By Ellen Eason

The new year brings new tastes and wares to the Inner Sunset.

Flavorful beverages made with Vietnamese sugar cane, fruit, seeds, aloe, ginger and other healthy ingredients are freshly pressed to order at the new Pure Cane Juice at 839 Irving St. Owner Cory Sullivan and his helpful staff can advise you on which flavor might appeal to you, from pineapple, passion fruit, lychee, golden lime and more. Thai tea, brown sugar milk boba, bubble waffles and sponge cake round out the offerings.

Come peruse a selection of handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, artwork and accents for the home at Cinq x Acacia at 1311 16th Ave. The recently opened shop curates “personal and home goods for the soul.”

Japanese sandwich shop Tadaima is poised to open at 1248 Ninth Ave., its third location in the City. Tadaima will serve savory sandos (Japanese sandwiches – chicken filet karage, shrimp tempura, tonkatsu and pineapple, potato and egg salad), onigiri (sushi bites), sweet sandos with fruit and red bean combos, matchas and teas.

The Inner Sunset community recently bade farewell to two restaurants: Dumpling Park on Ninth Avenue and LaLe, the Mediterranean/Turkish restaurant on Irving. You can find ready-to-eat meals from LaLe’s at Bay Area grocery stores.

A Sanctuary of Wellness in the Neighborhood

A cozy neighborhood wellness space created with care and intention, Enchanted Massage is the lifelong dream of owner and massage therapist Phatsulak “Bee” McGinn. The peaceful retreat welcomes visitors with a calming ambiance, featuring muted colors, natural wood and handcrafted ceramic accents.

McGinn trained at the San Francisco School of Massage and Bodywork before establishing Enchanted Massage at 944 Irving St. Originally from Thailand, she previously owned a massage shop there before moving to California and founding this neighborhood haven.

“Our focus is simple – thoughtful, personalized care,” McGinn said. “Every session is tailored to the individual and never rushed. We add small comforting touches like warm towels, hot stones, calming aromatherapy and our house-made Sweet Ointment to help clients feel relaxed and supported.”

Enchanted Massage offers a range of massage types, including Aroma Bliss, which combines touch and scented oils, Tech Neck and Shoulder Release, New Mom Nurturing, Foot and Leg Restore and more.

“Our customized Signature Therapeutic Blend and Deep Flow-Thai Inspired Bodywork are the most popular, along with pregnancy massage,” says McGinn.

For first-time clients, McGinn often recommends the Signature Therapeutic Blend.

“This session allows the therapist to check in at the start, learn what the body needs and tailor the massage accordingly,” she explained. “It blends a variety of techniques, such as Swedish, deep tissue, Thai, hot stones and flowing Lomi Lomi strokes to create a balanced and comfortable experience. Our goal is for every client to feel at ease and supported from the very first visit.”

As the business has grown, McGinn now focuses on guiding her therapist team. She sees her role as creating a welcoming home for healing in the neighborhood. Therapists are trained in numerous modalities. They offer a rich perspective and professional wisdom to address clients’ concerns.

“We’ve been part of the Inner Sunset community for about three years and love serving our neighbors. Many of our clients live or work nearby, and we value building long-term, trusting relationships,” McGinn added. “We’re grateful to be part of the community and to offer a welcoming place where people can slow down, reset and take care of themselves.”

Health and Wellness Resources Abound

Turning the calendar to a new year often inspires a renewed focus on well-being. Many Inner Sunset businesses are dedicated to supporting community health through a diverse range of services and products.

Natural Medicine and Acupuncture: naturopathic and acupuncture specialist, Dr. Minna Yoon, N.D., L.Ac., offers natural health services at her practice, Bay Natural Medicine, located at 919 Irving St. Dr. Yoon’s expertise spans naturopathic medicine, traditional Oriental medicine and restorative medicine.

Holistic Midwifery Care: Hatch Midwifery (637 Irving St.) provides comprehensive and holistic care for families from prenatal through postpartum. Service options include packages for home birth or labor support from a midwife at a hospital.

Chiropractic and Family Wellness: Axis Chiropractic, located at 915 Irving St., delivers high-quality chiropractic care using both traditional and advanced techniques, with a focus on restoring functional movement. Dance With Life Chiropractic, located at 1475 Irving St., specializes in family care and offers wellness workshops and nutrition counseling.

Spiritual and Holistic Practices: The Spiritual Psychic Center at 1371 Ninth Ave. provides a wide array of spiritual services such as psychic readings, palm and tarot guidance, spiritual healing, yoga and Reiki.

Cannabis Wellness Products: Solful, the cannabis dispensary at 900 Irving St., offers locally sourced, sun-grown cannabis products. Selections include premium edibles, THC gummies, sun-grown marijuana flowers, fresh pre-rolls, wellness tinctures, topicals and more.

The Inner Sunset Merchants’ Association is the voice of our neighborhood’s business community. We are an all-volunteer, nonprofit association committed to supporting, promoting and advocating for the needs of our local business community. We welcome new merchants into our neighborhood and work hard to drive new business to our growing community. Learn more at innersunsetmerchants.org.

Ellen Eason is a writer and Inner Sunset resident.