times - June 30, 2006by Sarah Duxbury

Keeping up with the Joneses is sparking a renaissance on Sixth Street.

The Six on Sixth project began in 2003 with the goal of bringing six new businesses to the blighted street. Since then, 14 new businesses have opened, and stayed open, on or just off Sixth Street between Market and Harrison streets; three more will open soon. Thirty-five façade and tenant improvement projects are complete with 50 more under way.

It's a positive domino effect, where once one property owner upgrades his building, slapping on a $35,000 coat of paint or replacing broken windows, others want to, too. With money from the Redevelopment Agency, the nonprofit Urban Solutions is helping them do just that.

Four new retail leases were signed in the past two months -- two for spaces that have been vacant at least five years and one in a space that has been empty four decades. Urban Solutions is in final negotiations on several more leases, including with an Internet café and a credit union.

"When you start to invest and beautify, people pay attention," said Jenny McNulty, executive director of Urban Solutions. "People are starting to take pride where in the past there were just neglected properties."

The Redevelopment Agency has provided Urban Solutions $1.1 million since 2003 for its economic revitalization program. The agency is expected to approve an additional $750,000 for capital improvements on and around the street.

Fixing Sixth Street is an uphill battle, one the Redevelopment Agency has fought for 15 years. Though over $100 million has been spent to revitalize the area stretching from Fifth to Seventh streets between Market and Harrison streets, Sixth Street remains a neighborhood with high levels of street crime, poor people, boarded up buildings and predatory businesses like pawn shops.

Urban Solutions and the Redevelopment Agency hope that enough momentum is now building to change the character of the street and quiet critics.

Retail to the rescue
On Sixth Street, Urban Solutions has helped landlords secure matching grants for building improvements and has helped business owners and entrepreneurs negotiate leases, secure loans and write business plans.

"Our focus is on retail because retail is what will build community and improve the quality of life here," McNulty said.

Though retail rents on Sixth Street average an affordable $1 per square foot, many of the businesses the area attracts are undercapitalized or brand new, or both. They are on Sixth Street because they can afford it, but increasingly because they also see a neighborhood that's improving, one shopfront at a time.

"Sixth Street has a real concentration of liquor shops, pawn shops and porn shops," McNulty said. Urban Solutions is working to replace those with dry cleaners, pizza joints and barbers -- the sort of retail operations healthy neighborhoods need.

Amin Jamally will open a café and deli in a space that has been boarded up for 40 years. He will invest $30,000 to get the site customer-ready, and up to $70,000 more should he fulfill his dream to equip it with a grill.

Jamally's cousin owns Chico's Pizza up the street, and his success -- the place was hopping with a Monday lunch crowd last week -- inspired Jamally to come to Sixth Street. Mythic Pizza will soon open across the street.

Mission Cleaners, a laundry, dry cleaner and sewing shop opened last week, after its former home near the under-construction Federal Building was razed. Wing Leung decided to move one block east to take advantage of what he sees as a growing neighborhood close to his existing customer base.

Several businesses Urban Solutions has attracted to Sixth Street have failed. But as more come in, landlords can be more choosy, selecting more viable businesses, McNulty said.

Others doubt that strategy, considering the extreme poverty of the 3,000 to 8,000 people living in apartments and SRO hotels on the surrounding blocks.

"Almost every building is very low income, not mixed, so I don't know where the consumer dollar is to suport those businesses," said Randy Shaw, executive director of Tenderloin Housing Clinic and a critic of the Redevelopment Agency's efforts on Sixth Street. "A lot of businesses have opened up to great fanfare, but close because they can't make their rent given the lack of consumer dollars."

Streetscape improvements
Shaw said that the extreme poverty of Sixth Street's residents will prevent cosmetic improvements from having a more salutary effect on the neighborhood.

"Sure, the Plaza Hotel is nice, the Alder is aesthetically a lot nicer," Shaw said. "But the problems on the street are still there $125 million later."

Urban Solutions and the Redevelopment Agency say their work is finally taking hold, building upon the agency's streetscape upgrades -- widened sidewalks and new trees.

"Initially, some property owners had trouble believing things could get better," said Mike Grisso, the Redevelopment Agency's project manager for the area. "Once a few projects were completed ... and they saw what was happening, we had a rush. We're starting to get to that critical mass where people believe."

The intent of the redevelopment area was to revitalize the neighborhood and spark economic development there, but not gentrification.

Building a strong retail presence will also help reduce crime. "We know from practice that (crime) is more likely to happen in front of a boarded up building than in front of a store with a responsible owner and people going in and out," Grisso said.

Upgrading Sixth Street remains a work in progress. Pawn shops still outnumber banks or credit unions or pizza joints and about 20 retail spaces remain vacant, with gritty metal gates pulled down tight. Half of those spaces are ready to lease; the rest require landlord improvements to make them habitable.

Sarah Duxbury covers nonprofits for the San Francisco Business Times.

[BTinSF]

Sixth Street revival
S.F. small businesses see opportunity on skid row
San Francisco Business Times - June 30, 2006by Sarah Duxbury

Keeping up with the Joneses is sparking a renaissance on Sixth Street.

The Six on Sixth project began in 2003 with the goal of bringing six new businesses to the blighted street. Since then, 14 new businesses have opened, and stayed open, on or just off Sixth Street between Market and Harrison streets; three more will open soon. Thirty-five façade and tenant improvement projects are complete with 50 more under way.


I read this article on Friday and, I believe, posted it somewhere here. Anyway, today I decided to take a walk and see for myself.

So I hiked over to the Federal Building and took a look at that. They seem to be finally cleaning up the site in preparation for some landscaping and general finishing up. They have roofed over the main entrance which looks like it will be, essentially, a large porte cochere (but pedestrian only), and they seem to be finishing up the facade.

The SOMA Grande next door is now up to the 5th floor which means they finished the 4-story pediment for the tower and are about to start raising the tower itself. I was also happy to see the rendering posted at the site shows the Federal Building next door and seems to show the Grande tower rising significantly higher, thus avoiding the deadly SF "table-top effect".

Also, across Mission St. there is now demolition being done by Granite and the street use permit was for 6 months. Since it looks like the demolition will be done in a week or two, I assume they will be building something but I don't know what. My guess is a loft-like residential building (since I saw no evidence of a major construction firm like WebCor on any of the permitting) but I'd welcome info from anybody who may know.

I then hopped on Muni down to 6th and walked down 6th a ways. It really is vastly improved. A number of the larger SRO buildings have been very nicely rehabbed. Lots of new street trees planted, some of them fan palms giving the place a feel similar to Mission St. in the Mission District. Even a good portion of the sidewalk itself seems to have been redone. But best of all, I saw a number of businesses from pizza places and laudromats to a produce market that all looked interesting and inviting--not at all grimy like a few years ago. And I saw at least one storefront in process of being rehabbed. I'm beginning to think this really could be a SOMA retail district.

From there I walked to 5th and Howard and was shocked at the progress that has been made on the Intercontinental Hotel. It seems like only about 2 weeks ago this was just a big hole in the ground, but now there's concrete to street level and the service core seems up to about the 5th floor. I also noted that nearby Howard St. (between 5th and 6th) is showing some signs of revival with long-time light industrial uses moving out and the prospect of rehab followed by retail/restaurant uses of the storefronts. There's already an interesting looking irish pub, The Chieftain, on the corner and a Hunan restaurant mid-block.

[EastBayHardCore]

The Cheiftain :haha: I think we're all too familiar with that one.

Also, iirc Soma Grand will be roughly the same height as the new Fed.

[BTinSF]

Also, iirc Soma Grand will be roughly the same height as the new Fed.

Well, that's what I had thought, but the rendering posted on-site doesn't look like it.

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2006_3_31_somagrand-thumb.jpg

The Fed is on the right edge of the rendering. Sure looks shorter to me.

[blueberry]

here are a few more Union Square + environs pics, taken earlier today on my way to the bank:

the new Ritz-Carlton, a big ugly construction site right now but hopefully a much more appealing streetfront soon:
http://static.flickr.com/69/181119598_86885a1e1c_o.jpg

sexy lingerie at one of the city's newest boutiques:
http://static.flickr.com/70/181119601_99cd43a50e_o.jpg

a few feet down the street on Geary - latest retail additions:
http://static.flickr.com/61/181119600_f071e153e8_o.jpg

home to the future Barney's NY - to be designed by Gensler:
http://static.flickr.com/69/181119605_6dd16acaf2_o.jpg

i missed taking a photo of this last time, but thought i should include it here - one of union square's many flagships:
http://static.flickr.com/46/181119603_554087c033_o.jpg

last but not least, this is one store that SF has that does not exist anywhere in LA... french luxury chocolatier, Richart (based in Lyon, France) on sutter street. the ultimate in fine chocolate goods:
http://static.flickr.com/57/181119606_537095b166_o.jpg

[BTinSF]

http://static.flickr.com/69/181119605_6dd16acaf2_o.jpg

You do know that this is soon going to be Barney's, right? FAO's "flagship" is dead.

[BTinSF]

Oops. Read the labels wrong--you clearly DO know the FAO spot is going to be Barney's. Apologies for doubting you.

[sf_eddo]

The Cheiftain :haha: I think we're all too familiar with that one.


The bartender there loves me. :)

[EastBayHardCore]

Well, that's what I had thought, but the rendering posted on-site doesn't look like it.

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2006_3_31_somagrand-thumb.jpg

The Fed is on the right edge of the rendering. Sure looks shorter to me.

Well Soma Grand is right on Mission, where as the Fed tower is set quite far back. The perspective is undoubtedly making it look taller than it really is. Also I looked at the heights in the SF Construction rundown thread just now and they are within a foot of each other.

[BTinSF]

The bartender there loves me. :)

Care to let the rest of us in on the humor? I'm guessing you all had some sort of meet there or something?

[vanhattan]

Excellent thread. I love your city! I would say that Chicago still will give SF a run for the money in the shopping department, but not by much and SF is just different and very unique. I hope to be back shopping in the square in the next couple of months. Keep the updates going! Thanks to all.

[BTinSF]

Well Soma Grand is right on Mission, where as the Fed tower is set quite far back. The perspective is undoubtedly making it look taller than it really is. Also I looked at the heights in the SF Construction rundown thread just now and they are within a foot of each other.

Well, to my eye the perspective issue doesn't entirely account for it (compare the rear side of the Grand which is equally far from Mission St.--and especially look at the "spire" on the grand). On the other hand, I realize both that renderings aren't always accurate and also that, as we've all recently noticed, heights as published by SF planners and even the developers themselves can sometimes be fudged on the downside (to avoid Nimby conflicts?) a bit. So I guess we'll have to wait and see how it turns out, but I'm hoping it is a bit taller because I don't like the "look" where radically different buildings near each other are all the same height.

[fflint]

Soma Grand: 233'
New Fed: 234'

[sf_eddo]

Care to let the rest of us in on the humor? I'm guessing you all had some sort of meet there or something?

Yeah, we've had a meat and we've ended up there. The last time we were there, I recognized the bartender from my college days - she actually got me drunk for my 21st birthday at a trashy college bar in Berkeley.

We hugged.

[BTinSF]

Soma Grand: 233'
New Fed: 234'

See above. We'll have to see how accurate that turns out to be. Also, the building appears to have a sort of spire on it which I don't think that height figure includes. And I'm sure you recall the discussion we had about the accuracy of the published height of several other buildings. I don't think we'll know for sure until the two are built and sitting side by side. But the rendering gives me hope. Everybody can look at it for themselves :previous:

[BTinSF]

Yeah, we've had a meat

Is that a Freudian slip??

[fflint]

Nope, that's what we've called our gatherings for several years.

[DubbaG]

Can we please stop discussing meats? The only time we need to relive such nights are when we hold them again.

mmmmeat
:cheers:

[DubbaG]

http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2006_3_31_somagrand-thumb.jpg

Lifestyle Condoms?

http://www.dollarnights.com/images/p50/image2/2123.jpg

[danvillain]

http://img435.imageshack.us/img435/3527/image0025yx.gif

Latex condo. Boy, I'd like to live in one of those!


***
another article on the plight of locally-owned bay area bookstores:


Culture may close the book on shops
By John Simerman
[CONTRA COSTA TIMES]
Thu, Jun. 22, 2006
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/14875652.htm (*RR)

Andy Ross couldn't quite swallow it.

The computer system at Cody's Books on Telegraph Avenue, a few blocks from the UC Berkeley campus, told him to ship back Emmanuel Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason."

The thing had sat too long on the shelf.

"When one of the greatest works of Western philosophy, if not the greatest, wasn't selling at Cody's, there's something wrong," said Ross, who announced last month that the store, a legendary locus for Berkeley's free-speech spirit, would close July 10 after a half-century.

"I haven't figured out all the implications. If I do, I'll probably get more depressed than I already am."

Ross and many other independent booksellers in the Bay Area share a common lament over a grim or nonexistent future for some of the most cherished havens for book lovers and strongest venues for visiting authors.

Many cite Amazon.com and the proliferation of big chain bookstores. But there are other factors, they say, that have piled straw on the backs of businesses that face thin profit margins and stiff competition from discounters. They range from the dot-com blowup to bad city planning, to a societal turn toward laptop literacy.

"It's no one thing," said Neal Sofman, who announced last week that he and the other owners of A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books would pull the plug on their acclaimed store at Opera Plaza in San Francisco as soon as it liquidates its inventory.

"It's too easy to be simplistic. We're talking about a cultural shift."

In Menlo Park, 50-year-old Kepler's Books shut down last year, then was saved by a group of investors who could not bear the loss of a cultural and literary hub with a long history of progressive thought. Several other bleeding indies are shrinking, closing stores or looking to sell.

"One thing that a lot of people overlook is the competition from places like Wal-Mart, Costco and Safeway," said Carl Hammarskjold, a manager at Black Oak Books, which this month closed its store in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood.

"I was in the Safeway in Sonoma, and they had Noam Chomsky for sale. When you start seeing that, you know some of the edge the independent bookstore had is fast fading."

The impact extends around the region, say booksellers.

For decades, both Cody's and A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books drew a wealth of talent, famous and newly discovered, along with celebrity authors. Fewer major independents could mean publishers send authors to the Bay Area less often, or for less time.

"They are major event venues, and major destinations for visiting authors," said Michael Barnard, owner of Rakestraw Books in Danville, which has hosted the likes of Calvin Trillin, Sebastian Junger and Salman Rushdie.

"Their presence ... helped keep visiting authors in the Bay Area for several days and contributed to the viability of local book selling, local book culture."

Independent booksellers tout their personalized service, support for local authors and a willingness to stock their shelves to the tastes of the communities they serve.

The losses could have further implications on literary discovery, booksellers say. Indies have helped launch the writing careers of mystery suspense writer Scott Turow, John Grisham and Charles Frazier, author of "Cold Mountain," to name just a few.

Local stores often become community hubs, places to meet, talk and linger. Some, such as Book Passage in Corte Madera, have helped propel writing careers through conferences and salons.

Linda Watanabe McFerrin, an Oakland fiction and travel writer, credits conferences there with helping her meet talented writers and push her career. She credits Barnes & Noble and Borders with bringing books to places without them, but she also said the independents offer something else.

"A bookseller like Cody's or Book Passage doesn't just participate in the scene. They help create it," she said. "They are actually generating the literary culture. They're not just serving it, and that's very, very different."

Elaine Petrocelli, owner of Book Passage, said the loss of Cody's and A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books "breaks my heart."

"It's an ominous situation, because it says to me the public has not been shopping at those stores in the way (the stores) need to continue to be viable," she said. "When Kepler's closed, the people on the Peninsula said, 'We can't let this happen.' But they had let it happen."

Book Passage faces a planned 28,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble within a block. Those plans have prompted a community outcry in Corte Madera. The store has turned to a member-friend program, similar to those run by museums and other nonprofit groups, for financial support.

Geography was partly to blame for the demise of Cody's on Telegraph and A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, the owners said.

In Berkeley, Ross counted a deteriorating Telegraph Avenue among the key reasons why Cody's suffered there, losing $1 million in the past five years. Ross also suspects that college students, his bread-and-butter market, are reading fewer scholarly books. Two other Cody's stores, on Fourth Street in Berkeley and a new one in San Francisco, remain in business, and he hopes to shift author readings and other events there.

Sofman hearkened to a dot-com boom that drove out a chunk of San Francisco's art community, then the bust that sapped the city's commercial occupancy; an increase in city parking ticket fees that scared off customers around the Civic Center; and a nettlesome homeless problem there.

He also cited "the 18- to 35-year-olds who live and dwell on the Web."

Hut Landon, executive director of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, painted a less grim picture of the climate for indies, saying those two stores had unique problems.

Nearly a decade ago, the rise in online book sales and chains took out many struggling local stores, but the indies have adapted and their numbers have remained fairly steady over the past few years, he said. The American Booksellers Association counts about 1,700 members, down from about 3,500 in 1990, he said. His group has stayed at 235 to 250 members for a few years.

The indies that succeed now tend to be smaller, neighborhood shops with smaller staffs and lower overhead, he said.

"I don't want to say we're not losing anything, but I do not see this as the beginning of the end," said Landon. "The phrase we use is 'Flat is the new high.' If you can maintain, then you're fine."

But Hammarskjold of Black Oak Books sees more trouble coming.

"Like Google's plan to digitize the world's copyright-free books," he said. "It may be in the not-too-distant future that there is no such thing as an out-of-print book. If nothing's out of print and nothing's hard to find, all books will be $6."

That may bode well for Internet-savvy readers, he said, but could spell doom for the local bookstore.

[BTinSF]

[img]
Sofman hearkened to a dot-com boom that drove out a chunk of San Francisco's art community, then the bust that sapped the city's commercial occupancy; an increase in city parking ticket fees that scared off customers around the Civic Center; and a nettlesome homeless problem there.

He also cited "the 18- to 35-year-olds who live and dwell on the Web."

Hut Landon, executive director of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, painted a less grim picture of the climate for indies, saying those two stores had unique problems.


It's not just 18-35 year olds who dwell on the web. It saddens me to report I am not in that demographic, but I've got an ever-growing pile of books I'm meaning to read (some purchased at A Clean Well-lighted's going out of business sale) that don't get read because I'm wasting too much time here (and elsewhere on the web).

But I think those other two remarks are hooey. I live in the building wherein sat A Clean Well-lighted PFB. I've been a customer for 24 years. The neighborhood hasn't gotten any worse lately and is, in fact a lot better than at times like when Mayor Agnos let Civic Center Plaza become a homeless encampment or the period when several of the Civic Center government offices, including City Hall, were closed for repairs after the '89 quake. I briefly talked to the staff at ACWLPFB. They told me business just suddenly nose-dived and they don't know why. In reality, with the busy new Peet's next door and other things happening in the neighborhood, it seems to me foot traffic along Van Ness is as strong as ever and possibly growing. There are also several new residential buildings in the immediate neighborhood which should have brought in more people like me. And I know the landlord gave them every break--I know it because the staff said so and the building manager is a friend (I used to be President of the HOA) and told me so as well.

My suspicion is that ACWLPFB's business has declined, largely due to the availability of cheaper book prices on the web, people reading less and buying fewer non-fiction books because information that they may once have sought in books is now available free on the web, and maybe most important of all, the owner of ACWLPFB, after 24 years in business at that site, was just ready to give it up. I seriously wonder if that last reason isn't most important of all.

[blueberry]

BTinSF, you live in Opera Plaza?

i think you're right about ACWLPFB... it's just a sign of the times. amazon is the way to go these days.

which makes me wonder how long Cody's in union square can last. i was there this weekend on a busy, sunny afternoon and there was *no one* in the main cashier downstairs, and only a handful of customers in the store.

:(

[BTinSF]

BTinSF, you live in Opera Plaza?



For a very long time, yes. I was among the first people to move in in 1982. As a Redevelopment Agency project, it was offering 9.375% mortgages at a time when a regular 30-year fixed from a bank would have run 18%. I needed a place to live and it was close to a no-brainer.

[blueberry]

18% for a conventional 30-year fixed????

wow, and now people are fretting about about a 6.5% interest rate?

[BTinSF]

18% for a conventional 30-year fixed????

wow, and now people are fretting about about a 6.5% interest rate?

Exactly. I have read, though, that 7% is the cut-off. Above 7% and mortgage rates start to deter sales. Below it they probably don't. What I think is detering people most now is just the interminable chatter about bursting bubbles.

If you're interested, here's a bit more of "That 70's Show": http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&sid=aNHjZY4dv_uc&refer=columnist_baum

Money quote: "From a low of 2.7 percent in 1972, inflation ended the decade at 13.3 percent. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate rose from 3.9 percent in January 1970 to 6 percent in December 1979 by way of 9 percent in 1975."

Today, of course, we have inflation around 3% and 30-year fixed mortgages nearing the 7% mark--about 4% higher than the inflation rate as in the late 70's and early 80's.

It's a bit off-topic, but I'm a little concerned that the deficit spending and out-of-control international balance of payments deficits we've been running of late could bring us to a similar place again--from around 2.7% inflation to double digits. Back in the 70's they pointed to a 10-year lag between the "guns and butter" spending of the Johnson Administration and the 70's inflation. If true, the Bush deficits could really start hitting us in another 6 or 7 years.

[BTinSF]

Really Great News

Today's SF Business Times carries the news that even though A Clean Well-lighted Place For Books is vacating its long-time Van Ness Ave. location, Van Ness will still have a book store because Books Inc. is taking over the space as its, yes, "flagship" (in this case, that means its largest location by sq. ft.).:cucumber:

[SSLL]

Great pics Blueberry. I love SF!

[blueberry]

Really Great News

Today's SF Business Times carries the news that even though A Clean Well-lighted Place For Books is vacating its long-time Van Ness Ave. location, Van Ness will still have a book store because Books Inc. is taking over the space as its, yes, "flagship" (in this case, that means its largest location by sq. ft.).:cucumber:

:dancing:

:boogy:

Books Inc is also a local independent that's managed to survive amidst this economic shift.... that is excellent news!

[blueberry]

Great pics Blueberry. I love SF!

thanks!
:bowtie:

[dimondpark]

I was in The City today with some out-of-towners who just arrived early this morning. An unexpected thing came up and so I took some relatives fresh-off of SW airlines to DT to look for all black clothes cause they came totally unprepared(in other words, business as usual). We looked everywhere from ultra chic(which with every passing day seems more and more like a colossal waste of money to me-maybe in my old age its finally come to me) to somewhat cheap-and after all that searching, buying other things in the meantime, all 5 of us found something nice to wear at Ross in what obviously was an off season clearance rack(black after all isnt so popular in July)-shoes however were a different story altogether(im still human after all)-thought about this thread btw.

[Trojan]

I am going to the city next week.. I am excited. Is the Emporio Armani store new? I've never seen it before.

[BTinSF]

I am going to the city next week.. I am excited. Is the Emporio Armani store new? I've never seen it before.

Thanks to blueberry, you can see a very nice photo of the building:

http://static.flickr.com/45/180434511_9d34bc0659_o.jpg

and see that the building itself isn't new. Before it was an Emporio Armani, it was Cable Car Clothiers--and before that a bank--and when it was CCC, I shopped there (I'm far more into British clothing than Italian). That, however, was quite a few years ago. So I guess the answer to your question is "no", it's not very new at all.

[BTinSF]

I was in The City today with some out-of-towners who just arrived early this morning. An unexpected thing came up and so I took some relatives fresh-off of SW airlines to DT to look for all black clothes cause they came totally unprepared(in other words, business as usual). We looked everywhere from ultra chic(which with every passing day seems more and more like a colossal waste of money to me-maybe in my old age its finally come to me) to somewhat cheap-and after all that searching, buying other things in the meantime, all 5 of us found something nice to wear at Ross in what obviously was an off season clearance rack(black after all isnt so popular in July)-shoes however were a different story altogether(im still human after all)-thought about this thread btw.

Ah, well, while I buy socks at Ross, I tend to find a lot more stuff for the rest of my wardrobe that fits my growing girth at Marshall's. And for shoes, there's really nowhere but Shoe Pavillion, because "if you didn't buy them at Shoe Pavillion, you paid too much" (and besides, I've got a few shares salted away).

[dimondpark]

Ah, well, while I buy socks at Ross, I tend to find a lot more stuff for the rest of my wardrobe that fits my growing girth at Marshall's. And for shoes, there's really nowhere but Shoe Pavillion, because "if you didn't buy them at Shoe Pavillion, you paid too much" (and besides, I've got a few shares salted away).
LOL@your growing girth...

Believe me, under normal circumstances many of my people wouldnt really shop at Ross for the exact same reason(the one in Walnut Creek though has selection for bigger sizes that is phenomenal though-best Ross Ive ever been to) but I just happened to be with 4 cousins that found their sizes there..and my waist is size 32 so Im easy to shop for. I got this black velvet blazer by sean john for 29.99 which was really nicely made-I got a matching black dress shirt and black tie by tommy hilfiger both for $30.00-not bad for a recovering prada addict.

as far as shoes, we went to Nordstrom-it sorta ruined my whole "excess sucks" speech, but we're in mourning and this helped me ease the pain at that moment-but ouch my feet are killing me now.

oh well. life of a shopper

[JAM]

My wife just informed me today, that if you don't want to give your $$ to the homeless, or the dudes on the road with coffee cups or what ever, the best thing to give them is SOCKS. They want SOCKS. I guess it make sense??? So next time your at one of those fancy shopping places, buy some socks that are on sale, give them away on the street, and feel good that you did something for them that they need??

[BTinSF]

My wife just informed me today, that if you don't want to give your $$ to the homeless, or the dudes on the road with coffee cups or what ever, the best thing to give them is SOCKS. They want SOCKS. I guess it make sense??? So next time your at one of those fancy shopping places, buy some socks that are on sale, give them away on the street, and feel good that you did something for them that they need??

Interesting. I happen to have a good deal of personal experience with this, having worked at an agency that provides medical services to many homeless clients, and your wife is 100% correct that most of these folks do need all the socks they can get. The reason is they have no place to wash either themselves or their clothes. Mostly, they just wear clothes until they are so disgusting that even a filthy homeless person can't bear to keep wearing them and then they throw them away and try to scrounge something new. But of course without a place to wash themselves, this solution doesn't work too well. I have seen some really tragic medical foot problems (and, of course, we used to buy room deodorizer in bulk quantities because we used a lot of it every time we had someone take off his/her shoes).

[SFBoy]

Or maybe they want alcohol?

[JAM]

Or maybe they want alcohol?

no dude, they want SOCKS.

[BTinSF]

no dude, they want SOCKS.

Truth is, too many of them want both (socks and alcohol). Some want other things. I recall a group of kids, apparent runaways, who were maybe 15, 16 and used to sit on the corner of Castro and Market with a sign that said "Need money for tatoos".

[fflint]

An unexpected thing came up and so I took some relatives fresh-off of SW airlines to DT to look for all black clothes
I was sorry to hear about that, by the way.

[coyotetrickster]

The Armani store is at least 10 years old. I was shopping there when I first moved to the city in '96.

[dimondpark]

I was sorry to hear about that, by the way.
thanks fflinty-:hug:

[BTinSF]

I was sorry to hear about that, by the way.

The rest of us, too--well, me anyway.:grouphug:

[dimondpark]

thanks BTinSF:hug:

and my outta-towner mooch relatives-they really loved Union Square.:)

[dimondpark]

Scuderia West new Bimota Dealership in San Francisco, California

http://www.rubbermag.com/news/0607/imgs/060710_bimota.jpg

Bimota North America, Inc., the exclusive importer of the legendary Italian Bimota motorcycles to the USA, Canada, and Mexico is proud to welcome a new Bimota A[/IMG]uthorized Dealership in San Francisco, California, to the family: Scuderia West.

Scuderia West is a 5 time, Number One dealer in the Nation for one of Italy's largest brands in motorcycling.

Actively involved in all forms of national and regional racing for nearly two decades, Scuderia has extensive experience in preparing motorcycles for the track, as well as optimizing street legal machines. Their spectrum includes Dyno tuning and custom fuel mapping, race preparation, advanced suspension services and factory maintenance.

Scuderia West also offers San Francisco's largest and best selection of motorcycle apparel and safety equipment.

Founded in 1991by owner Don Lemelin whose dedication to providing the highest quality products and award winning customer service, has enabled Scuderia West to establish itself as one of the most respected dealerships in the country.

Bimota's new and exclusive Northern California dealership, Scuderia West, is located in San Francisco, California, easy to reach off 101 and Interstate 80, Duboce Ave exit:

Scuderia West
69 Duboce Ave.; San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone 415.621.7223; Fax 415.621.2589
Website: www.Scuderia.com
Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-6:00

Bimota N.A. would like to welcome Scuderia West to the growing network of Authorized Bimota Dealers world-wide.

For more information on Bimota motorcycles and an authorized dealer in your area, please go to www.BimotaUSA.com.

[dimondpark]

Jeremy's? sounds interesting....LOL


ON THE TOWN: With Anne Le
Restaurateur finds the chic, sleek and sweet
http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2006/07/09/lv_onthetown_mc.jpg
Anne Le says there's a dish for every taste at Town's End Restaurant and Bakery. If the fresh pastries don't suit you, walnut pancakes or beef hash might fill the bill. Chronicle photo by Mark Costantini

San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday, July 9, 2006

Anne Le is the co-owner of Bong Su, the chic contemporary Vietnamese restaurant that earlier this year took over the old Max's Diner at Third and Folsom. The menu focuses on regional favorites, while the room reflects Le's exquisite taste for design, with its amber lighting, stonework sculptures and bold autumnal tones. This should come as no surprise to those who are familiar with Le and her partner Tammy Huyhn's other venture, Tamarine. We asked Le to send over a list of places around the area that make the cut with her.

Bix, 56 Gold St. "I'm an old-fashioned kind of girl who appreciates the classic martini, and you can't beat the martinis at Bix. It's an old San Francisco kind of place. The experience begins with a walk down a brick-lined dark alley. As you enter the doorway, you're transformed into another time. Bix's style is sophisticated speakeasy. The space is dominated by a giant mahogany bar and cozy booths, and an Art Deco mural serves as the backdrop. You can sip on your martini while enjoying the live jazz."

Remede Spa, 125 Third St. "Remede has a luxurious modern nail spa that is terrific for relaxing by yourself or to enjoy a day with a few girlfriends. The experience starts with their relaxation room, which has plush velvet couches, a wonderful cheese plate and delicious cookies. Complimentary sparkling wine is served during your treatment. The technicians are professional, courteous and perform magic on your nails. It is difficult for me to recognize my own hands when they're done. It's a two-hour experience like no other."

Bar Crudo, 603 Bush St. "Bar Crudo, next door to the infamous Tunnel Top, is a terrific destination for a lighter summertime dinner with a bottle of crisp white wine. The tiny 25-seat restaurant features a seafood bar that serves oysters, mussels and raw fish with sauces and drizzles that draw their inspiration from around the world. You can't help but be intimate in the tiny little space, but that's what I love about San Francisco -- the plethora of intimate little neighborhood restaurants."

Worldware, 301 Fell St. "Think 1930s Hollywood Art Deco glamour with a slight edge. This interior design shop embraces all that is tasteful and trendy, with just the perfect accent of the exotic. Aside from large pieces like tables, chairs and sofas, they also stock interesting accessories such as hand-carved lotus leaf sculptures to mother-of-pearl cocktail trays fit for a magazine-quality photo shoot. It's definitely my favorite place to shop for unique furniture pieces. The best part is they have interior designers on staff to help you with any questions."

L'Auberge Carmel, Monte Verde Street, Carmel. "It's a charming 20-room inn in downtown Carmel, just steps away from the beach and the town's boutiques on Ocean Avenue. It's my favorite alternative when I need a change from the Wine Country. The property was built in the 1920s and completed a major remodel by designer Kathleen Fink in 2004. The style is subtly luxurious Mediterranean bungalow. All the services at the inn are completely personalized. Upon arriving, you're greeted with an aperitif and feel as though you've stepped into another world. It's difficult to describe the experience, but one thing is for sure: You'll never forget it."

Baguette Express, 668 Larkin St. "For $2.50, it's the best deal in town. This Vietnamese sandwich shops offers 12 types of Vietnamese sandwiches for whatever mood you're in. It's on Larkin, between Eddy and O'Farrell streets, so you're not in the best part of town, but the sandwiches are definitely worth risking your life. Baguette Express is one of the few Vietnamese sandwich shops that understand the importance of toasting a baguette. You can wash down that sandwich with a yummy Vietnamese coffee, sure to keep you zinging for the rest of the day."

Jeremy's, 2 S. Park St. "Jeremy's carries threads from ultrachic designers such as Gucci, Prada, Costume National and Dolce & Gabbana at a fraction of their retail price. They purchase end-of-season leftovers, slightly damaged displays and customer returns of last-season items and sell them at sharp discounts. The only setback is that you have to be ready and in the mood to pan for gold. It's the perfect place to find that designer sweat suit to lounge around in."

La Nouvelle Patisserie, 2184 Union St. "The Nouvelle Patisserie is my favorite place to grab a cappuccino and enjoy a decadent French pastry. The smell of the shop is absolutely intoxicating -- scents from the tarts, mousse and cakes are sensory seduction. They also serve panini sandwiches and classic salads in case you're hungry for more than just sweets. After your delicious stop, you'll find yourself in the heart of the Union Street shops to stroll off those pastry calories."

El Zocalo, 3230 Mission St. "I'm a big fan of pupusas, so El Zocalo is an easy choice. The restaurant serves tasty Salvadoran food. The best part is they serve food until 3:45 a.m.! Don't miss their beef or chicken tortas. The tamales are terrific, too."

Town's End Restaurant and Bakery, 2 Townsend St. "Whether sitting at a table outside or inside, on a cold day, you can't beat the fresh pastries served for brunch. They have everything and anything you could possible want to eat for brunch on their menu. Whether it's beef hash or a stack of their walnut pancakes, it's difficult to find anything on their menu that you won't like."

E-mail Aidin Vaziri at avaziri@sfchronicle.com.

[sf_eddo]

Scuderia West new Bimota Dealership in San Francisco, California


The area of a couple blocks around the Van Ness and Mission intersection serioulsy have all places imaginable to service every scooter lover. I personally go to SF Scooter Centre on 10th/Mission to get all my needed services. I've also noticed since I moved here and got a scooter (it's been 2 years) that they are converting more car parking into scooter parking downtown, and that the scooter/motorcycle population in San Francisco has clearly gotten larger and more noticeable - must be a side effect of the price of gas, but considering weather and layout, San Francisco has to be one of the best (and most scenic) cities to ride around a scooter, if not a motorcycle in.

[BTinSF]

The area of a couple blocks around the Van Ness and Mission intersection serioulsy have all places imaginable to service every scooter lover. I personally go to SF Scooter Centre on 10th/Mission to get all my needed services. I've also noticed since I moved here and got a scooter (it's been 2 years) that they are converting more car parking into scooter parking downtown, and that the scooter/motorcycle population in San Francisco has clearly gotten larger and more noticeable - must be a side effect of the price of gas, but considering weather and layout, San Francisco has to be one of the best (and most scenic) cities to ride around a scooter, if not a motorcycle in.

While I've been a customer of Scuderia West for over a decade (well before they moved around the corner from Valencia)--mostly at the time of their annual sales, I may as well put in a plug for City Cycle Werkes (Ellis between Polk and Larkin) for repairs. It's pretty much a one-man shop and the owner is a very nice guy and does good work. Besides the usual new batteries and tires on my 1987 Honda 250 Elite, he has also totally rebuilt the transmission for a very reasonable price.

As to parking a scooter in SF, in almost 20 years of riding one I have gotten exactly ONE parking ticket with mine--in Golden Gate Park at one of the annual "Opera in the Park" events. I try to park legally when I can, but you can almost always get away with even the most challenging stunts--like chaining the scooter to a "No Parking" sign which I have done more than once.

[BTinSF]

Pics from today's stroll through the Tenderloin: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=110426

[sf_eddo]

Really Great News

Today's SF Business Times carries the news that even though A Clean Well-lighted Place For Books is vacating its long-time Van Ness Ave. location, Van Ness will still have a book store because Books Inc. is taking over the space as its, yes, "flagship" (in this case, that means its largest location by sq. ft.).:cucumber:

Hey BT, do you know when Books Inc will open in the Opera Plaza space?

[BTinSF]

Hey BT, do you know when Books Inc will open in the Opera Plaza space?

September--see below

Indie bookstores face the best and worst of times
Owners endure plot twists
San Francisco Business Times - July 7, 2006
by Sarah Duxbury
Bay Area independent booksellers are writing a new chapter.

Two landmarks -- A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books and Cody's Telegraph Avenue location -- will soon close. But the story is not yet writ for independent bookshops and those who shop at them. While by no means easy or lucrative -- a 2 percent margin is considered decent -- industry veterans believe bookstores remain viable businesses and continue to open them. The five Bay Area counties have close to 175 independent bookstores.

"People are buying books, but the business is changing," said Andy Ross, Cody's owner. "We're doing the same thing."

Cody's Fourth Street location in Berkeley is hopping. Though it has yet to hit its stride, Cody's freshman Union Square store is growing despite a 40,000-square-foot Borders just four blocks away and another 20,000-square-foot Borders opening one block south in September. But Cody's Telegraph Avenue location in Berkeley has lost sales for 15 years and $1 million in the past five years, forcing Ross to close it despite eight years remaining on his 15,000-square-foot lease.

Independent bookselling is a business prone to nostalgia it can ill afford. Those booksellers who recognize that location trumps sentiment are the ones opening new places. Ross came to San Francisco; Neal Sofman, a co-owner of A Clean Well Lighted Place, has opened Bookshop West Portal, and Books Inc. will take over the former Clean Well Lighted Place spot in September. Elaine Petrocelli is in negotiations to open a third location of Corte Madera's Book Passage in a Novato development that will include Whole Foods.

Chains are not the worst of it. More than half the books sold at retail are not sold in any bookstore, chain or otherwise, said Oren Theicher, chief operating officer of the American Booksellers Association. They are sold online, in drug stores and gift stores, newsstands and warehouse stores. The square-footage devoted to bookstores has quadrupled in 15 years, but the market has remained flat, which means a smaller piece of the pie for all.

For indies, that's a small helping of pie indeed: Ipsos Book Trends found that just 9 percent of all dollars spent on books was paid to indie booksellers in 2004.

"Independent retail is often criticized for failing to adapt and readjust," Theicher said. "The decision by Books Inc. and Cody's and Neal Sofman to open new stores reflects a real resilience and a recognition that if they're going to survive ... they've got to be willing to adapt."

For Sofman, that meant moving into an established residential neighborhood and shrinking his store by two-thirds.

Books Inc. followed a similar recipe to success in the mid-'90s. Michael Tucker took over the company in 1996 when it was a chain of 12 stores. He immediately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed 10 of the stores. In 1997, he began opening smaller stores.

When Books Inc. opens in Opera Plaza in San Francisco in September, that will be the chain's 11th location and its largest by about 1,000 square feet. All 10 current locations are profitable, and annual revenue approaches $25 million.

"Our positioning is independents can't build a destination store -- we go where people are in their normal course of business," which means neighborhood streets, like Burlingame Avenue in Burlingame and Chestnut Street in San Francisco, Tucker said. His small stores also offer an "edited version" of what is out there.

And while still considered an independent, Books Inc. enjoys economies of scale that could help the Opera Plaza location succeed where A Clean Well Lighted Place failed.

No independent bookstore can ever enjoy the economies of scale of the chains. They must find other ways to compete with Barnes & Noble, whose 2005 revenue reached $5.1 billion, and Borders who took in $4 billion.

Author events and community partnerships are essential. And the booksellers become quasi-politicians, stumping about studies that show independent retail contributes at least 60 percent more to a local economy than do big chains where profits are shipped out of town.

"Competition from a big chain is always a problem," Petrocelli said. "Between Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, it's difficult if there's any kind of glitch in your bottom line."

Such glitches forced Cody's and A Clean Well Lighted Place's recent closures, but other locations remain strong, for now. Petrocelli is concerned about a new, 28,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble that will open this fall across the street from Book Passage's 11,000-square-foot Corte Madera store.

Chain stores have historically not been as big a force in the Bay Area as they have elsewhere, due in part to high real estate prices. Hut Landon, executive director of Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, commissioned a 2003 study which found that independent booksellers accounted for 22 percent of all books sold in Northern California, compared with 16 percent nationally. Chain stores in this area accounted for 23 percent of all books sold here, but for almost 30 percent of all books sold nationally.

"In this area, the message and value of shopping locally resonates," Landon said. "The independents here have enough collective strength that their market share is almost the same."

With new Barnes & Nobles and Borders planning to open new Bay Area stores this fall, surviving independent booksellers will continue to find new tactics that make their businesses work.

"Bookselling's a way of life. What am I going to do, sell insurance?" Sofman said. His new store has author events lined up through the summer. "If we can show New York that we can sell serious amounts of books at author events, we can be competitive."

Sarah Duxbury covers retail for the San Francisco Business Times.

[blueberry]

is there a grocery store/produce market around the civic center/hayes valley area? i can't think of any right now. i was thinking (before i heard about Books Inc.) that the opera plaza could really use a grocery store there, like an urban harvest market or something. that would nicely serve many of the new housing developments popping up in the vicinity.

[sf_eddo]

no big chains, but i do most my local grocery shopping at nabilas, a tiny organic market in hayes valley. the two closest are probably the pine/franklin whole foods, and the western addition safeway.

[BTinSF]

is there a grocery store/produce market around the civic center/hayes valley area? i can't think of any right now. i was thinking (before i heard about Books Inc.) that the opera plaza could really use a grocery store there, like an urban harvest market or something. that would nicely serve many of the new housing developments popping up in the vicinity.

When the building was being "developed" it was intended that the space where the movie theater is now (Opera Plaza Cinema) was to be leased by Oakville Grocery. You may not be familiar with them--they closed their only SF location which was on Polk at Sacramento (as I best recall) but they were like a local version of Whole Foods--tres upscale. They still have the original location in Oakville: http://www.oakvillegrocery.com/ . But the deal fell through and at the last minute they roped in the movie theater which required a substantial modification of the space. Instead, a much smaller space in the dark recesses of the ground floor retail court became a small "mom and pop" grocery that was run for 20 years by a nice family from Syria. A couple years ago, they sold and then the people they sold to sold again. I no longer shop there--they have circumscribed the hours and cut back the stock to the point where they never have what I want--if they are open. Mostly they judt do a business selling salads and sandwiches to Civic Center workers. On Sunday I went in, hoping to avoid a trip to Safeway or Mollie Stones, because I need some butter. They didn't have any. Those of us who live in the building have expressed our frustration.

There used to be a fantastic corner market at Franklin and Eddy and I sued to go there, but a couple of years ago that changed hands too and the new owner reduced the clutter by ditching 75% of the stock as well. So now I don't usually bother going there either.

[BTinSF]

no big chains, but i do most my local grocery shopping at nabilas, a tiny organic market in hayes valley. the two closest are probably the pine/franklin whole foods, and the western addition safeway.

I just find Whole Foods too pretentious and the people who shop there too "Cow Hollow". When I get bored with Safeway, I have been going to the Bell Market on Post (between Gough and Franklin) but, as I posted a week or so ago, it is folding. So now the options for a large scale market NOT Safeway will be Albertson's at Fulton and Masonic (formerly Falletti's Fine Foods whose loss, IMHO, has been a tragedy of unimaginable proportions) and Mollie Stone's at California and Steiner.

[San Frangelino]

For anyone interested in a detailed Union Square Map.

I just came across this website http://www.unionsquaresf.net. On the top line there should be a "map" link where you can download a pdf file of union square which lists all the retailers in the area quite well (maybe slightly dated).

Question...I remember reading in the business times Prada was expanding into the vacant retail space at Post and Grant (vacated by Brooks Brothers). On this Map it posts the same information. Does anyone know wether that is dated info? Is there any activity on that space, finally being filled up?

[fflint]

Wow, that map is incredibly detailed. Good find.

[dimondpark]

wow....excellent map!

[blueberry]

great find, thanks!

that's EXACTLY what i was looking for. i'm glad i didn't start one myself!

it's quite new, just maybe a few months dated. agent provacateur isn't in yet, and birkenstocks is gone. but still fairly recent.