The former home of Lucca Ravioli at 1100 Valencia St. recently opened up to its latest tenant: York Street Collective, a “community gathering space” featuring furniture and artwork for sale by West Coast artists.
It will occupy the building for the next four months.
Its mission is printed in small type at the top of the drink menu: “Recommendations: Try something new. Start up a conversation with a stranger. Meet a neighbor, oh, and tip your bartender :)”
Anand Upender, a former techie-turned entrepreneur who designed the drink menu, and Anand Sheth, an architect with Studio Anand Sheth, celebrated the grand opening of their pop-up on Aug. 28. The two have known each other for five years, collaborating on previous food and gallery projects like the Minnesota Street Project.
Upender is no stranger to the Mission. He formerly lived on York Street near 25th Street and, in 2022, launched York Street Cafe from his garage. His newest project, York Street Collective, is a full-service mocktail and coffee bar where art and furniture are sold alongside “pandan in paradise,” iced chai and pour-overs.
Jimmy Butler’s BIGFACE coffee pop-up occupied the space from July 10 to 27, and attracted lines down the block. Will their drinks be as popular as Butler’s?
“The mocktails are super funky,” said Upender. “My favorite one is an Indian inspired curry leaf and ginger kombucha drink. We have a really fun chicory pandan coconut drink that’s like Thai meets India.”
Yellow ochre table lamps, geometric sandstone stools and multi-colored rugs inspired by childhood board games decorate the interior. The pieces are created entirely by West Coast designers and artists. Prices start at $150, but most of the furniture ranges in price from $1,500 to $3,000.
A dinner-table seating arrangement greets customers at the front, and a long floating table lined with chairs on the right-hand wall encourages customers to sit down and talk to someone new.
“I love the energy. I love the vibe. I love the drinks,” said Jorge Argüello, a visitor on opening day. “Valencia Street needs something like this. It was really fun to be here.”
Gondola shelves, which display various designer goods for sale, were salvaged from a liquidated Rite Aid for a fraction of the cost. “It turned out to be a really unconventional material to use in the space, but also something that really grounds us in this accessible, do-it-yourself startup energy,” said Sheth.
The pair put some of their own money into the pop-up, but with the financial support from SF New Deal, a nonprofit that provides programming and financial support for small-business owners. Square also pitched in by paying for the space.
“This is very satisfying because it feels like there’s some energy that we can bring by supporting behind the scenes,” said Simon Bertrang, executive director of SF New Deal. “But ultimately, it’s the idea, and the concept and the vision of Anand that is going to bring this space to life.”
Terri Massin, a Mission District local, has been following Upender’s pop-up businesses since York Street Cafe. She encouraged her friends to stop by the garage pop-up, and did the same at York Street Collective’s storefront opening. The two have since built a close friendship over the years.
“The fact that he’s so connected after only being here a few years is what I think is amazing. Everybody seems to adore him,” she said. “It’s not about making money. It’s about putting together creativity, drinks, art, people and food and drink.”
What do the mocktails cost?
Mocktails is a gimmick, not real. Yuppie virtue signals.