When Mohit Kohli and his friend Dario Barbone were kicked out of their respective businesses in the fall of 2024, they could have easily decided to throw in the towel.
Kohli, the manager of online radio station Fault Radio, had been operating the internet-based hub of the local electronic music scene from a Chinatown space on a month-to-month lease, and says his landlord surprised him by revealing other plans for the unit.
Barbone, who also owns Alimentari Aurora in Potrero Hill, at 1415 18th St., was running a satellite cafe called Aurora Centro. Located in a former Starbucks in Salesforce Park, it was a recipient of a city program funding pop-ups in struggling Downtown spaces. But a few months after opening in July, Barbone says he was informed by program administrators that a new permanent tenant was lined up for the space, and he had to move, as he was on a temporary lease. (As of this writing, that space sits empty.)
Instead of giving up, the friends took it as a message to try something new together. โThis was almost like fate calling us, like, โYo, you guys should try this together,โ says Kohli.
โI thought it was the sign of God, like, we need to do this,โ echoes Barbone.
Four months later, the new home for both businesses is holding a grand opening party on Sunday, Feb. 16. Studio Aurora, at 302 Valencia St., a space previously occupied by the self-described queer community cafe Milk, will be a permanent home for Fault Radio, with regular parties, DJ nights, record fairs and more, Kohli says.
Kohli plans for Fault Radio DJs to broadcast from the upper floor at Studio Aurora four nights a week (Monday through Thursday) from 5 to 9 p.m., with a new schedule of DJs that will go live beginning in March. (DJs interested in getting involved are welcome to contact the station via their website, www.faultradio.com.) Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be open for pop-ups and events, Kohli says.
For Barbone, the collaboration solidifies a relationship that has been working well for three years. Since 2022, Barboneโs Potrero Hill deli had hosted monthly โAurora Sessionsโ parties with Fault Radio and special guest DJs. They were casual and popular, with people hanging out outside in Alimentari Auroraโs parklet while the DJ played inside the store.
Like his other location, Studio Aurora offers daily specials alongside a seasonal menu of stellar salads and panini, such as the Aurora Reuben with pastrami, a smoked German cheese called grandamer, root vegetable slaw, cornichons, stone-ground mustard and kim chi Russian dressing on seeded caraway bread. Barbone is a connoisseur of hard-to-find confections, chips, butter and tinned fish from around the world; he also offers monthly shippable subscription boxes for canned fish, chocolate and cheese selections.
Unlike his other location, Studio Aurora seems perfectly, almost serendipitously built for a food and wine business. After signing the lease, Barbone discovered that thereโs a secret, wine-appropriate cave (essentially a crawlspace) to the right of the kitchen. The building was erected in the early 1900s, and Barbone believes that the supple sand in the cave could be from back then.
While Studio Aurora opened for a preview in November, its sister business has just been getting warmed up: On Feb. 8, Fault Radio held a party featuring DJs ThirstKid, Femmelectric, lil bebe cyborg, and 3kelves spinning upstairs, while the creative collective safariiicamp held a multimedia art market downstairs. Kohli and Barbone saw it as a precursor to this weekendโs big homecoming party, and to regular events to come.
โThis is basically like Aurora Sessions every day of the week,โ Kohli says. โYou come here with family [and have] food, wine, chilling. Spend money or donโt spend money, but itโs just, like, a good vibe, good energy all around.โ
Fault Radio and Studio Auroraโs grand opening party is Sunday, Feb. 16 from 12 to 10 p.m., with local DJs and Daniel Monaco from Italy, at 302 Valencia St. Admission is free.
Correction: This piece has been updated to note that both businesses were kicked out of their old spaces, but were not served eviction notices.
YAY! SO COOL!
Dario and Mohit are incredible people who deliver exactly what the Mission and broader San Francisco needs to recover.
Had me at “radio station and deli”
Neighbors,
I live a few doors over above Carlins Cafe where the barista (Nick Grant) subdued a robber a few weeks back and this place here was the storefront for Harvey Milk Club and this will sell better.
Soon as I heard they’d have live music I went to City Hall and testified in favor of the venture big time.
h.