Three for the Road
In quick succession, three businesses within shade-throwing distance of 18th and Castro have announced that they are calling it quits.
First, Planetweavers at 518 Castro is calling it quits after 17 years at this location. Details are coming in my "Business Briefs" column in tomorrow's (Feb. 14) Bay Area Reporter, but Under One Roof will be moving into Planetweavers' old space after this month.
It seems that Planetweavers' business went south after 9/11 and never recovered. The owner, Andreas Blachian, even went so far as to close his other store located in the Haight, hoping to consolidate his business in the Castro center. It didn't work.
When I asked him what the city could do to help small business owners (a question I ask of every small-bizinatrix that I speak with) he said that he felt the problem had more to do with the neighborhood itself. He wonders if the Castro is welcoming enough to people outside of the gay community, and whether straight shoppers and diners feel unwelcomed when they set foot in the 'hood. He notes that only about 1 or 2% of his Haight customers moved their business over to the Castro store, so something must have kept them away. It was interesting to hear that opinion, when I usually hearing people moaning about the Castro becoming less gay.
I'll post a link to the article after it is posted tomorrow.
Second, Castro Video has posted a letter announcing its upcoming closure in March. Castro Video has Planetweaver beat in the longevity department, apparently lending out its extensive collection of soft-core gay videos (really, did you have any idea that they made so many porn-lite videos, even today?) for over 20 years now.
It's sad to see this place go. This was always my preferred rental spot, specifically because of its extensive collection of soft-core gay videos. Just kidding! They had a great two-nights-for-one policy, and generally I liked the small-biz vibe here.
Finally, Ararat, the restaurant at 4072 18th Street, up on the second floor, is closing this week. Saturday night is their final night.
They hosted a thank-you party for the local community on Tuesday, and I got a chance to chat with the owner for a bit. It seems that business has been tough in that location for a while, and now the owner is looking to try again with a different restaurant somewhere else in the Castro. The second-floor location has to be a difficult factor, but having an empty storefront across the street plus Brandy Ho's construction going on so long didn't help, I'm sure.
The irony for me is that we just discovered Ararat a few months ago, and had started telling people how much we liked it, and how it was such an "undiscovered treasure" in the middle of the Castro. Well, we didn't tell enough people apparently, and the treasure was a little too undiscovered.
So long to all three businesses. For our struggling neighborhood business scene, this was a rough one-two-three punch. Good luck to all three business owners as they move on to their next ventures.
Comments
It still amazes me that so many businesses suffer through so many years of losses before calling it quits. It's really heartbreaking. I guess everyone starts with a dream and it's hard to let go.
And Safe Steven, you don't know the half of it. The Planetweaver owner, Andreas, just adored that store. I don't think it's hyperbole to say that after 17 years, a business becomes like your child.