โExcelsior Buzzโ will be a recurring column on changes, tidbits and other news from the Excelsior. Got news? Send us tips at xueer@missionlocal.com
A new ice cream spot is coming to the Excelsior at 4452 Mission St., right at the bustling intersection of Mission and Excelsior.ย
This should be especially exciting news for students at Monroe Elementary School and San Francisco Community K-8 nearby, and even more so for visitors who stop by the Mission Science Workshop at 4458 Mission St., to say hi to the reptiles and guinea pigs. The new ice cream place will be practically next door.
Construction is still underway but nearby business owners say the shop is owned by a family that lives in the Excelsior. The shop doesn’t have a name yet but used to be an oft-shuttered flower shop, and before that, a locksmith.
For those bummed out about the departure of Beija Flor Designs from its storefront at Mission Street and Russia Avenue, there is good news: a new shop selling flowers and toys will be moving in this week, according to owner Yulissa Perez.ย
On a Friday afternoon, Perez was too busy setting up to offer more details, like what the new name of the store will be. Half of the Beija Flor Designs logo on the window at the storefront has been peeled off. Teddy bear plush toys filled half of the shelves on the wall. Behind Perez, two workers were arranging bouquets of yellow roses.
The saga continues at Amami Sushi Bistro at 4435 Mission St.ย
Just two weeks ago, the restaurant’s owner’s father, Mr. Wu, told Mission Local that the store, which has a sign that says “temporarily closed, had only shut its doors for a major clean-up and upgrade of kitchen appliances, and would re-open soon.
Since then, a new notice has appeared outside the shop, announcing an ownership transfer to Hannah W Inc., which is registered at 4435 Mission St. and owned by a person named Lo Yan Li.
It is unclear if the shop will now be under completely new ownership, according to Ben Bleiman, the interim co-director at the Excelsior Action Group, a local organization supporting small businesses in the Excelsior. Sometimes a notice like this simply means โa shuffling of current ownersโ โ perhaps a minor internal change between stakeholders rather than a full sale to new owners.
You may have seen a lot of posters up and down Mission Street announcing an open house to learn more about Mission Neighborhood Center’s Excelsior Campus โย specifically the nonprofit’s early learning preschool services. Mayor Daniel Lurie announced in his state of the city speech in January that he will expand access to free and subsidized childcare for San Franciscans aged five or less.ย
The free event will be held on Wednesday, March 4 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 459 Vienna Street, and will include campus tours and interactive classroom activities. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Reservations recommended (but not required) here.
The Excelsior Action Group, a local organization supporting small businesses, community improvement projects and commercial corridor revitalization, is now hiring for an executive director.
The group is currently under the leadership of Bleiman and Duncan Ley, its interim co-directors. The former executive director Maribel Ramirez led the group for a little under five years from October 2019 to July 2024.
Application for the position will close on March 5 at 11:59 p.m. Five interviews will be scheduled on Monday March 9 starting at noon with possible second interviews to follow on March 16.