Category Archives: Business

CVS Reveals Remodel for Market Noe Center & They’re Rated ‘D’ for Dull

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2280 Market St. CVS (yawn) rendering.

2280 Market St. CVS (yawn) rendering.

Tuesday, May 14th the Planning Commission and pharmacy giant CVS revealed their formula retail remodel plans for the former Tower Records/Market & Noe (2280 Market Street) space and frankly they’re really dull.

As proposed, four of the Market and Noe Center’s protruding concrete bays will be removed and CVS’s section of 2280 Market Street’s concrete façade will be overlayed with cement-board siding, a metal lattice, and metal trim.

What is even more confusing is how CVS made it through the approval gauntlet while fellow formula retailer, Starbucks, did not. Earlier in the week the SF Planning Commission nixed the proposed Mega-Bux at the corner of Sanchez and Market St. citing three specific problems.

  1.  Over 20% saturation of formula retail stores within 300 feet of the proposed local.
  2. Style and design of the new Starbucks would be too dominant at such a visible spot.
  3. The  particular area was already well served by businesses offering the same services.

Comparing the reasoning that shoots down Starbucks while giving CVS the thumb’s up is a bit confounding.

Under new rules set for by the Commission and supported by Dist. 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, the number of formulaic retail stores can not exceed 20% of the businesses within a 300 feet span in any given area. The Market St. Walgreens falls just outside that radius at approximately 400 feet away from the proposed new CVS. Also out of consideration is the reality of the total seven pharmacies within a half mile of CVS each providing the same exact service for meds and three providing same goods.

Undaunted by these truths the Planning Commission states CVS would, “provide an additional choice of pharmacy and basic everyday needs goods for neighborhood residents, resulting in prices that are more competitive and a greater availability of goods and services.”

Pardon me wha..?

As we noted earlier when denying Starbucks approval the same Commission stated, “The Upper Market NCT is already well served by existing similar eating and drinking establishments that are considered coffee houses like Peets, Church St. Cafe, Cafe Flore, and Sweet Inspiration.” Are we not equally well served in our seven other pharmacies choices that carry basic everyday needs as well?

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks

Then there’s the CVS store design. Starbucks proposal for their new space-though unwanted by the community-was sleek, inviting and modern. It was rejected as the design was dominate and at odds with other nearby buildings destroying the neighborhood character of other local retailers.

CVS’s rebuild plans removes the clock, the already utilitarian building’s lone interesting architectural quality from the tower, and transforms it into a metal and cement box evocative of an East Berlin, cold war era, prison complex. What about that design is in keeping with the aesthetic of the area like Cafe Flore’s funky feel two doors away?

Is anyone else confused?

We have covered the debate and been opposed to Starbucks fourth insertion into the Castro since we started the Biscuit. We’re equally unimpressed with CVS’s arrival and the lack of fight from the neighborhood to keep it out. The Trader Joe’s that was proposed in 2011 would’ve been a better fit for the community in that space but they withdrew after a onslought of local biz cried foul-including the DTNA. Trader Joe’s also realized they’d never have enough parking to meet their customers needs and let the struggle for the space go.

It’s an odd juxtaposition to not see organized groups like Merchants of Upper Market Castro or the Castro Community Benefit District let CVS slide into the Castro without the same vigor of objection that was leveled at both Starbucks and Trader Joe’s. Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association who fought tooth and nail to keep Starbucks at bay have reached a compromise with CVS and withdrew all objections.

Where are the petitions, the Facebook pages imploring voices to be raised and Change.org, ‘sign me to stop CVS’ invites? Do we as a community really need an eighth pharmacy to buy toilet paper, condoms and get our prescriptions filled?

As these and other questions go unanswered CVS hopes to acquire the permits quickly, start the remodel and be up and running by February of 2014.

-via SocketSite

SF Planning Commish Nixes New Mega-Bux Slated for Market & Sanchez St.

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No More StarbucksThursday the hotly contested proposal for a new, approximately 2100 sq. foot, mega-Starbucks retail space at the corner of Sanchez and Market (2201 Market St.) was shot down by the SF Planning Commission 5-1.

We’ve been following the developments since Aug. of 2012  when the Merchants of Upper Market/Castro (MUMC) made the public aware they’d awarded the project their seal of approval. Our comment sections on subsequent posts have been rife with impassioned arguments for and against Starbucks opening a fourth, retail outlet within a 1 mile radius of three others in the Castro/Duboce Triangle neighborhoods.

At the Thursday, May 9th final, final-no we swear-final Planning Commission meeting on the subject the Board followed their own staff’s recommendations and denied the coffee giant a permit based on the newly minted, formula store, Upper Market neighborhood’s density rules. Requirements state formula retail density can’t exceed more than 20% allowed within 300 feet of any given area.

They also noted they’d received petitions and letters from both sides on the subject. Lining up on ‘Yea’ side:  59 letters of support (including one from MUMC and the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association) plus a petition with 453 signatures in favor of their plan. On the ‘Nay’ side: 4 letters (including one from the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District-aka CBD-who rarely agrees with MUMC wishes) and a petition containing 4,200 signatures opposed. Commissioners also listened to an hour and half of public comments with 25 citizens pleading the ‘Yea’ case and 16 ponying up for the ‘Nay’ contingent.

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks that was rejected by the Planning Commission on May 9th.

The Commission’s majority also pointed out there’s four other long-established, local coffee-house options and one formula coffee shop for citizens to access to meet their caffeine and bear claw needs. They also found that letting Starbucks occupy such a notable space would allow that particular retail design to be the dominant theme for that area and would detract from the community’s unique and distinct character.

Starbucks can still appeal the decision directly to the Board of Supervisors if it so wishes.

If this plan had been approved this would’ve been Starbucks 73rd store in San Francisco. Even without this new Market St. store that translates into one of the Seattle-based chain stores every six-tenth of a mile throughout the City.

Via-SocketSite, Bay Area Reporter

 

Chipotle offers chips and guacamole bribes at old Home location

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Free Chips and Guac from Chipotle for your soul.Yesterday, while I was walking past the old Home location at Market and Church (2100 Market Street), a guy named Joe asked me if I wanted some free chips and guacamole in exchange for my signature on a petition to bring Chipotle to the Castro. I declined. I was kind of disgusted at the desperation, but thought it would make an interesting story for the Biscuit, so I came back and chatted with Joe a little bit more.

Turns out that Joe works for Berg Davis Public Affairs. The company was tapped by Chipotle to try and muster up some good will by offering food to Castro residents in exchange for their signature on a petition to bring the restaurant to the Castro. Joe was armed with a friendly smile, a clipboard, and a two-sided leaflet describing how the future Chipotle was going to “give back” to the community. Chipotle Rendering 3On the leaflet one of the “benefits” of bringing the chain to the Castro was their proposed installation of a public mural on the Market Street side of the building near the parking lot. Will this public mural be a true public mural that local artists can paint on at will with images that defy corporate bullshit? Or is it the brain-child of corporate ass-hats who’d love nothing more than to meld business with culture? That is up for debate.

When I mentioned the contention that has been expressed on our blog in the comments section about bringing this “formula retail” establishment to the Castro, Joe said that it was “very interesting” and deflected by bringing up the proposed 4th Starbucks location (haters that think that there is only one Starbucks in the Castro can go read another blog). On behalf of the company, Joe said that his firm had been working with local neighborhood associations to get approval for the Chipotle and while the firm understands how contentious the issue is, they thought it was silly for Starbucks to want another location in the Castro. Mind you, I did not mention anything about Starbucks. Joe offered this opinion of his own volition. No doubt it’s a talking point that allows Chipotle to align itself with other folks who are concerned with bringing retail establishments into the Castro that have no ownership ties with our community.

All I know is that I would love to see the restaurant space filled by a business, but not via a bribe of chips and guacamole (a guilty pleasure of mine for sure).

UPDATE: Castro getting its first gay burlesque club

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RR-SFIt’s official! The Castro is getting its first gay burlesque-style club. We reported before on the murmurings of a strip club coming to the iconic building that Diesel just vacated at Market and Castro. Well, the investor group that purchased the location just put out a press release on their updated website announcing the club (and restaurant) officially,

An investor group announced that RR-SF, an upscale restaurant and gay burlesque club with a philanthropic approach, is planned for the historic corner of Castro & Market. RR-SF is a socially responsible business designed to support local community organizations by donating a percentage of the proceeds to local groups.

The group of investors have undertaken the purchase of the historically significant location at the corner of Market and Castro, formerly inhabited by Diesel, to convert the previously troubled retail space into their flagship venue. After the opening of the San Francisco location, RR-SF plans to expand to several other US cities including, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Dallas.

“Our aim is to bring an upscale dining and entertainment experience to the Castro and the gay community at large,” said RR-SF spokesman Adam Alberti. “RR-SF seeks to fill a void, offering high caliber burlesque style entertainment in a clean, safe, and high-end environment that will give back to the very community where it is located,” he said.

During the day and evening, the restaurant will offer locally sourced and sustainable dining options with designer cocktails and premium wine and liquor. Inspired by the Crazy Horse in Paris, RR-SF will offer tasteful burlesque style entertainment for gay gentlemen, a service currently not offered in the City.

RR-SF is embracing a new cashless model that will raise the integrity of the institution, promoting team work rather than competition among employees.  A percentage of money patrons spend will be donated to a community organization of their choice, selected upon entering the club. The philanthropic aspect of RR-SF creates a respectful and socially conscious mindset that will benefit the establishment, clientele and the local community.

Burlesque-style entertainment paints a better visual than “strip club,” though, let’s not mince words, we’re still probably going to be seeing a lot of skin. Probably no more than underwear night at 440 or Booty Call Wednesdays at QBar.

Do you think this club will be good for the Castro? Will you go when it opens?

(via SFist)

Castro’s Medical Marijuana Dispensary Apothecarium Targeted by the D.E.A.

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Interior of the Castro's posh and lovely Apothecarium. Photo: Apothecarium's Website

Interior of the Castro’s posh and lovely Apothecarium. Photo: Apothecarium’s Website

Our pals over at Smell The Truth have reported that the Castro’s legally licensed, voter approved, medical marijuana dispensary, Apothecarium (2095 Market St.) has been added to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (D.E.A) investigative hit list.

In September of 2012 the D.E.A.’s Special Agent from the Finance Investigative Team in the SF Field office, David White, demanded the City provide the Apothecarium’s-and 6 other dispensaries located in SF-business license and application, health permit/application, ownership information, and yearly statements and all other pertinent forms.

Yesterday one of the seven, The Hemp Center, landlord was threatened with 40 years prison time, property forfeiture, and asset seizure for knowingly renting office space to a federally mandated illegal ‘drug’ enterprise.

DEA LogoThe neighborhood’s Apothecarium is a popular and welcomed addition to the Duboce Triangle/Castro Eureka Valley business community who have operated well within the State of California guidelines since first opening in June of 2011. It is fully licensed and offers a wide menu of flowers, edibles and concentrates. San Francisco has about fifteen licensed dispensaries in total. A drop in the bucket compared to San Jose’s 100.

Gov. Jerry Brown has denounced the Fed’s war on marijuana, saying California didn’t need “federal gendarmes” and that the Justice Dept. is interfering with lawful, California, tax-paying businesses.

SF Assemblyperson Tom Ammiano has also weighed in on the subject saying, “the US Department of Justice’s attorneys in charge had ‘gone rogue’.” He called the D.E.A’s threats against landlords renting to any dispensary that are occurring not only here but in every community in the state, “drone strikes”.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom Photo: TheWeedBlog

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom Photo: TheWeedBlog

Lt. Gov-former SF Mayor and Supervisor-Gavin Newsom last week called for  decriminalizing, regulating, and taxing California’s decades-old, multi-billion dollar marijuana industry as a way to generate much-needed tax dollars, jobs and industry for the State.

Over at the Apothecarium day-to-day activities continue unruffled by this development in one of their competitors business life. They aren’t able to comment on other dispensary’s struggles or any issue regarding what the D.E.A. is or isn’t investigating. However, following the paper trail of both official and media reports, it doesn’t take an investigative genius to see the cat and mouse game between California state medical marijuana laws and Federal drug mandates are in a tug of war and legitimate businesses like the Apothacarium are caught in the middle.

We’ll keep an eye out for more developments and we hope that everyone will continue to keep taking their business and medical needs to the Castro’s much-needed institution until the political hot potato is resolved.

Dante’s Table softly opened; Grand opening May 1st

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Dante's Table Interior (credit: Jaun Romero Corral via DantesTable.com)

Dante’s Table Interior (credit: Jaun Romero Corral via DantesTable.com)

The new restaurant/bar Dante’s Table (544 Castro Street), located in the old Dancing Pig location, softly opened late last week. Jay Barmann over at Grubstreet SF setup a great slideshow of what the new restaurant’s interior looks like. Custom murals from John Baden adorn the walls with quotes from Dante’s Divine Comedy near the ceiling in the front dining area.

Dante's Table cook making a pizza (credit: Juan Romero Corral via Facebook Page)

Dante’s Table cook making a pizza (credit: Juan Romero Corral via Facebook Page)

The menu consists of a variety of different Italian dishes with pizza taking center stage and a pasta dish and a steak dish rounding out the dinner selections. The restaurant will also be open during the day for breakfast, featuring coffee and pastries, and lunch service in the afternoon.

Owner Franceso D’Ippolito (also owner of Poesia around the corner) wants the place to be a “point of encounter” where you would meet friends for a cocktail and a bite to eat, decide what to do next, and then hit the Castro for a night on the town.

While the restaurant softly opened to the public this weekend, their official opening day is this Wednesday, May 1st. The restaurant will be open Tue-Sun for lunch and dinner with lunch from 11:30AM – 2:30PM and dinner from 5 -10PM with breakfast hours coming soon.

via Grubstreet and Biscuit tipster Tom M.

End of Week Updates: Nude Activists Convicted, Castro’s New Bulging Baskets (of Flowers) & More

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This week has raced by and April is nearly at an end. Summer is looming as spring draws to a close and we find ourselves checking back in on a  number of posts to find out what their status is. In no particular order or level of import here goes:

Trey Allen at SF City Hall protesting the new nudity ban on 2/1. (Photo: Justin Sullivan)

Trey Allen at SF City Hall protesting the new nudity ban on 2/1. (Photo: Justin Sullivan)

Nude activists, Russell ‘Trey’ Allen, Oxane ‘Gypsy’ Taub and Dist. 8 Supervisor candidate, George Davis were arrested and cited for violating the brand new nudity ban when they showed the full monty at a rally outside City Hall on Feb. 1 that we posted on, the day the ordinance went into effect. On Tues. the 23rd all were found guilty. They now hold the double honor of first arrested and first convicted under the Wiener Nudity Ban. They were each ordered to pay a $100 fine and $92 in court fees. Their Defense attorney Christina DiEdoardo plans to appeal in 30 days. Miss Taub and Mr. Stevens will be facing the judge again following a second arrest for dancing nude at Jane Warner Plaza.

flowers-one-castroThe 3rd Annual Flowers on Castro Benefit sponsored by the Castro Community Business District (CBD) and Herth Realty on April 18th that we posted about was a smashing success according to all who attended and CBD Exec Director, Andrea Aiello raising 2,000 more than the previous year. The event held at Herth Realty’s office on Castro St.  brought in over 10,334 dollars toward their 15,000 dollar goal in donations and art sales that will be used to replace and maintain the neighborhoods hanging baskets of flora. On Tuesday ten new baskets were installed along the village’s main strip. Art is still available for purchase at Herth’s office and you can peruse it as you will or donations can be made directly here. Special thanks to all the artists whose work was used, restaurants  Pica Pica, Fable and Poesia for providing the food and Swirl who supplied wine for the event. Pix from the event here.

SF State Sen. Mark Leno

SF State Sen. Mark Leno

Early this week we posted Sen. Mark Leno had introduced a bill, SB 635, that would allow individual communities to decide to extend their bar and clubs last calls from the current California limit of 2 AM to 4 AM. Despite a large push for the bill from within the Entertainment and Nightlife Industry the bill was rejected in committee. This is the second time our Senator has introduced this legislation. It has the ability to be brought back again before committee but not this year. It will have to go back and start its upstream swim again through political shark infested waters.  Mr. Leno has made noise that he believes that with the growing number of constituents in favor of the bill the next time up will see a different result. Who knows-maybe three times the charm?

Rally at City Hall in favor of changing SFO to Harvey Milk International Airport. (Photo; SJ Mercury News)

Rally at City Hall in favor of changing SFO to Harvey Milk International Airport. (Photo; SJ Mercury News)

And finally, Dist. 9 Supervisor David Campos’ push to rename SFO for Harvey Milk continues to seek its last supporter from among the other members of the Board of Supervisors so it can move forward. We’ve been posting on this issue since it broke. So far he has five out of the six co-sponsors from his fellows to go forward. Where the elusive sixth nod will come from has proven difficult. The freshmen members of the BOS-Norman Yee, London Breed and recent Mayor Lee appointee for Dist 4 Katy Tang-have been reluctant to sign on. Citing a variety of concerns from cost of the name change to the City or constituent balking at the idea-many think other titans of SF politics and civic duty are equally deserving as Milk have been used by the new Supes to withhold sponsorship. Campos remains undeterred and believes that in the end he will be triumphant.