By Su Yardimci

Many here in the Richmond District have started to notice the recent uptick in the hustle and bustle of Clement Street – the brand-new shops and dining options that are drawing in San Franciscans from all over the City.

Clement Street’s newest addition to this lively scene is Food Folk, a specialty food shop that also carries vintage homeware, which opened last month.

Clement Street has always held significance to Sam and Kevin Elmore, owners of the Food Folk.

“Growing up, visits there always meant picking up incredible food, so it has long been a food destination in our minds,” Sam said. “Today, that’s even more true with the Sunday farmers market, a growing number of standout restaurants across cuisines and a really strong small-business community. Opening Food Folk on Clement felt like a natural extension of that energy.”

The shop sits on Clement Street and Third Avenue. Sam and Kevin said they hope to build on what they recognize to be the neighborhood’s reputation as a “destination for food lovers,” as they join a community of other beloved restaurants, like Burma Superstar, Pearl 6101 and Kitchen Istanbul, to name a few.

Before the store came into existence, the foodie-pair had always been excited to discover new products and support small businesses, in addition to having a knack for vintage and antique shopping. Food Folk is a love child of the two interests.

Food Folk will carry items that Sam and Kevin personally love, or other items that they have found while building out their shop. They are very thoughtful about each item that goes into their beautiful shop.

“We try everything we sell and look at a few key things – how the product tastes or functions, how it’s made, the design and packaging and the story behind the brand and its founders,” Kevin said.

The curated store has something for everyone. Food Folk is filled with a balance of pantry staples and more local items like bread, cheese, salami, kimchi and miso to meet neighborhood demand. On the food front, the store focuses primarily on California producers. On the vintage side of things, the store carries kitchenware, tableware and other homeware. Additionally, the store will feature seasonal items, and they will regularly rotate inventory to meet the seasons.

To the owners’ surprise, the vintage home and cookware have been the most sought-after items in their shop.

“We initially thought it would mostly serve as (a) visual interest alongside the food, but it’s been flying off our shelves,” Kevin said. “Customers often share memories or stories sparked by pieces we have out, which creates these incredible moments of connection you wouldn’t expect in a typical grocery setting.”

When asked their favorite item in the shop, Kevin replied, “our favorite item is always going to be the one a customer brings to the counter with a big grin, because they’ve finally found that thing they haven’t been able to find anywhere else.”

Food Folk is located at 210 Clement St. The shop is open Wednesday to Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Su Yardimci is a San Francisco enthusiast who has turned her childhood dream into reality. After moving to the Bay Area for college, she has been sharing her love for the City through film photography and neighborhood guides.