Joshua Simon To Close Sooner Than Later

As was first reported in the April Noe Valley Voice Rumors section, Joshua Simon is closing after 35 years on 24th St. The owners decided to retire and listed the business for sale, and the expected closing date was the end of June. But with all inventory now 25% off and rapidly dwindling, the (teary) staff said they will likely close in the next few weeks if not sooner.

Joshua Simon was featured briefly in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City (along with other local merchants) and first broadcast 21 years ago. The Joshua Simon awning looked almost exactly then as it does today ... end of an era.

Here's the Tales of the City clip - skip to 2:48 for the setup and scene featuring Christmas on 24th St:

Announced: Mill

The Castro district's Unionmade is opening a women's clothing store in Noe Valley. Via Refinery 29:

Just yesterday, Barket told us, the Unionmade powers that be have started renovating a former liquor store at 3751 24th Street, on the corner of Chattanooga, in Noe Valley. The resulting property will become Mill, Unionmade's first-ever womenswear shop.

More details pending. Stay tuned.

[Unionmade]
[NVSF: Live The Dream: Prime Corner Space For Lease]

Announced: Walkershaw Clothing Men's Boutique

Many of you have commented that Noe Valley needs a men's clothing store. Violà! A sign on the door at 4010 24th St (once the site of a gyspy turf war) simply states that Castro St retailer Walkershaw Clothing is opening a men's store. "Coming soon."

Open: Two Birds Boutique

The nest is ready and the new women's clothing store, Two Birds, opened today in the old Cook's Boulevard space. The roomy two-level store specializes in upscale fashion and expensive jeans. If you like what you've seen at Lola, Two Birds will be another welcome stop on that stretch of Castro.

Two Birds
1309 Castro @ 24th St.

[NVSF: Announced: Two Birds Boutique in Former Cooks Boulevard Space]

Announced: Two Birds Boutique in Former Cooks Boulevard Space

Just spotted this evening - a new women's clothing store is moving into the old Cook's Boulevard space (CB closed in March 2010). The windows are papered over with fashion magazine pages and a sign in the window says:

two birds boutique
Flying in mid-February
(we're getting our nest ready!)

Also on that stretch of Castro at 24th, the pop-up boutique LOLA hung a more permanent shingle and appears to be staying awhile.

Closing: Apple Blossom

Another bit of mini-blight in Noe's center: The women's clothing boutique tucked between Cotton Basics and a nail salon on Castro at 24th St (1303 Castro St) is closing its doors. Everything is ~50 percent off while supplies last.

Meanwhile, the former Cooks Boulevard spot a few doors down is also still empty. And around the corner, the postage-stamp-sized Mop Salon (4081 24th St) closed and the space is for rent as of late September.

Closing: Cary Lane

After just over a year in Noe, today was the last day for hip discount clothing store Cary Lane on 24th St. Owner Cary LaScala hasn't found a new location yet, but hopes to move the fashion shop to (hipper) Hayes Valley, or the (hipster) Valencia corridor within a few weeks to a month. Look for the new location to be posted on the store's web site when it's available. No word yet on what if anything will fill the space at 3813 24th St @Church.

S'long, Cary Lane, we hardly knew ye.

[NVSF: NV Natural Foods -> Cary Lane SF]

Opening: Cary Lane

Cary LaScala has let us know that Cary Lane will open the day after Thanksgiving in the old Noe Valley Natural Foods space. You'll recall that Cary Lane will stock "both Men's and Women's designer clothes, shoes, and accessories at a discount."

What: Cary Lane
Where: 3813 24th St (@ Church St)
When: Friday November 28, 2008
Hours: TBD, but likely 12-8pm

[NVSF: NV Natural Foods --> Cary Lane SF]
[Official Site: Cary Lane]

NV Natural Foods --> Cary Lane SF

Noe Valley Natural Foods opened in December of 2006 at 3813 24th St @ Church, and then abruptly closed late this spring. Now there is logo paper covering the windows, and a website has been activated (sort of).

So far, all we know is from the logo:

Cary Lane SF: Men's & Women's Apparel

Stay Tuned.

Update (9/26): Here's what owner Cary LaScala has to say:

We are under construction right now, laying down bamboo flooring this weekend, then fitting rooms, then painting, etc. We are going to carry both Men's and Women's designer clothes, shoes, and accessories at a discount. I want to also include Children's items as Noe Valley is such a baby booming market. We get samples and random items from designer brands and retail department stores from around the country. I am expecting to open tentatively at the end of October, early November.