- The Just for Fun parklet holiday decorations are all over Instagram [adrienneelzbth]
- Video of brazen Santa-looking thief stealing poinsettias in the hood [@ddudgeon]
- Christmas music on Christmas eve in the newly-renovated NV Ministry [Noe Valley Ministry]
- At last - rain! And the downpour created a small lake in Noe Valley [@DanielAndefors]
- The ceiling (and roof?) in Starbucks took a beating [@dplattsf]
- Epic flooding during the rain on Valley at Dolores St [@cvonhaxthausen]
- Rainbow alert over Noe Valley [Burrito Justice]
- Gorgeous sushi from Saru [kewyn15]
- Mike from Mike’s Shoe Repair in Noe Valley spotted in the Financial District [@ddudgeon]
- Scott Wiener’s December Newsletter [Scott Weiner]
- ICYMI: Plans to develop the Real Foods building are coming soon [NVSF]
- Holiday trees that eventually become street trees available through Dec 19 [@SFPublicLibrary]
- Philz Coffee in Noe Valley is getting a makeover [@rohitjenveja]
- The Wishing Tree in Noe Valley inspires another in Portland [TravelPulse]
- Bom Dia Market opened today [@BomDiaMarket]
The Just for Fun owners seem to like gaudy and loud on their parklet. The music, esp all year round, sucks.
ReplyDeleteIt's audio pollution. Plus their store is so crowded with junk, it's hard to find anything.
They have no idea what moderation and style really is.
Each to his own, I guess. But I think we're lucky to have Just for Fun in the neighborhood. The owners and the people who work there are always helpful and friendly. And the resident dogs are an added bonus.
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to their Christmas decorations -- I think they add a lot of sparkle and festivity to the neighborhood. The parklet is always scrupulously maintained, and it's a pleasant stopping off point as well as a place for kids to get their art on. Yes, their store is crowded, but that's why they almost always have what I need (plus a lot of stuff I didn't even know I need). In my view, they're an asset to Noe Valley and a welcome departure from soulless chain stores who could care less about our community.
The owners are paranoid. They constantly follow people around in the store to make sure they don't steal any crap.
ReplyDeleteI shop in Just For Fun on occasion and have never seen the owners following anyone around "paranoid" over theft. The people who work there do occasionally come around and ask if you need help finding something - that's good customer service. I imagine a store like that with so much merchandise could attract shoplifters.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that Just for Fun has had its share of theft / shoplifting, so with all the little hidden nooks and crannies in the place, it's easy to understand that they need to keep an eye out.
ReplyDeleteAs for Starbucks being on two corners, I think that the 2nd corner referenced by a previous poster is the corner occupied by Boulange, which is owned by Starbucks (two stores which I avoid). Keeping it local if I possible can!
Starbucks is not the evil empire. They are just as local as Marthas. Deriding Starbucks or other larger businesses is a trendy urban attitude assumed by those who are new here and who think they know what is best for all of us.
ReplyDelete"They are just as local as Marthas."
ReplyDeleteRight. That is if Martha's hadn't started in Noe Valley and instead had started in Seattle and then grown into a $60 billion multi-national corporation.
No thanks - I'll keep my local dollars with a local company.
"Deriding Starbucks or other larger businesses is a trendy urban attitude assumed by those who are new here…"
ReplyDeleteThat brought a chuckle. Apparently Anon it is you that does not know the difference between local and multinational and must have just recently arrived. Martha and Bros has 4 stores in SF, the first being the 24th St store which opened in 1987. Starbucks has dozens of stores in SF alone and is a wealthy enough multi national corporation to buy the 7 store La Boulamge for $11million. Their coffee stinks.
"Deriding Starbucks or other larger businesses is a trendy urban attitude assumed by those who are new here and who think they know what is best for all of us."
ReplyDeleteI had to read this sentence twice to make sure I had read it right. The anon. poster (mgr of the Starbucks store?) who made this statement is speaking for her / himself, not for the many longtime residents of Noe such as myself who have seen many changes to the neighborhood over the last 20 years - some good, some not so good. The changes that, IMO, have detracted from the vibrancy of the neighborhood are the many realtors, banks, title companies, other financial institutions, and medical and dental offices that now over-populate 24th St. These types of businesses are vital to the pulse of any community, but 24th St. has been overrun with them. I do wish that most of these destination-type businesses were on side streets where they would still be readily available but not in the thick of the shopping area.
The big chain stores, notably Starbucks and Boulange, seem like a poor choice to spend my money in an area that has great local alternatives like Bernie's, Martha's, Philz and any number of other places to get good coffee. The sale of Real Foods, once a bustling hub of quality organic food, to Nutraceuticals was a disaster of epic proportions that hit the neighborhood economy hard. It should be painfully obvious to anyone by now that national chains don't care about neighborhoods.
Thank you to the small shops that have been the backbone of our little village for as long as I've lived here: Small Fries, Pasta Gina, Just for Fun, Terra Mia, and many others. These owners do positive things for the community, giving of their time and money to beautify and make our neighborhood the wonderful place we all love.
@ anon at 11:03.
ReplyDeleteYou're way off base. The "vibrancy" of 24th is alive and thriving and even WITH all the businesses you seem to deride and dismiss. They are just as valid as the other businesses, including Starbucks and LaBoulange. Ever notice how busy and full those two coffee places are? Hmm. People seem to like them, as well as Bernies and Marthas. All are viable and welcome to the neighborhood.
You and many others just deride the so called chains and larger businesses because it's the cool, hip thing to do. Your urban smugness is tiresome.
BTW: I've lived and own in Noe now for over 30 years, love it and have enjoyed seeing the changes. It's one of the best neighborhoods in all of San Francisco.
Too bad you can't see it that way.
"You and many others just deride the so called chains and larger businesses because it's the cool, hip thing to do. Your urban smugness is tiresome."
ReplyDeleteThis statement is tiresome.
While I do not stand outside chain stores with pitchfork in hand I am grateful there are limits in SF (and Noe) on what can come in. Where my mom lives in Sacramento I have seen what can happen when boxes stores come in (and whether with intent or as a side effect) all the local shops disappear and soon the uniformity of the box store offerings is all that is left. I do like the variety that local shops provide and therefore, I am willing to go out of my way (and pay it bit more) to ensure that can continue.
ReplyDeleteYes, anon. 10:41.
ReplyDeleteSaid beautifully.
Just for Fun reminds me a dollar store. I guess if I had no imagination and could care less about what I'm giving, it would be a gift store I shop at. It would certainly be a better place than that big box store that only cares about its shareholders. I am for local family owned businesses, chain or not.
ReplyDelete