Re-Philz
I reported previously about the transformation of our neighborhood location of the local Philz chain into the clumsily-name Bean Here, Brewed that!, as well as the disappearance of the cafe from the front of Sit 'n' Spin laundromat. Now those two stories collide as Philz reenters our local coffeeshop market by moving into that empty storefront.
I snapped the photo above last weekend. A man with a fedora who looked like an extra from the Turkish production of The Sopranos asked me why I was taking photos and whether I was a fan of Philz. I told him that I track businesses in the Castro, and I was excited to see them move back into the market "after the drama with the other place." He put up his hands and said with perfect old-world flair, "No drama! What drama? No drama!" and then encouraged me to come back for "the best cup of coffee [I] will ever have." I think I'll go just to see if this character is behind the counter.
By the way, I really enjoy the alternation between "Coming Soon" and "Come In Soon" on the banners above, but my guess is that this in not intentionally witty wordplay, but just two different people ordering signs and hearing the intended wording differently.
Also on the subject of the signs, both Philz and Bean Here, Brew that! tout their single-cup-brewing cred. I smell a coffee war!
Comments
The man with the fedora may very well have been Phil himself.
I'm thrilled to hear that not only will Philz is coming back, but that it's even closer to home than before!
Ooh, good point! It very well might have been.
Darn, I should have asked him for an interview for the blog! Thanks for the heads-up, MT.
I was just at Philz. The place looked great and the counterman was a total hottie. I almost ordered a cup of coffee then I noticed it was $3.25 a cup. Yikes that’s double what I usually pay around the neighborhood. Sorry Philz you lost this potential customer.