Announced: K9 Scrub Club

Recent activity at 1734 Church St has had us and many readers curious. Today we received a press release that led us to the answer:

"K9 Scrub Club is a San Francisco-based company specializing in everything for your canine companions, pooches, pups, dogs, four-legged friends and man's best friend (yes, woman's best friend, too!). Our focus is on everything good - organic, eco-friendly, safe treats, toys, bedding, bath and travel items - for your pup!

But doesn't that sound like another pet supply store? What makes them different? Self-serve grooming:

Clean dogs are happy dogs! We supply everything you need and you do the scrubbing. No need to clean up, we’ll take care of it. We’ll even throw in a free face scrub – on the house.

Their online store has been active since April but launches officially on August 1. Proprietor Steve Davis tells us to look for increased activity and neighborhood outreach in the next month. They plan to open in October. Direct inquiries to info@k9scrubclub.com.

K9 Scrub Club
1734 Church St
(415) 690-8904
www.k9scrubclub.com

Midsummer Romance at Omnivore

Celia Sack packs the event calendar at Omnivore Books as full as she can, and she's a natural host. Yesterday she played photographer and Twitter witness to a marriage proposal (highlights by The Bay Citizen here). Celia's summary? "You know what the best part was for me? All of y'all cheerleading, stressing, wondering, & congratulating. Just made it SO fun." Sweet.

Opening: First American Title

First Republic Bank opening in the old Tuttimelon spot is still a rumor, but First American Title moving into Noe looks like a done deal.

We noticed this sign today at 1354 Castro St. @ Jersey today across from Walgreen's on the corner that use to be Michelle's Tailor. Michelle's recently wedged into the former nail salon spot next door, and First American Title will slide into its place. Here's what the building and space use to look like - and it appears to have changed hands recently.

A title company of the same name at 18th and Castro closed in 2008 because of market conditions - so maybe it's another sign of the times (that the real estate market is even hotter than usual again).

To recap: Nail salon out, title company in - that's trading up, right?

No indication of when First American Title will open but it looks imminent.

Notes: July 27 Noe Valley Neighborhood Meeting

The Friends of Noe Valley sponsored neighborhood meeting with Scott Wiener this evening at St. Philips was reasonably well attended (40-50 people) and featured free wine and free pizza from Patxi's. The meeting got off to a a slow start with some random notes from the FoNV including ballot measures the group is interested in such as a move stop the privatization of park facilities. FoNV also needs the services of a pro bono lawyer and webmaster if anyone's interested.

Things picked up when guest of honor and District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener arrived (a few minutes late). He jumped right in with a plug for the accomplishments of his office so far including balancing the budget, rescuing some money for tree maintenance, and bringing back the police academy classes to train new cops in SF. He also touched on…

AT&T Boxes – Scott spent some time recapping his position on why he voted yes on the boxes and fielding tangent questions such as: Could we get rid of the Clear Channel news boxes instead (no – it's a 1st amendment issue, they're paid for and you can't ban news boxes); could we turn the boxes into street art or benches (yes, good idea – Emeryville has turned its boxes into art); and why can't we underground them (too big and need cooling). Overall AT&T is aware that Noe doesn’t want boxes and is not likely put them here unless asked.

Town Square – "It's alive" and can happen, says Scott, but it's going to take "an enormous amount of work." It might need to be packaged up with some other projects in the Bayview and Mission and can’t be done with just open space funds. Private funds will have to fill the gap + buildout costs + income for ongoing maintenance.

Real Foods – Scott's goal is to get the owner of the building to finally "sell it and be done with it." He says he's "found new people" involved in the building and is "in a dialog" with them. He'd like to see retail on the ground floor and housing above – which means the buyer would have to be a developer.

Muni – It's going to be a "long road to progress" Scott admitted, but there are some hopeful signs including the new MTA Director Ed Reiskin (he takes Muni daily and doesn't own a car), and the fact that Muni can now hire part-time drivers to cover Muni's sky-high absenteeism (expect to see changes on that front in 12-18 months). Other interesting factoids – the J has the lowest ridership of any Muni train at just 18,000 per day (vs. the N Judah's 30,000 per day), and most J Church riders only use the line north of 30th St.

In between of all of this, Scott also fielded some wacky (boozy?) out-of-left-field questions thrown at him by people who didn't quite get the format. Q: How do you stand on the Muni to Chinatown plan? A: I wouldn't have backed it but the horse has left the barn. Q: How come third-world countries have better cell reception and they don't have big AT&T boxes? A: The boxes are about high-speed cable and Internet, not cell service. And so on.

After Scott left, the meeting wrapped up with a preview of possible planned events from the FoNV this year and next including:

· Music in the Park (BBQ, music and activities near Noe Courts after Labor Day)
· Happy Birthday Noe Valley (history event in November)
· Noe Valley Love Fest (Valentine's Day)
· Book Week (March 4-10 with a Book Fair)
· A Group Run (See Jane Run sponsored; heats for strollers, pets, etc)
· A Pet Event (for families and furry ones; sponsored by local pet stores)

And finally, at the end of the meeting FoNV president Todd David dropped a rumor that the Tuttimelon space on 24th Street may have a new tenant soon… First Republic Bank.

[Photo: @sdweiner on Twitter]

SFBG: Congrats 2011 Noe Valley Best Of Bay Winners

It's that time of year again -- the 37th Annual SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay hit the newsstands today. Here are two Noe Valley businesses that made the Editors Picks:

BEST REFILL, NOT LANDFILL
What does it take to win a gazillion green business awards? It certainly starts with a great concept, a seriously vetted supply chain, and a commitment to spreading the eco-word. It also helps to have a pleasing storefront in Noe Valley, cute and eager staff, luscious products, and bulk-store prices without the forklifts and doublewide shopping carts. Green 11, launched by married couple Marco Pietschmann and Bettina Limaco and inspired by a Rachel Carson observation ("For the first time in history, every human being is being subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception to death."), offers soaps, cleaning supplies, pet food, shampoo, conditioners, and lotions, all ready for your refillable, affordable use. Bring your own containers or put for up a starter container at the store. 3980 24th St., SF. (415) 425-5195. www.shopgreen11.com

BEST LEATHER-SCENTED TIME WARP
Stepping into cobbler Suzanne George's shop is like entering a hide-covered time warp. George crafts her clodhoppers in much the same way that shoes were made several hundred years ago. She works the leather by hand, stitching the pieces with thread and hammering it all together with actual nails. Not only are the shoes custom-made to fit every tootsie they encase, they are also unique pieces of art, nearly too lovely to take tramping on the dirty pavement. George shares her high-quality, low-technology workshop with Peter, a shoemaker originally from Italy who used to make sandals for Mother Teresa. Together they make some damn fine throwback sling-backs. 1787 Church, SF. (415) 775-1775. www.suzannegeorgeshoes.com

And of course the readers got to vote:

BEST BREAKFAST: Chloe's Café, 1399 Church, SF. (415) 648-4116
BEST WINE BAR: Noeteca, 1551 Dolores, SF. (415) 824-5524, www.noeteca.com
BEST BUTCHER SHOP: Drewes Bros. 1706 Church, SF. (415) 821-0515, www.drewesbros.com
BEST CLOTHING STORE (WOMEN): Ambiance, Various locations, SF. www.ambiancesf.com
BEST SHOE STORE: Shoe Biz, Various locations, SF. www.shoebizsf.com
BEST TOY STORE: The Ark, Various locations. www.thearktoys.com

All other winners are on SFBG's site. Congrats to all!

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.

Crime Beat: Gunpoint Robberies

24th and Hoffman

The Examiner is reporting there were 2 gunpoint robberies within 20 minutes of each other in the Noe Valley and Castro areas on Sunday.

The first heist occurred at Caselli Avenue and Douglas Street around 1:40 a.m. A 43-year-old man was held up at gunpoint by a man in his 20s, police said. The thief fled with the victim’s cellphone in a white newer model 4-door sedan with chrome rims and tinted windows. A second suspect was driving the getaway car.

The second robbery occurred about 20 minutes later at Hoffman and 24th streets, police said. Two women in their 20s lost cash, a laptop, wallet, driver’s license, ATM cards and a backpack.

The suspects, described as men in their 20s, fled in a newer model white Chrysler 300 with rims and made off with the victims’ property, cops said.

Stay frosty out there, folks.

[SF Examiner]
[Photo: Google Streetview]

Noe Valley Neighborhood Meeting: July 27

Still have questions about the controversial AT&T U-verse boxes, the problems with Muni, and the plans and progress for a Noe Valley Town Square? You can email your questions to Scott Wiener directly, or you can see him in person at the next neighborhood meeting this Wednesday July 27, 7:00pm at St. Phillips. The meeting is run by the Friends of Noe Valley neighborhood group, but is open to all residents and non-members too. Other items on the agenda include upcoming neighborhood events planned by FONV and how to get involved.

What: FONV Neighborhood Meeting
When: Wednesday July 27, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Where: St. Philip’s Auditorium - 665 Elizabeth Street @ Diamond