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.

NVV: We Read It So You Don't Have To

The Noe Valley Voice is published ten times a year and has been a neighborhood fixture since 1977. Here are highlights from the latest issue. Links are to stories we've covered.

March 2009

• Front page: Noe Valley housing market is slow, Whole Foods offering Tuesday shuttle, City College closing campus at James Lick, Upper Noe Rec Center not offering residents enough time to play, consignment stores busy.
• Cost of Living in Noe: slow market, slightly cheaper; rents down a little from last year.
• Letters: Bye-bye Bell; condemnation for evil candle-condemning priest; NVV attracts Fowler witch hunt, too.
• NVDC: full coverage of last month's meeting.
• Crime Beat: Capt Tacchini asking for more communication with residents; no Peace Blotter this time.
• Feature: Elizabeth Street Brewery.
• Store Trek: Just Awesome!, City Grill.
• Rumors: suggests the reader reference Google for more information on the Obama candle "debate;" picked up more Fowler info from the Fowler family blogs; Contigo opens; Noe Soup likely not opening due to investor pull-out [Ed.-- Perhaps Tuttimelon can buy their conditional use permit]; CSAA is closing; Cover-to-Cover to offer free delivery; Basso's giving seniors a 15% discount.
• Bonus: The Voice made it to Dover Castle, India, Thailand and even Florida, and the pictures to prove it are back.
  

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVDC Town Forum: SFPD, Whole Foods & More

This month's edition of the Noe Valley Democratic Club meeting was much more crowded than usual. The reason? Likely the community interest in the arrival of Whole Foods on 24th St. Over 150 people attended a meeting that usually has 12-20 participants. The panelists included representatives from the SFPD, the NVA, Whole Foods and a surprise representative of the shuttered Real Foods -- all MC'd by Bevan Dufty.

SFPD Mission District Captain Stephen Tacchini

• Victim of a theft or break-in? Report it! Resources are allocated to a police area based on the number of reports and the department maps trends. You can report online here.
• Only 1,000 reported incidents in Noe the last 6 months (vs. 200,0000 per year in the Mission)
• There has been an increase in burglaries in the last year which is finally starting to decrease – you can help by locking windows and keeping valuables out of your parked cars (laptops, cameras, cell phones are the big targets)
• There have been a few armed robberies – and they’ve recently made some arrests
• Got a rogue garage business to report? Officer Miguel in code enforcement can help

When the floor opened to questions the biggest concerns were:

• Can I park my SMART car perpendicular to the curb? (No)
• How do I get the Examiner to stop littering my doorstep - and so people don't break into an obviously empty building? (Bevan actually said to call or email him for help)
• When school is out MUNI is hell (Deputy Chief Tony Parra monitors MUNI for the SFMTA)

Whole Foods

The info was much the same as previously reported, but with the following new tidbits:

• The Campanga family (that owns the property at 3950 24th St) donated $5,000 to green the front of the lot
• Whole Foods will break ground mid-March with a projected September 1st opening
• They are committed to a one-day-a-week shuttle to the Potrero location, with more possible if demand requires and/or justifies it
• The recycling center will remain, but will be more “aesthetically pleasing” and "suit the neighborhood"
• Considering opening the lot for a farmer’s market one day (midweek) during construction
• Whole Paycheck? “38% cheaper than Bell Markets on produce; 25% cheaper store wide.” (Based on apples-to-apples comparison.) “Meats and seafood are competitive, but quality is higher.” - Joe Rogoff, VP for Whole Foods Market Northern California
• Hours: 8am-10pm; delivery receiving to maintain existing hours, but with smaller trucks/box vans, and will continue to load on 24th St (not Elizabeth St)
• Employees will not be allowed to park in the lot [Ed. -- which means more parking will be available than when Bell was operating], and will be encouraged not to drive to work
• The 24th St Cheese Co is the only merchant that has expressed concern about competition, and the NVMPA and WF are working to allay concerns
• BONUS: Joe Rogoff confirmed that Whole Foods has signed a contract to open in a new development at Market and Dolores –- which should alleviate traffic to Noe Valley (if built)

Suggestions:

• Add recycling bins to the front of the empty lot during construction
• Senior discount? No
• Hire laid off union employees from Bell (They’ll have first dibs to interview)
• Will there be food for lazy vegans? Yes

Real Foods Neutraceutical, represented by Sergio Diaz of Fresh Organics

New:

• Reached a settlement agreement with Real Foods workers yesterday and so “now we can talk about this.”
  
• Have gone through various design and planning phases over the last five years, but now don’t have enough money to do what they wanted so will start the process over with “scaled back” plans
• They do not have a Conditional Use permit [Ed -- which means a hearing in front of the Planning Commission and probably 2 years until anything happens]

Old:

• Unrepentant about the process, but “I do apologize to the neighborhood for five years of this.”

Suggestion:

• Sell, and get the _____ out while you can. (“We want to prove we can have a good store.”)
  

UPDATE: Cooks Boulevard has a more thorough account of Sergio's appearance.

Noe Valley Association, Deb Neimann, President

Very brief:

• We did: Crosswalks, planters, street furniture
• Got ideas or feedback? Call/email

[NVSF: Whole Foods Responds]
[NVSF: Update: Whole Foods]
[NVSF: Blight: Real Foods]

Bell Market is Closed - Now What?

Bell Market, February 14, 2009

With Bell Market closing its doors on February 15, 2009, at 4:00PM, Noe Valley will be without a major grocer until Whole Foods opens next fall. Here's a list of local places to go until then (and perhaps after).

Noe Valley Farmer's Market
Every Saturday, 8:00AM - 1:00PM
3861 24th Street, between Sanchez and Vicksburg
http://www.noevalleyfarmersmarket.com/

Seasonal, local, organic and natural fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, bread, nuts, honey. Also prepared food of the Mexican, Indian and smoothie varieties. Live music. Lots of strollers. Bonus: you get to meet your neighbors.

26th & Guerrero Market
1400 Guerrero Street
415-282-6274
http://www.26thandguerreromarket.com/

"Your Neighborhood Health Food Store"
Natural and organic fruits and vegetables, Acme Bread, vitamins/supplements, fresh flowers, beer, wine and liquor.

Valencia Farmer's Market
1299 Valencia Street @ 24th St
415-282-6863

Not truly a farmer's market but plenty of organic fruits and vegetables, fresh juices, bulk-bin cereal, and Kombucha. One block from the BART station.

Church Produce
1798 Church St @ 30th
415-282-1153

Strong mix of organic and non-organic fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, olive bar. Church Produce was recommended by many commenters in a recent thread.

Casa Guadalupe
2909 Mission Street @ 25th St
415-642-8355

Full service market with fresh fruits/veggies, butcher, Latin-American specialties. Super affordable.

Drewes Bros. Meats
1706 Church St @ 29th St
415-821-0515
http://www.drewesbros.com/

"We are a full service butcher shop that specializes in only the highest quality products."
Meat, fish and poultry from Niman Ranch, Angus Meyer, Natural Hill. All-natural, free-range, no hormones antibiotics or preservatives. Special orders - no problem.

Fresh Meat Market
2704 Mission St @ 23rd St
415-550-8044

Fresh (read: wrigglng) fish, seafood, meat and poultry. Not organic or free-range, but you can get just about anything here super cheap.

24th Street Cheese Company
3893 24th Street @ Sanchez St
415-821-6658

Cheese! Also sausages, pâté, prosciutto, wine, olives, other specialty items.

Pasta Gina
741 Diamond St @ 24th St
415-282-0738

Fresh and frozen pasta, house-made sauces, prepared foods, wine, bread, cheeses, olives, and anything else for a quick dinner or picnic. And don't forget the cannoli!

And ... of course there are these options:

• Safeway (Diamond Heights or Mission St)
• Tower Market / Mollie Stone
• DeLano's IGA on South Van Ness

Please add suggestions, recommendations or testimony in the comments. Let Noe know what you love and why you love it.

[NVSF: Bell Market: Winding Down]
[NVSF: All posts tagged Whole Foods]
[NVSF: All posts tagged Farmer's Market]
[Photo: Pasta Gina -- Yelp]

NVV: We Read It So You Don't Have To

The Noe Valley Voice is published ten times a year and has been a neighborhood fixture since 1977. Here are highlights from the latest issue. Links are to stories we've covered.

February 2009

• Whole Foods is on the way. There's a front-page article, a 2 color full-page ad promising "early fall" and other mentions throughout.
• A priest is upset about an Obama candle at Just For Fun. (Ironic, no?)
  
• 24th Street merchants worried about closure of Bell Market, but optimistic that Whole Foods will bring more foot traffic to the area.
  
• Obits: Dave Cannata (co-owner of Hidden Cottage B&B); nice memorial to Blake Egoian.
• Cost of living in Noe: the national economic meltdown has hit Noe Valley, but only a little. It's still expensive to live here.
• Crime Beat? Still happening. But now, in the Age of Obama, NVV features a Peace Blotter "showing how neighborhood conflicts can be resolved without threats, litigation or a call to police."
• Short Takes: NVDC forum, Bethany moving to the Mission during renovation.
• Rumors: Not much...except: "Harry Aleo's estate was worth nearly $24 million," and many of his Noe properties are for sale now (we believe it's all the buildings with Barbagelata signs). The parking lot across from his office may be named for him, because he was the president of the Merchant's Association in 1959 and championed the purchase of that land as a parking lot for the commercial district.
• A full page (ad?) dedicated to the schedule at the Upper Noe Valley Rec Center. Also available online.
• Notably not in the NVV: pictures of Noe Valley residents who've schlepped the Voice to far off places. Sign of a soft economy?

[The Noe Valley Voice]

Bell Market Employee Farewell

This flyer was handed out at the Farmer's Market this morning:

Join the Board of the Noe Valley Farmer's Market and other long-time shoppers and neighbors in honoring the service provided by the workers at Bell Market, which will permanently close its doors on February 15, 2009.

Some of Bell's most loyal and capable employees--all proud members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union--have worked the Noe Valley store for over 30 years and have witnessed many changes to our neighborhood over this long history. During all that time, they have provided our community with excellent service, always treating us with politeness and respect--and often with warmth and humor--while expertly working along the aisles or at check-out counters or weighing out and packaging meat and fish or other specialty items. Although many of these workers did not live in out neighborhood, they have always been a true part of our community and in many cases have become our friends who have added greatly to the experience of shopping at Bell. These men and women have been the ones to supply Noe Valley with most of the staple foods we all eat every day and have contributed greatly to making Bell Market a venerable Noe Valley institution.

We will hold a ceremony in the presence of the Bell workers honoring their contribution next Saturday, February [7] at 11am in the horseshoe park area immediately adjoining the farmer's market.

Not everyone would agree with the hyperbole above, but the employees are losing their jobs in a tough market. Let's hope Whole Foods rehires the competent ones.

What: Ceremony to honor Bell Market employees
When: Saturday, February 7, 11:00am
Where: Park adjacent to Noe Valley Farmer's Market


[NVSF: Bell Market: Winding Down]

Update: Whole Foods

A reader passed on notes from the Upper Noe Neighbors meeting last night at the Upper Noe Rec Center. We didn't have the group on our radar, as they've been quiet for months, but here's a description of who they are: "For 18 years, UNN has helped champion and improve their neighborhood. Whether the challenge is oversized development, screeching Muni tracks or calming traffic, the UNN has been dedicated and effective." If you attend a neighborhood meeting, please pass along your notes so that we may share them with the community.

On the agenda: Whole Foods and Congestion Pricing (yet ironically unrelated).

Whole Foods:

In brief:

• Bell Market closes on Valentine's Day
  
• Whole Foods takes over lease March 1
  
• Filed Change of Use on 1/29 (no details online yet)
  
• Community open house at St. Philips on February 18 (details as we get them)
  
• Planning Commission hearing on Feb 19
  
• Projected opening October 2009

Space:

• keep building structure and parking lot
  
• fix up and remodel interior
  

Products:

• Core goods only -- no Whole Body, no cafe, no kitchen stuff
• yes bakery, yes supplements, some prepared foods

[Trivia: the Mill Valley WF is about the same size and a good example of what to expect for product mix. For reference, the Franklin and Soma locations are twice the size of 3901 24th St.]

Rumors:

• Possible shuttle to other markets for eldery while under construction
  
• Possible temporary leases (perhaps Streetlight) for basic groceries while under construction
  
• Bevan Dufty and City have fast-tracked the permit process
• WF has tried, but been unable to secure a deal to take over the Real Foods space
  
• Confirmed they're in talks with the developer at Dolores/Market, but would not say more

Community Wishlist:

• Stroller lane for checkout, dog zone outside store -- "This is Noe Valley"
• Use of parking lot while shopping at other 24th St locations (not likely to happen)
• Shuttle/delivery service for neighborhood residents
  

The community liaison for this project lives in Noe Valley, and works at the 4th/Harrison location. His name is Andrew Calabrese, and his email is andrew.calabrese@wholefoods.com. He's fielding all questions and suggestions from the neighborhood.

Also feel free to discuss in the comments and we'll make sure he's reading.


Congestion Pricing: Principal Transportation Planner Zabe Bent gave a presentation explaining the hypothetical plans for charging automobile drivers to cross in and out of parts (or all) of San Francisco. She emphasized that the study is still in the early phase, and hopes to learn from trials in London, Stockholm and Rome. For information on the project, upcoming meetings or how to get involved visit the San Francisco County Transportation Authority website, or send comments/questions to Zabe Bent or mobility@sfcta.org. Most useful concern expressed: don't let Noe Valley become a park and ride for downtown commuters.

[Side note: Bevan Dufty is the new chairman of the SFCTA.]

Notables in attendance: Gwen Sanderson (NVMPA President), District 8 Supervisor hopefuls Rafael Mandelmann and Scott Wiener, as well as representatives from the Transit Authority and Whole Foods. 15-20 residents and members of UNN also attended.

[NVSF: Bell Market: Winding Down]
[SFCTA: Congestion Pricing]

Bell Market: Winding Down

A reader tipped us that Bell Market's inventory is dwindling ahead of its Valentine's Day closing, so we took a field trip and here are a few shots of what we saw.

It appears that perishables (milk and meat) are being restocked, but other items like TP, sodas and all the crap junk instant foods in the center aisles are consolidating. The bulk bins are down to chaff and one aisle is closed off. But fear not: beer cases are piled in the aisles.





In sum: It's sadder than usual in there.

It's also going to be quiet on 24th Street when Bell Market shuts its doors, especially given all the other closings on 24th Street. Merchants seem to understand this - Ritz Camera cut its hours this week (no Sundays anymore), and other stores are offering deep discounts. It's going to be a long season until Whole Foods' arrival re-energizes Noe Valley's main commercial district.

[NVSF: Closing: More Rumors on 24th Street]
[NVV: Rumors Behind the News: Changes Left and Right]
[NVSF: NVV: We Read It So You Don't Have To]

NVV: We Read It So You Don't Have To

The Noe Valley Voice is published ten times a year, and while we love the idea -- it's pretty lightweight. Here's everything you want to know from the latest issue.

December 2008 / January 2009

• Front Page: Noe Valley Farmer's Market 5 years strong; founders/volunteers still lament Real Foods.
• Obits: Historian Paul Kantus; Architect Albert Lanier.
• Planned: Bell Market closes on Valentine's Day, Whole Foods takes over March 1st and plans to be open by September - expect community meetings with the NVMPA and Friends of Noe Valley; FoNV is also meeting with the City to replace the individual news boxes on 24th St with "news-rack pedestals;" Streetlight Record's space may be turning into a clothing retailer.
• Opening: Kookez is slated to become City Grill, according to Stefano Coppola (Lupa), and promises "classic American fare" by mid-December; Just Awesome Games is opening in mid-December at 816 Diamond St.
• Open: Jeff & Eddie's Henry's Hunan; Cary Lane; Jewelry Box.
• Closing: Glare.
• Events: Noel Stroll - Dec 13
• Charity: Drop off toys at Hill & Co; SF Food Bank (PDF) has no drop-off locations in Noe Valley. The SF Food Bank has three year-round drop off locations in Noe Valley: Terra Mia, Bell Market and Noe Valley Ministry. More info here. (Our mistake, not the NVV's.)
• Cost of living in Noe: single-family residences unchanged year-on-year; condos up. And don't forget the new record $5.8M SFR. Rent: slowly increasing.
• Award: Noe Valley Association: "Best Community Benefit District" in San Francisco.
• News of the Weird: John Adams has been reincarnated as NV resident Walter Semkiw (really - there's a full page about it).

[The Noe Valley Voice]

Forget Whole Foods - Noe Needs a Parking Lot

At least that's what some commenters over at The Front Steps would have you believe. They seem to think that the only way to keep Noe Valley vibrant and a "charming little neighborhood" is to tear down Bell Market and pave it over so that more people can drive here and shop. Given that the Noe Valley Merchants Association has long fought for more parking, we're going to go ahead and postulate that they are behind the campaign to keep Whole Foods far away from here. They're not against Whole Foods - they just don't want it in our back yard. A parking lot would be better.

Also claimed: Whole Foods is evil because they are a large chain store. Good thing we don't have any of those here.

So what do you think? Should Noe Valley lobby for a parking lot in the middle of the strip? (We could be just like Burlingame.) How 'bout we make 24th St. a pedestrian and bike mall?

Update: An NVPMA board member let us know that they are not organizing this campaign at this time: "While I don't believe that we've taken an official position on Whole Foods, the general consensus among the NVMPA board and members seems to be that Whole Foods' arrival is, to borrow Martha's line, a Good Thing."

[The Front Steps: Battle Royale: Cole Valley Vs. Noe Valley]

690 Stanyan St: Approved!

Curbed SF is reporting that the Planning Commission yesterday gave unanimous approval to the development at 690 Stanyan St. Why do we care? Because the anchor tenant is Whole Foods, and it replaces a Cala (Bell) Market. Sound familiar?

The latest reporting in the Noe Valley Voice is that:

Bell Market...has lost its lease and will be closing in February 2009. However, the space will be occupied by a new Whole Foods Market, going in sometime after April 2009.
...
Mark Campagna, spokesperson for property owner Anchor Realty, told this Voice reporter last month that there were no plans to demolish the 16,000-plus-square-foot structure, although the 24th Street store is small by Whole Foods (and Kroger) standards, where the average size is twice to three times as large.

Campagna said he did not know how long it would take Whole Foods to reopen the store, but he estimated it would be a matter of several months.

FWIW, there is no record of a permit application on file with the Planning Department for the location on 24th St. So if they're actually planning on opening next spring they better get on it. At least the decision re: 690 Stanyan St. shows that if Whole Foods is subject to a large-scale review of any project on 24th St, they have a sympathetic ear at the Planning Commission.

While we'd prefer to see housing over retail and the elimination of the parking lot, we agree with the decision to keep the building as is and move in as soon as possible.

Now we have to see if Whole Foods continues to have faith in San Francisco in light of the recent economic downturn.

[Curbed SF: Approved, with love: 690 Stanyan's Mixed-Use Whole Foods]
[NVV: Rumors Behind the News - Market Fluctuations]