Castro sees business changes as 2025 gets underway

  • by John Ferrannini, Assistant Editor
  • Wednesday January 22, 2025
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, left, presented a certificate of honor to the Stone family, which runs Mollie Stone's Markets. Photo: From Mollie Stone's Instagram
San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, left, presented a certificate of honor to the Stone family, which runs Mollie Stone's Markets. Photo: From Mollie Stone's Instagram

The Castro is seeing a number of changes for neighborhood business as the new year gets underway. The developments are a sign of rejuvenation in the LGBTQ neighborhood after the economic slump brought on by the COVID pandemic.

Perhaps the most prominent is the moving of a 45-year-old institution to the neighborhood's most prominent block. The adult store Does Your Mother Know, started in 1979, has been at 4141 18th Street for 17 years; but as of January 18 it's now at the former Body space at 450 Castro Street.

As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, the longtime Body clothing store closed in 2019 shortly after a fire. Last year, the space opened back up selling energy drinks, snacks and lingerie, and retaining the name Body.

Does Your Mother Know is now located at 450 Castro Street. Photo: John Ferrannini  

Marc Graves, a gay man who is a manager of Does Your Mother Know, told the B.A.R. January 17 that the reason for the move is "mainly because our lease was up and we saw the space empty, and that we could bring life to this section."

Asked if the move portends other changes for the store, like more or different products, Graves said that the managers will "pretty much keep everything the same."

"We're all pretty excited to be more centrally located in the Castro to better serve our customers, community and getting to know the new neighbors," he added.

Even businesses staying in place are also sporting new looks — the Mollie Stone's Markets location at 4201 18th Street celebrated a remodel last week. Elliott Stone, the chief operating officer of the chain, said at the January 17 event that "the Castro neighborhood is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in the world and we are honored to be a part of it.

"The people in this community is what makes it so great," he continued. "Everyone truly has pride in and for this community."

Stone also thanked customers and employees of Mollie Stone's, which posted to Instagram that "our grand celebration highlights our market's glow up, which included new store light fixtures, remodeled floors and ceiling, 330 inches of video monitors displaying iconic San Francisco views, new check stands, bathrooms, a renovated parking garage, and more. We also maximized our store space with an enhancement of product variety including an abundance of local products and new offerings in the prepared foods section."

New San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, a gay man who represents the Castro, was in attendance and welcomed the reopening.

Mandelman presented the Stone family with a certificate of honor from the board.

"It's amazing it has only been since 2009 — I mean I guess that's a long time but as you get older it seems like a short time," Mandelman said. "You've really become part of the Castro and a Castro institution."

Mandelman said the store's employees are unionized.

"It's not easy to run grocery stores," he said. "This is actually a family that's decided to live by San Francisco values. They're not trying to have crappy labor relations. They're actually doing it the right way. ... I'm excited that you recommitted to the neighborhood in this way and I'm excited to shop in your store, and everybody else should too."

Mollie Stone's was closed for a day last June by the Department of Public Health due to a rodent infestation. It reopened the next day and the owners blamed construction, according to SFist.

Gyro Xpress, the Mediterranean late night spot at 499 Castro Street, also had a remodeling over the Christmas holiday.

The Photo Booth Museum has drawn visitors since it opened at 2275 Market Street. Photo: John Ferrannini  

Before the holidays, The Photo Booth Museum opened up at 2275 Market Street. It was chock-full of customers and passersby January 17, when proprietor Matt Dewalt, who is straight, told the B.A.R. that the community support has been "amazing."

"We weren't expecting this kind of turnout," he said of the museum, run by the photo booth company Photomatica. "The goal is for people to explore old photo booths, analog photo booths, and also basic education on how things used to be."

The museum boasts the country's oldest analog photo booth, as well as a not-fully-operational booth dating back to the 1930s. Dewalt said the location is perfect for couples looking for a cute spot for their Valentine's Day snapshots. For that purpose, Photomatica will be unveiling a kissing booth later this month.

Rikki's, a women's sports bar, is on track for a spring opening, according to the owners. Photo: John Ferrannini  

Just down Market Street, as the B.A.R. previously reported, two queer women are opening up the first lesbian-themed bar the Castro has seen in decades. Sara Yergovich and Danielle Thoe, business partners and friends, will be running the women's sports bar Rikki's at 2223 Market Street, with a timetable for opening in May or June.

Yergovich told the B.A.R. January 19 that timetable still holds.

"Since we announced the location on New Year's Day, we have had an overwhelming welcome from other businesses and residents," Yergovich stated. "We're working on transforming the space and are still on track to open this spring. We'll also be hosting watch parties at other bars before we open — anyone interested can stay up to date with our events by following us on Instagram @rikkisbarsf or through our website www.rikkisbarsf.com."

Closures
But not everything is a business opening. Longtime neighborhood proprietor Lynett Spiegel told the B.A.R. January 17 that the 284 Noe Street location of Jeffrey's Natural Pet Foods will be closing after 15 years at that storefront and 25 years in the Castro. The company's 1841 Powell Street location will remain open.

"The last day is January 26," Spiegel said. "We have a DJ playing all day through 5 [p.m.] and La Mediterranee is going to be catering so we can say goodbye."

Castro customers will be getting free deliveries from the Powell Street location for a time.

"The rent here is astonishing," Spiegel said when asked the reason for the closure. "Renegotiating is not an option."

Chadwick's, a queer-owned bakery serving up fun buns at 2375 Market Street, permanently shuttered in November.

Lobby Bar, at 4230 18th Street Unit A, posted a sign that ownership will be transferred to Qcare Enterprises LLC. A Lobby Bar employee said the bar will decline to comment for now on the matter.

Terry Asten Bennett, a straight ally who is president of the Castro Merchants Association, shared a number of thoughts on these developments with the B.A.R., stating, "Obviously, we never like to see businesses closing" but that the association "is hopeful that the vacancies will be brief."

"We are fortunate that the vacancies are with landlords that have been traditionally motivated to keep their properties filled," she continued. "I am hopeful that these landlords are cognizant of the current economic environment. 2024 was a very challenging year and the threat of tariffs ranging from 25%-60% is only going to be further damaging to our economic forecast."

Asten Bennett was referring to planned tariffs from President Donald Trump, who suggested 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods, and 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, possibly beginning February 1.

"The remodels at Gyro Express and Mollie Stone's are encouraging," she added. "I am always excited to see businesses invest in themselves and therefore invest in the community."






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