Mission Buzz: Desperately seeking cemita bread

Desperately seeking cemita breade

Cemitas Mane Mane opened a month ago at 2193 Mission St. near 18th Street, in the space formerly occupied by KO, a popular all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant that closed late last year.

The restaurant, as its name suggests, specializes in “Cemitas,” a torta-like dish from the state of Puebla, just south of Mexico City. The business also serves atol (a corn drink), avena (oatmeal), Mexican cocoa, tacos and tortas.

Owners Saul Maya and Alejandro Díaz  report that they are still trying to lock down a Puebla-level cemita bread supplier— cemita bread is harder and crunchier on the outside than torta bread, and soft and salty on the inside. Given the bread’s complexity, the task has not been easy. Cemitas’ dough, for example, needs to sit between 24 to 48 hours.

Exporting the bread from Mexico they fear would compromise freshness. In the meantime, they are auditioning new breads in their quest for the perfect Cemitas loaf. 

“This is a dream that we’ve both had for a very long time,” said Díaz in Spanish on a recent Monday sitting side by side with Maya. “We’re like brothers. He gave me a hand when I first migrated here despite not knowing me.”

Cemitas Mane Mane is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m, and will soon be open for breakfast as well

Goodbye to The Laundry; Hello to The Fold

After a decade at 3359 26th St, The Laundry, an art gallery, coffee shop, and event space at 26th and Capp, has closed and re-opened as The Fold — an  art gallery, coffee shop and event space. 

A difference between the two incarnations, said Cynthia Boedihardjo, The Fold’s current executive director, is that The Fold is more affordable to rent.

“Most of our business from The Laundry was from corporations who rented the space,” said Boedihardjo. “We’re kind of flipping it around.” 

Boedihardjo also co-founded and was executive director at The Laundry, after buying the building in 2013 with a group of friends from Google. 

Boedihardjo is exploring making The Fold sustainable through revenue from the cafe and memberships — for about $49 a month. Members will be able to collaborate with other members on producing events, curating art shows, and creating cultural programming. Members will also receive a 10 percent discount on cafe drinks.

It is all about making one to one connections at the new reimagined space, said Ashley Kosak, the head of food and beverage, adding that  she hopes The Fold can create a space for locals to hang out and connect with each other. 

The Fold’s art space opened in August and the cafe opened in November, but The Fold’s official grand opening is on Jan. 31st, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expect a drag show, a live DJ, a pancake brunch and a necklace bar where attendees can make custom charm necklaces.

The cafe hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the weekends.  

One House of Jeans left standing

After 35 years in business, discount clothing retailer House of Jeans at 2304 Mission St. near 19th Street will be closing in six weeks.

Owner Norm Anand said he made the decision because business has plummeted over the last year, making it difficult to pay both the store’s employees and the $4,000 rent.

“No business. It is just better to close and relax,” said Anand, who suspects fear of immigration enforcement has affected his business. “It’s been hard since the pandemic, but in the last year — no business.”

Anand had 11 stores, at one point, he said. He will keep the final House of Jeans at 2645 Mission St. open, he said. Despite having a higher rent at that space, business there is still ok.

Chicano Nuevo is open for drinks, with tacos soon to come…

Chicano Nuevo, the popular Baja-style pop-up turned bar and restaurant run by chef Abraham Nuñez and bartender Courtney Fujita, opened its doors on Dec. 22 at 3355 Mission St. at Virginia Avenue.

The bar is open, but the kitchen is not — at least not yet. Nuñez and Fujita are still waiting for city permits after an inspector with the city’s Health Department informed them that the extraction fan in the roof of the newly installed ventilation hood was too loud under new city regulations. Nuñez and Fujita had to raise money to build a sound barrier wall around the whole circumference of the fan, but, says Nuñez, a contractor is in line for the job and he hopes to finalize the work and the permits by the end of the month.

In the meantime, Nuñez said the duo are workshopping recipes on a testing ground of friends and neighbors. 

If everything goes to plan, Chicano Nuevo will have its official soft opening the first week of February.

Fries for the community

Burger Stack at 2956 24th St. is set to open on Friday, in a space formerly occupied by a different burger joint, known as Double Stack.

“We’ve heard so many people walking by that they love burgers, that they want burgers, but that either there’s not a lot around in the area, or they’re inaccessible in terms of pricing,” said owner Steven Han. “We want affordable, accessible burgers, wings, fries for the community. That’s what we are looking for.”

Burger Stack’s menu will also include shakes, chicken tenders, salads, ice cream, curly fries and tater tots, said Han. 

“I feel welcomed wholeheartedly,” Han added. “I want to give that energy back to this community.”

Burger Stacks will be  open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days a week— but plans to open at 8:30 am on Friday for its grand opening. 

The New Wheel leaves Bernal for the Mission

The New Wheel, an e-bike shop with locations across the Bay Area, opened a new storefront at 1031 Valencia St. near 21st Street on Monday. 

The new location will replace its first location, on Cortland Avenue, which will close later this month. It will also include a repair shop, which was previously located in the Bayview. 

Aslam’s Rasoi says “Don’t say goodbye, but rather “Au revoir.”” 

The Indian and Pakistani Mission District institution closed its doors on Oct. 29 after 25 years in the neighborhood due to slow sales. 

Still, says Sonia Aslam, whose father-in-law, Mohammed Aslam opened the restaurant in 2006, her husband will soon be launching a food truck with a similar menu to the beloved restaurant, so stay tuned.