January is a time for resolutions and new beginnings. If you have resolved to quit working for someone else and to become your own boss, then the San Francisco LGBT Community Center has an office that can help you toward that goal. The Economic Development Program, under the direction of Kenneth Stram, provides information, advice, and assistance to people at all stages of the process of opening a business – from the first tentative steps all the way through writing a business plan, attaining funding, and day-to-day operations.

Started with $75,000 in municipal seed money obtained by Supervisor Bevan Dufty, the Economic Development office is modeled on other programs that provide business counseling for certain racial groups or for women, but this is the first program that targets economic development in the LGBT community specifically.

Stram describes the office as a clearinghouse of information about resources available to small businesses in San Francisco. He notes that many people dive into business without realizing what assistance and support is available to them, both through his office and through other agencies and foundations. His biggest advice for new business owners is "Don't start spending money until you've exhausted the free resources."

Among the businesses that have received assistance from Stram's office are Four Wet Feet (4599 18th Street), Kick Start San Francisco (447 Irving Street), Gustofino (248 Church Street), Futons and Beyond (2057 Market Street), Sui Generis (218 Church Street), and John Francis Spa (4200 18th Street, Suite 101).

Stram encourages businesses at any stage to come in for advice or assistance, but special counseling is available for beginners to the small business world. The program staff will walk a prospective business owner through "SWOT" planning – so named because it analyzes the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the proposed business. Stram noted that one of the hardest parts of his job, but one of the most crucial, is to tell people when they are not properly prepared to start a business.

"Passion isn't always enough when it comes to business," he said.

The Economic Development Program sponsors seminars on the last Wednesday of each month, bringing in speakers to address business issues with a focus on LGBT concerns. However, in January the seminar is being replaced by LGBT Economic Empowerment Day, an all-day session of speakers and panels on Saturday, January 26. The day's topics include business fundamentals in the morning, and then discussions related to personal finances and financial planning in the afternoon. For more information on Economic Empowerment Day as well as future seminar topics, consult the Economic Development Web site at www.sfcenter.org.

Business owners and prospective business owners who are interested in consulting the Economic Development Programs staff are invited to contact Tracey Williams at twilliams@sfcenter.org.

About face

One of the Economic Development office's success stories is the aforementioned John Francis Spa, which recently opened in the Martin de Porres Medical Building at the corner of Collingwood and 18th streets. Spa owner John McGourty had been renting space in another salon, but motivated by a lost lease and encouraged by marketing advice from Stram, McGourty decided to step out on his own. He now employs a staff of five therapists, providing skincare and massage services in a second-story space overlooking 18th Street.

Moving into this space in the heart of the Castro is a homecoming of sorts for McGourty, who was born in San Francisco, attended preschool at the Eureka Valley Rec Center, and played Little League on the baseball diamond on 19th Street.

McGourty describes his salon's mission as "results-oriented skin care" with a focus on quality ingredients and basic education about skin care and healthy habits. One difference between the John Francis Spa and other skin care providers is that McGourty does not provide tanning services, which he sees as antithetical to developing healthy skin. The spa also works in referral with a number of dermatologists, and provides services to both men and women.

The spa is currently offering a 20 percent discount for new massage clients before March 31. To schedule an appointment or for more information, contact (415) 861-3000 or consult http://www.johnfrancisspa.com.

Vince Constabileo, co-owner of Vince & Pete's Three Dollar Bill Cafe. Photo: Raymond Flournoy

Change for a Three Dollar Bill

Vince & Pete's Three Dollar Bill Cafe on the ground floor of the LGBT Community Center has undergone some remodeling and redecorating – as well as a rebranding of its name – and will host a grand re-opening party Saturday, January 19 at 7 p.m. The cafe, opened by domestic partners Vince Constabileo and Peter Howells four and a half years ago, has been repainted in a new color scheme to better differentiate the business from the center lobby. Additionally, the space has been reconfigured to separate the seating area from the service area with a low wall. This change actually increased the seating capacity, and will allow the cafe to handle larger groups more easily since there is better traffic flow to the registers and restrooms.

In addition to the physical changes, Constabileo reports that the menu has been revamped with new items added and less popular ones dropped. The cafe also offers platters to serve large groups better, and it will expand its catering operation, which had previously served only the center's meeting rooms. Now, the cafe will be providing catering to the surrounding neighborhood as well.

Constabileo said that the re-opening celebration is intended to thank the business's many loyal customers. Some of the cafe's strongest supporters have been the various groups that hold regular meetings there, including the Radical Faeries, a knitting group, several book clubs, and the Deaf Coffee Social.

Over the past few years, Constabileo has seen the neighborhood around the community center transform. He describes the area as previously dangerous and not walkable. But after the demolition of the overhead freeway and the opening of the Octavia Street corridor, he noted that the center now sits at a hub between the Castro, Upper Mission, and Hayes Street, and the amount of foot traffic has increased significantly. Large lots on either side of the center are currently under development, and Constabileo is optimistic that these new constructions will bring more life and activity to the neighborhood.

The cafe is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Sundays until the renovations are completed. www.threedollarbill.com

A second taste

Leather goods purveyor and South of Market landmark A Taste of Leather has returned to the Castro with a new store at 2380 Market Street. The company previously operated a store in the space currently occupied by the UPS Store , which is next door to the new storefront.

The return to the Castro comes on the heels of the closing of Image Leather, but owner Daralt claims that the decision to return was not motivated by the competitor's closure. Rather, he notes a renaissance in the Castro retail scene and his company's desire for a presence in the heart of the historically gay neighborhood.

A Taste of Leather manufactures all of its leather items in San Francisco at its 6th Street store. The Castro store and the SOMA store will carry identical product lines, but the SOMA store also offers alterations and custom-made creations.

GGBA news

The Golden Gate Business Association will hold its monthly "Make Contact" mixer Tuesday, January 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the offices of Energy 92.7 FM, 400 Second Street, Suite 300 (at Harrison). The event is free for members and $10 for non-members. For more information, visit www.ggba.org.

Check out Raymond Flournoy's Castro Shopper blog at www.castroshopper.vox.com. Contact him at castroshopper@yahoo.com.