By Neal Wong

At the start of August, a new craft cafe that combines hands-on creative activities with a community gathering space opened its doors in the Sunset District, drawing hundreds of residents to its grand opening.

Sunset Commons, on Irving Street at 17th Avenue, welcomed nearly 300 people on Aug. 2 after founders Carmen Luk and Steven Lee spent more than a year making the idea a reality. The space offers workshops, craft supplies and a small cafe in what the owners describe as a unique combination for the neighborhood.

“There aren’t many places to socialize like this; this cafe concept with craft kits is so unique,” said Sunset resident Xuha Ly. “I admire that the owners are young and running this business.”

The idea for Sunset Commons emerged from Luk and Lee’s frustration with the limited social spaces in the area. Luk, who worked at the University of California, San Francisco as an administrator, said the concept developed during conversations with friends about post-meal activities.

“We always go eat lunch – we always go eat dinner, and then afterward we’re like, ‘What can we do?’” Luk said. “There’s bowling, karaoke, but then those are very active things to do. So, I was like, ‘Where’s a relaxing craft cafe?’ and it wasn’t here.”

Lee, who worked for the state legislature and continues to serve in the National Guard, said they were inspired by The Game Parlor, a nearby cafe that has a large variety of tabletop games.

“Every time I passed by, I was like, ‘Wow, everyone’s playing board games together,’ and I wanted a space for a space where we could do crafting together,” Luk said.

The couple, who were born and raised in San Francisco, met in high school. They signed the lease for the space in December 2024 after looking at various commercial spaces along Irving Street. The location had been empty for two to three years before they took occupancy.

Many community members expressed enthusiasm about having a dedicated space for creative activities in the neighborhood. Carol Wenzel, a local artist who plans to open her own glass gallery across Irving Street, said she learned about Sunset Commons through a quarterly meeting for small business owners.

“It’s wonderful because I had already read on the invitation what they’re going to be offering in the way of classes given by artists and also in the evening, where they’re going to have the open mic available for the community,” Wenzel said.

Wenzel, who lives nearby, emphasized the value such spaces bring to communities, particularly for preserving traditional crafts.

“It’s so vital because a lot of these hands-on crafts have been lost, especially for children and young adults, and this is an opportunity to go and sit down and try your hand at a craft and also to converse with someone else who’s also enjoying the same craft,” she said.

Several attendees noted the space’s uniqueness in the neighborhood. Elisa Roscoe, who walks the area regularly with her family, said she had seen construction signs advertising the upcoming opening.

“I think this is pretty unique,” Roscoe said. “Usually, I know of cafes opening in the area or art galleries, but nothing that really combines the ability to do crafts in a community space with the addition of a small cafe.”

The business model centers on offering workshops taught by local artists, selling craft kits for various skill levels and providing space for community events. Luk said they want to accommodate different budgets and experience levels.

“Being able to offer both ends of the spectrum, no matter what your budget is, we have something for everyone,” Luk said.

Lee emphasized their intention to serve local organizations.

“I want to make sure nonprofits, clubs, many organizations share this space as well,” Lee said. “I’ve been a proud member of the Young Democrats. I know there’s a bunch of democratic clubs that always look for space to do their meetings.”

The path to opening presented challenges typical for first-time business owners. Luk said the permitting process proved particularly daunting initially.

“We didn’t know how to start up a business, so I think like even going to the permit office – that was scary itself,” Luk said.

Lee noted confusion in navigating the City’s permitting departments, saying the process lacked clear workflow guidance for different types of businesses.

“There wasn’t a cohesive, comprehensive diagram of the workflow,” Lee said. “What I’m talking about, for example, is ‘OK, do you want to do a full kitchen?’ And then, if you say yes, what are all the steps we have to do? And then, if you say no? There should be a different number of options.”

Despite the challenges, the couple successfully opened about seven months after beginning the permitting process. Lee said proactive communication with various city departments helped avoid major delays.

Looking ahead, both owners expressed satisfaction with the opening day turnout while acknowledging areas for improvement.

Lee said the successful grand opening marked just the beginning of their vision for the space.

“It’s only up from here,” Lee said. “I’m really proud of the team that was here today. We’re only going to get better.”

Sunset Commons, located at 1600 Irving St., between 17th and 18th avenues, is open Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Learn more at sunsetcommons.store.