July 26, 2011

Sign Of The Times: St. Clair's Liquors

A reader sent this note highlighting yet another business feeling the pressure Whole Foods is exerting on neighborhood businesses to step it up a notch:
So I started out today dropping off a pair of boots at Mike's Shoe Repair. Then picked up a nice bottle of scotch and some wine at Plumpjack followed by some fresh seafood and produce at Whole Foods. On my way to 24th St Cheese Co I passed the attached sign at St. Clair's Liquors. I stopped shopping there years ago because of high prices and mediocre selection -- long before Whole Foods moved in.
What's this all about? According to the ABC, Whole Foods is pursuing an off sale liquor license.

The sign reads:
Whole Foods Market is hurting many businesses in Noe Valley. However, they are not done yet. Whole Foods Market is determined to hurt more businesses in our community. Call supervisor Scott Weiner [sic] at (415) 554-6968 or email him at Scott.Wiener@sfgov.org and let him know that you are against Whole Foods Market selling LIQUOR in Noe Valley. Please, protest to the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control by filling a protest form.
Hmmm...Bell/Ralph's/Delanos sold beer/wine/liquor and St Clair's survived. And St Clair's has its own predatory history.

Meanwhile, Urban Cellars, Bell Market and GrayStone (24th/Castro) are all gone. Given that there are fewer places to buy liquor in Noe Valley than 10 years ago we're not buying St Clair's protest.

26 comments:

ben said...

These business owners have to understand that NO-ONE OWES THEM A LIVING. If insist on depending on goodwill and playing politics to survive, they will not. They need to differentiate themselves in the marketplace; offer something that their competitors don't. Whining isn't going to cut it.

First Drewe's Meats, no St Clair's -- is it a coincidence that the shabby, grumpy, not-all-that-great stores are feeling the pinch a bit more?

Anonymous said...

I will email scott.wiener@sfgov.org to voice my support for Whole Foods carrying liquor. Fewer stops to make when preparing for a dinner party.

Anonymous said...

Here we go again. More older businesses whining and complaining about the competition. Yet they do nothing to upgrade their products or customer service. I support WF for selling whatever they choose to sell.

Change your business model, open up to your customer base or:

Fail.

murphstahoe said...

+1 million.

We have some new businesses in the neighborhood - Little Chihuhua and Patxi's - that have some good products and very good customer service, and holy moley - they are packed.

Though I will say this - St Clair's Liquor does not complain when I bring my bike into the store ;)

Anonymous said...

I like St. Clair's; sure, it's a little overpriced, but it's way more convenient that waiting in line a Whole Foods if I just need a bottle of wine.

That said, you make a good point - they managed to survive for years when Bell Market sold liquor, so there's no apparent reason why they can't survive if WF does the same.

Nelson said...

Whole Foods may sell liquor? Awesome!

You know what would go great in the Real Foods space? A Bevmo.

Anonymous said...

Someone mentioned "Little Chihuahua" and "Patxi's"... both chains. small & local chains...but both chains. If you want to live in Walnut Creek or anywhere USA then keep supporting Whole Foods, Pasta Pomodoro, Starbucks, and the like, you'll be rewarded with a drab, colorless neighborhood where nobody has any ownership and minimum wage fuckwits are bussed in to "serve" you. If not, then don't criticize small business owners for taking desperate steps to stay afloat!

jfeltonjr said...

I support WF's right to sell what they want and find businesses whining and trying to stifle competition just wrong. However, I think that it is a bit ironic that when I posted a comment similar to the ones here regarding a certain bookstore closing due, I thought, to a lack of customer service, I was roundly criticized and personally vilified. Could it be that certain people in our neighborhood will cut more slack to a white owned bookstore than a minority owned liquor store. Not accusing anyone, just sayin'.

murphstahoe said...

If Drewes were taking "useful measures" instead of "desperate measures", they'd be fine. In fact, they'd probably be doing so well, they'd expand to a second location!

Anonymous said...

Totally agree with the "competition" approach. Now given that, I take my wine shopping to Plumpjacks and my cheese/specialty goods to the cheese shop because those are such great shops I'd be heartbroken should either go out of business. But I have a better experience there too... better selection, good friendly knowledgeable people. The same can't be said for either Drewes or St Clair.

Godot said...

Wait wait, Paxti's a chain? Like Starbucks or, dare I say, Pizza Hut? Be rational, anonymous 11:29am. We're not quite in Anywhere USA yet. Not that I like Paxti's, I think it's awful. But I'd much rather have a LOCAL chain here (think about Martha & Bros. too - they rock!) than another international one. And I have never shopped at St. Claire...way too funky and miserable. Plumpjack is much better, if quite overpriced.

And yes, if we're not getting a Trader Joe's in the old RF space, then Bevmo sounds great! I'm no fan of WF either, by the way.

Anonymous said...

It is a bit strange to see one Noe Valley merchant attack another. I doubt Bob St. Clair would have posted this type of "Notice"

I will say the new paint is great!

Anonymous said...

jfeltonjr -

"Minority owned liquor store"? What minority?

Anonymous said...

These are the guys who ran Rose Quartz out of business by raising their rent to an extraordinary sum, then opened the Jewelry Box in its place, which failed miserably, and now they're gouging the cute little jewelry shop that is there now. Looks like their support of small businesses is limited to their own.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree with the comment above. These folks own the building and kicked Rose Quartz out, an 18-year old, well-established business with very loyal customers, in order to open their own jewelry store. Apparently they thought it was easy to run a jewelry store, but they obviously had no clue as to how to do it. The jewelry in there was completely unoriginal and the one time I went in to check it out a few days after it opened the guy who was working didn't even look my way. So no surprise that didn't work out and now they're complaining? Plus, they are painting the building at the moment (you can see the scaffolding in the reflection in the window in the pic) so the place is basically hidden at the moment, but they chose to blame WF instead of the scaffolding that is obstructing the place. The way to build business is to introduce new products, have competitive prices, and act like you actually care about your customers. As this blog says, Bell Market had everything St. Clair's sells and they didn't complain back then. I would actually like to avoid the lines at WF and support local businesses, but not when they go around blaming others for their inability to properly run a business, and kick out a long time tenant who would probably have paid the rent if they had increased it to the maximum allowed. I wonder how much money they lost during the months they weren't collecting any rent or gaining any profit with their own jewelry store? ZERO sympathy here.

Anonymous said...

I don't care what you people say. I consider WF my "local" place to shop. Love the products, the people, the service. Other day there, I asked a guy about French wines. He talked to me for about 15 minutes on what they have to offer and made great recommendations.

WF has my vote. They may not always be the lowest price, but service counts a LOT there.

Anonymous said...

BevMo in Noe Valley? Yeah, exactly what we need around here - a chain liquor store. Are you guys nuts?! Why don't we ask Costco to move in while we're at it.

Anonymous said...

I wonder what really is behind the "hatred" and "vitriol" against so called chain businesses, or businesses with multiple locations.

Is it just the narrow minded belief that "local" is good and "chain" is bad? Is there no balance? Quite often, as we are seeing now here in Noe that local can also really mean poor service, inferior products and aloof business manners.

Starbucks has been here a while now and yet Marthas and Bernies both appear to be thriving and carving out their own loyal customer base. Congrats to them!

I personally think that many Noe Valleyans need to stop acting and thinking so smug to assume that ONLY local will be the best for our little 'hood.

This is simply arrogance and myopic thinking at its' worst.

murphstahoe said...

And many of the "local" one outlet stores in Noe Valley are owned by people who live in South San Francisco or Pacifica anyway.

Anonymous said...

If BevMo wants to move in and pay rent and run a business then they should be allowed to. They will bring in additional business to others.

Stop complaining all you self-righteous, smug NV complainers. Embrace change, embrace growth.

Anonymous said...

This thread is a classic example of the Balkanization of Noe Valley. When will people around here understand that every neighborhood in
San Francisco is special....not just us.

Anonymous said...

The reason I'm against chain stores coming into Noe is not just because they aren't local -- because as many of you have pointed out, many "local" businesses are not truly local. The reason I'm anti-chain is because I'm in favor of trying to maintain the unique flavor of individual neighborhoods. The diversity / distinct feel of each neighborhood is one of the most charming things about San Francisco, IMO. It's why drew my husband and me to Noe. I'm not disputing that chains have become a convenient part of life and fulfill a need. But chains have the indisputable downside of making neighborhoods lose their individual character. And that character, whatever it may be, is what draws and attracts us to a particular area. I particularly applaud Walgreen's for selecting a site that is close to 24th, but not on it. There are plenty of side streets that could house the title companies, realtors and other businesses that have over-run 24th St. And as for a BevMo-like chain ... are you guys NUTS???? You can't drive to the one on Bayshore two miles away when you go to Lowe's, FlowerCraft, Smart and Final, etc. on the week-end?

Anonymous said...

The latest comment, above, just shows how irrational people think when it comes to the discussion of "chain" businesses vs. "local" businesses.

So let me get this right: Having a chain store, like Walgreens on a "side" street is ok, but not on 24th, because that would change the character or "charm" of NV?

You're not serious are you?

What a ridiculous way of thinking.

Anonymous said...

To the last commenter:

Yup, that's exactly what I'm saying! And I'm just as entitled to my opinion as you are!

Anonymous said...

Why, of course you're entitled to your opinion, but what an "unusual" way of defining neighborhood charm.

It's really laughable to see the side streets as less charming than 24th st.

Wow. you must be new here.

murphstahoe said...

You can't drive to the one on Bayshore two miles away when you go to Lowe's, FlowerCraft, Smart and Final, etc. on the week-end?

--> Personally I prefer to spend my weekend in Noe Valley if at all possible. That doesn't mean we need a BevMo, there are plenty of alcohol options in the neighborhood. It's worth a premium to be able to walk to the store - chain or not. Anything that keeps the store fronts open and a variety of retail, s'good by me.