2 posts tagged “gustofino”

This has been mentioned on a couple different blogs and restaurant review sites, but Gustofino, the Italian quick-service deli/grocer on Church Street which I profiled in my "Business Briefs" column in September of last year, has closed.  The shop has been papered over for a while, but there were rumors that it was just being renovated but not closed. 

I'm not sure what sort of business plan would justify a renovation after just 4 months in business, but hey, it's the Castro.  Stranger things happen.  Daily.  But the phone number was disconnected and the email address was bouncing, so those were pretty good indicators.

I went by the location today and got official confirmation that Gustofino is no more.  The new resident is going to be a bakery, and it's supposedly opening in "a couple weeks."  I'll have more detail on this soon.

I did ask why the old shop closed and was told the classic story:  lack of capital.  "No drama -- they just ran out of money," is the direct quote. 

That's rough.  I know that the #1 reason for new businesses failing is undercapitalization, but still, Gustofino's owner, Matthew Rutledge, really seemed like he had done his homework.   It's hard to believe that he could overestimate his cash flow that dramatically, and yet, the picture above pretty much tells the story. 

Definitely sad to see this one close. 

Well, 3 old Briefs, actually.  During my period of blog-silencing "extreme exhaustion" I had 3 columns come out which I never linked here.  If you always turn past the news directly to the escort ads and you didn't see the articles online, here is a rundown of the topics that I covered:

September's issue:

• Gustofino Fine Foods opened on Church Street in the spot previously occupied by the Just Desserts;
• Mr. Martini's popular "Behind the Bar Show" podcast helps to promote his private bartending business;
• The Industrialists, a home furnishings shop which salvages industrial equipment, opened on Market Street;
• Too Much Fun Halloween Headquarter brought its seasonal store to the old Tower Videos spot, just in time for the Castro's canceled Halloween non-celebration;
• The SF LGBT Center sponsored a job fair for LGBT job seekers.

October's news:

• Given, on the site of Harvey Milk's old camera shop, commissioned a mural of the civil rights pioneer;
• A new bar opened on the site of the old Metro, on the second floor above 16th and Market -- at publication time it was as yet unnamed, but it has since been christened Lookout;  (not The Lookout, just Lookout)
• A delegation led by Sidney's daddy Bevan Dufty will be representing San Francisco at sister-city Sydney's 30th anniversary Mardi Gras celebration in March, 2008;
• Local, troubled, homophile company PlanetOut sponsored a short movie contest;
• The GGBA held their monthly mixer.

November's items:

• Under One Roof announced plans for their holiday store in the old Tower Videos location;
• Urban Bread cafe and bread distributor (gosh that sounds appetizing!) opened where Bean Here Brew That! was previously located;
• Castro Cafe was preparing to move into the old Bull's Head spot;
• A rundown of Thanksgiving choices, both dine-in and take-out;
• Orphan Andy's turned 30 (just as I will soon);
• Lookout (just Lookout, not The Lookout) announced its winning name.

One behind-the-scenes note:  The September column was planned to be a collection of internet-based businesses, but a series of stories fell through leaving just Mr. Martini and the tepid PlanetOut item which was pushed into the next month.  I still want to do an all-virtual business column at some point, but so far that has been an oddly elusive goal.  If you have suggestions for Bay Area internet companies which are LGBT-owned or LGBT-focused, I would love to hear them!