“Sunset Buzz” is a recurring column on changes, tidbits and other news from the Sunset. Got news? Send us tips at junyao@missionlocal.com.
Tight Knit Vintage & Modern, a vintage shop in the Richmond, will open a second location at 1327 B Ninth Ave. in the Inner Sunset, next to Arizmendi Bakery.
The vintage shop, owned by longtime thrifter Ashley Von Edge (a bike enthusiast whose cargo bike was recently involved in a bike pursuit), started out in neighborhood markets such as the Inner Sunset Flea Market.
At the Inner Sunset location, she wants to continue offering a mix of vintage items as well as modern second-hand pieces. “It is more about the aesthetic and everything being second-hand than the age of the clothes,” Von Edge said.
Similar to her Richmond location, her selection will continue to lean heavily on patterns, textures and colors — being funky and interesting is key, she said.
Von Edge wants to keep her items “as affordable as possible.” Part of her selection came from donations and people who donated clothes will receive a 15 percent off coupon.
But Von Edge said she finds most of her pieces by scouring places like Goodwill bins — searching through pounds of clothes and looking for gems. “As long as you are willing to get your hands dirty, you can find hot deals,” she said. “In the end that’s what it’s all about — doing what you love and finding hot deals.”
The shop will take over the space previously occupied by Willow on the Green, a cheese shop which closed in May. Von Edge is planning a soft opening on Aug. 1, just in time to catch the Outside Lands crowd.
For those who are still mourning the cheese shop, the wooden shelves inside the storefront have been passed down from one neighborhood business to another since the 1960s, according to Alex J. Sinclair, the cheese shop owner. Sinclair will continue being a cheesemonger, at fairs, picnics, galas and concerts.
Cuthbert, the resident sheep that used to watch over the street from the cheese shop window, has relocated to the neighborhood Irish bar Little Shamrock, and now oversees Guinness pours and Irish coffee.
Lomo Libre, the Peruvian restaurant on Irving Street, had its last day on Sunday, July 26. After five years in the Sunset, the owner Jose Calvo-Perez decided it was time to move on once its lease expired.
“It’s challenging times,” Calvo-Perez said. “Nobody is drinking as much as before, but we have a full bar.”
Lunch times were also hard, he said, as labor costs skyrocketed and foot traffic during daytime remained flat. Lomo Libre, flanked by a won-ton house and a pho restaurant, faced fierce competition from more affordable options in the neighborhood.
“I love eating at those Asian restaurants too,” he said. “But our price points are different. It’s not the right fit.”
Calvo-Perez has been scouring other spaces for Lomo Libre: one in the city and others in Oakland. In the future, it may return with a more fast-casual concept. For now, Calvo-Perez — and his eight employees — will focus on his two other ventures: Fresca in Noe Valley and Puerto 27 in Pacifica.
“The economic times in San Francisco are a bit tough,” he said. “But life goes on. We’ll be okay.”
Koobi Indoor Playhouse, a play space for kids aged 2 to 6, is aiming to open in September at 1845 Irving St. near 20th Avenue.
The owner, Anna Chen, has two kids aged 4 and 6, who love indoor playhouses, but she noticed that few of them cater to younger kids.
“My 6-year-old, he goes crazy. When he gets excited, he just runs around,” Chen said. “Older kids are more rough. I want a safer and calmer space for younger kids so that their parents don’t have to be worried.”
Chen, who also owns an arcade Bibbiti on Taraval Street, had been looking for a space on the more lively Irving Street for nine months, when she finally found the one — not from her real estate agent, but on Craigslist.
Chen has been paying rent since January, she said, but could finally see the end of the tunnel with some finishing work and one final city inspection.
When the playhouse eventually opens, Chen, a DIY enthusiast who made signs for the playhouse herself, wants to offer arts and crafts classes too, such as finger knitting or making picture magnets.
Dumpling Specialist on Taraval Street is back after being closed for six months — and has a new owner, Changdi Huang, who also owns Begoni Bistro, a dim sum restaurant in Chinatown.
Huang said she is keeping the Shanghai-style Xiao Long Bao and pan-fried dumplings that Dumpling Specialist is known for, but plans to add dim sum classics like shrimp dumplings and BBQ pork buns to the menu.
Huang is putting in a lot of time at the new location right now, she said. She’s had Begoni Bistro for a decade, Huang said in Mandarin. But having a new business is “like a baby who needs time to slowly bring up.”
Sloat Garden Center is hosting its very first Dog Day of Summer this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a pet photo booth for all furry friends. A photo contest is underway from July 29 to Aug. 5: Submit a photo of your pup enjoying the garden and the winner gets $100 Sloat Garden gift cards.
Just saying, this may just be the perfect stop coming back from the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica.
A new pilot playground has started construction on Sunset Dunes park in mid-July. Named Shipwreck Cove, the playground will feature a multi-level ship, a climbable crow’s nest with slide, sand play features, a circular xylophone cove as well as new sitting areas.
The pilot, which has secured a permit for one year, will be solely funded by private donations, according to the Department of Recreation and Parks.
