Mission Buzz is a regular update on changes, tidbits and other news from the Mission’s commercial corridors. Got news? Send to tips@missionlocal.com.
Smoker Friendly, a smoke shop that had been selling tobacco with an expired license since 2021, has taken cigarettes off its shelves after an enforcement visit by state regulators about three months ago.
The enforcement visit followed a Mission Local article published in March about the failure of zoning restrictions to impact the high density of stores selling drug paraphernalia, alcohol and tobacco around 16th and Mission streets.
In 2025, in the early stages of reporting the story, Mission Local founder Lydia Chávez, discovered that Smoker Friendly sold tobacco despite not having had a tobacco license since 2021. When Chávez reached out to the city’s Department of Public Health, the spokesperson said that the agency had informed the state’s Department of Tax and Fee Administration about the matter.
Five months later when Mission Local’s article was published on March 12, the shop was still open and selling cigarettes at 2007 Mission St.
A manager said last week that the business did not plan to apply for a tobacco license because “it was too much work.”
Last week, District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder requested that the Budget Legislative Analyst evaluate the cost and other impacts of adopting Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation legislation in San Francisco.
MEHKO is state legislation that allows food vendors to legally operate small-scale food operations from their own homes, if they live in a city or county that has authorized them. Santa Cruz, Monterrey, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Alameda, San Mateo and Contra Costa are among the counties that have adopted MEHKO.
Fielder’s request is significant for street food vendors in the Mission District. The Board of Supervisors voted in March to adopt a new ordinance that requires most street vendors selling fresh or hot food to have a pushcart with a washing station, and to do the majority of their food prep in a licensed commissary kitchen.
Vendors have said the new ordinance could drive them out of business.
Fred Brousseau, the director of policy at the Board of Supervisors Budget & Legislative Analyst said that Fielder’s request would take about eight weeks to complete.
Six years after opening its first brick and mortar storefront, The Mellow SF is closing its plant store at 3236 21st St., at San Carlos Street, later this week.
Owners Lorena Cortez and David Velasco opened their store in 2020, two weeks before the pandemic lockdown. Starting in 2023, after two years of good business when people were buying plants, the owners started seeing a 30 to 40 percent decline in business
“We pivoted and tried to operate the best way we could, fewer hours and different kinds of offerings,” said Velasco. “We did pop-ups and operated with a smaller team, but ultimately it’s just not sustainable.”
The Mellow SF’s last day as a plant store is on Friday July 24th. Velasco and Cortez are retaining the storefront and will embark on a new business opportunity. While they’re still not ready to share details about the new project, Velasco said he calculated it could open within the next three months.
Velasco and Cortez also have a Mellow at 1401 Haight St., at Masonic Avenue, in the Upper Haight, where they operate a coffee shop and a barber shop. That store will soon have live music a few nights a week, and serve cocktails, beer and wine as well, Velasco said.
Cortez and Velasco also own two stores in Cole Valley and Cow Hollow called Mellow & Barber. Those operate as barber shops and sell beauty products.
Double Union, a hacker and maker space for women and non-binary people, is on the hunt for new members.
The organization, currently located at 650 Florida St., unit M, started in 2013 as a reaction to the typical tech culture, said Double Union’s board member May Kalinu, which felt unwelcoming to women and non-binary people.
Double Union’s members can use the space, tools, books, material and equipment, which includes 3-D printers, sewing machines, laser cutters, computers, furniture, screen-printing equipment, and large printers. Those who don’t know how to use the machines can also learn how to do so. “We’re kind of like a break-friendly type of environment where we foster a good, healthy learning environment where you can break things, ask things, and do completely different things than everybody else,” said Kalinu.
Currently, Double Union has 130 members, but only about 30 live in the Bay Area. Kalinu said Double Union needs at least another 15 members to keep the organization afloat. The lease on the Florida St space ends in October. If Double Union doesn’t succeed in raising more funds or increasing memberships, it may downsize, or (in the worst case scenario) cease operations.
“The community is really great. We all are quite supportive of each other, even if we have different interests and strengths,” said Kalinu.
Florecita Panaderia announced this week that they will be taking over the space at 3349 23rd St., at Barlett Street, the former home of Shuggies, which closed earlier this month.
The Mexican bakery will leave its current space at 2050 Bryant St., near 18th Street, and will open at its new home on September 12th.
