Opening Saturday: Noe Valley Wine Merchants

We've been watching the space at 3821 24th St since last summer when Eater SF announced that Urban Cellars would become Noe Valley Wine Merchants. And while the space has been ready since last fall, the ABC license was finalized just last week. Today Eater announced NV Wine Merchant will open this Saturday:

The rebirth of Urban Cellar as Noe Valley Wine Merchants (3821 24th St.) is set for this Saturday. New owner and 24-year retail wine biz vet James Mead has renovated the space to include a tasting room where he plans on holding bi-weekly tasting events. Mead says the store will also stock some spirits geared toward the "home mixologist" as well as "99 bottles of micro- and craft-brewed beers."

[ESF: Coming Soon: Noe Valley Wine Merchants]

Tidbits: 24th Street Updates

While we weren't watching Raquel Settles Metalsmith opened up at 4128 24th Street -- once destined to be Noe Soup and before that part of the BJ Droubi Empire. The tiny jewelry store carries one-of-a-kind handmade items (earrings/necklaces made from antique glass buttons from the UK, for instance) and also does repairs.

Raquel Settels Metalsmith
4128 24th St
(415) 821-9979
raquelsettels@gmail.com

Other happenings on 24th Street over the last few weeks:

• Two spaces are being painted (and no longer have For Rent signs): the old J+J Market and Bespoke. Workers on site were unable to provide any info.
• The former Urban Cellars storefront is also showing signs of life as it edges closer to becoming Noe Valley Wine Merchants -- plasterers set up shop inside this week. License still pending, BTW.

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.

Suspended: Tamasei Sushi Liquor License

Reader Jennifer sent us this tip about Tamasei Sushi at 3856 24th Street (@ Vicksburg):

"Liquor license suspension for the little sushi place on 24th between Church and Sanchez. Posted on the front windows. There was a sign a few days ago saying that they were closed for vacation, but maybe it was because they got busted."

The sign in the windows of the nook-sized sushi spot says the alcohol license has been suspended "indefinitely" as of June 10, 2010. Meanwhile, the California ABC site still shows the license is active and there are no previous violations - and the restaurant was open for business today.

Tamasei is on the site of the old Matsuya restaurant which closed in 2006 and was allegedly the oldest sushi bar in SF. According to Wikipedia, the owners of the current restaurant are the founders of the Harupin-Ha Butoh Dance Company.

Update: A reader writes: "The reason the license was suspended was because he went on vacation and forgot to pay the fee. Should be cleared up soon."

Urban Cellars: Busted Again

Urban Cellars' license has been suspended again for selling to a minor, and this time they've been shut down for 15 days. They'll reopen this Friday unless there's something we don't know. (Hmmm... is it really that hard to check ID?)

On a related note: That change of ownership mentioned in the comments last time? Application withdrawn. Anyone know more?

[NVSF: Urban Cellars: Closed By ABC]

Ode to the SLM

Lotto? Check. Thunderbird? Check. Pack of cigs for the kids? Check. Late-night munchies? Got you covered. Cheap sandwiches with no pretense? Got that too. Everything you can't get at Whole Foods. Fact is, we visit these corner stores when everywhere else is closed, or when we can’t walk more than 75 steps for a carton of milk or stick of butter. These (in the words of a coworker from long ago) “shitty little markets” (SLMs) are scattered throughout Noe. You have to wonder, are they disappearing as Noe evolves, will they adapt or will they always have a place just as they are?

A few SLMs from around the hood:

1401 Church St at 26th St

1601 Church St at 28th St

1598 Sanchez at 29th St

1001 Castro St at 22nd St

Urban Cellars: Closed By ABC

As the sign in the window hints, Urban Cellar's license has been suspended for 5 days for "Operating Condition Violations" and "Exceeding license privileges". We've tried to contact the manager but haven't heard back, so we're left to guess that they likely got busted for offering tastings. Most other violations carry stiffer penalties. Anyone know more?

For Sale: Noe Valley Liquor Store

From the listing:

Newly Remodeled Liquor Store with Low Rent. Looks nice and in great residential neighborhood with well established customer base. Sells Beer, Wine, Liquor, Grocery, and some Produce items. Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment included but not the inventory.

Since: 1900
Current Ownership: Early 2008
Gross: $35,000(Approximate Average Monthly)
Lease: 4 years left+5 years may be possible.
Rent: $1,500.
Employees: 1
Open: 7 days each week.

So... Recent remodel, recent change of owner. "4 years left" means it couldn't be Vetran's Liquor, and "1" employee knocks out most stores we can think of. Any guesses?

[BizQuest: Official Listing]
[NVSF: Update: Outer Church Street]