A new Vietnamese sandwich shop, also offering coffee drinks and iced teas, has begun its soft-opening on Balboa Street near Fifth Avenue. Ghien Banh Mi & Cafe was started by Tuan Luu and Uyen Vu, who also own Luxury Spa.
After three years of operating out of a tiny pop-up booth at the Outer Sunset Farmer’s Market, Maillards, a Sunset staple known for smashburgers, opened its first location on Noriega Street in late April, joined with a taproom courtesy of Two Pitchers Brewing Company.
About four years ago, Chelsea Brown started setting up a small shelf of books in front of her garage on Saturdays. Naming it “The Celestial Library,” she said it felt like the perfect way to meet neighbors and share her overflowing book collection. Soon, lending and sharing books led to buying books and hosting story time events, which revealed the growing need for a neighborhood bookstore. With the community’s support of more than $30,000, she will fill that need by bringing a brick-and-mortar bookstore called Celestial Books to the Outer Richmond later this year.
Green Apple Books on Clement Street has been a cornerstone of the Richmond District since 1967. Known for its expansive rare book collection and homey atmosphere, the two-story building features eclectic themed rooms adorned with handwritten signs on the doorways and shelves.
Residents of the Richmond District got their first concrete sign of the local chain’s potential arrival when construction walls appeared around the site of a former corner store right next to the #1-California line bus stop on the corner of 22nd Avenue and California Street. The old shop, which had struggled to draw shoppers in recent years, has been the site of quiet speculation since it closed, and reports of Bi-Rite filing for permits in City Hall set of a wave of discussion in the neighborhood.
A dessert cafe has opened inside Abraham’s Farmers Market on Geary Boulevard and Fourth Avenue in the Richmond District, bringing the Oakland-born Zee’s Munchies franchise into the City for the first time.
As San Francisco residents are lured toward Ocean Beach to stroll along the Great Highway and enjoy the refreshing breeze, many find themselves stumbling upon a conspicuous, green building standing at the corner of Judah Street and 48th Avenue.
Cats have a civilizing influence, from ancient Egypt down to modern times, so humans honor them as special partners in our own social development. An Inner Richmond/Laurel Heights cat lounge and adoption center called Whiskerwood Haven connects these species to help them evolve together.
Nail artist Kristen Valdez-Doherty is a maximalist in terms of nail design, which is reflected in the kitschy, crowded décor of her Nails of Modern Art Clement Street studio.
It took countless people telling Java Beach Cafe owner Patrick Maguire to write his story before he finally did so. From scribbles on napkins and notepads to the help of two friends, Maguire said everything seemed to align for his book “All Things Beautiful” to finally be released.
Many Outer Richmond businesses have been landmark hotspots for decades. Establishments like Mandalay Restaurant and Schubert’s Bakery have cultivated an inviting environment, bringing food and community to the area.
Arizmendi Bakery, Inner Sunset’s beloved co-op, celebrated its 25th anniversary last month. For the first half of October, the bakery offered special pastries, like chocolate pecan rolls and chili crisp bialys in the store. They also celebrated with the community at the Inner Sunset Flea Market on Oct. 12, hosting a bustling booth with birthday cake, cookies and special prizes – bringing in old neighbors and new customers alike.
Founded in 1965 by husband-and-wife duo Tomas “Tommy” and Elmy Bermejo, Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant is a small, family-run establishment in the Richmond District that has been featured several times on the “world’s 50 best bars” list. Last month, the iconic restaurant, which sits on Geary Boulevard at 24th Avenue, celebrated 60 years.
Growing Up Art & Crafts at 248 West Portal Ave., in the heart of the West Portal District, celebrates its 40th anniversary this month.
Nine months after arson and burglaries devastated the Outer Sunset’s Great Wall Hardware store, owner Albert Chow said, thanks to community support, he is recovering, although he still has a long way to go.
