San Francisco 10 or 12 years ago

Local thirtysomething David Enos recalls a bygone era:

It’s been jarring to notice that nearly all of the local landmarks of my 20’s have disappeared.  They weren’t meant to last into this new era; even back then their appeal was in how surprising it was to find them.  Action Camera, CALA foods, The Video Cafe, the upstairs room at the Edinburgh Castle, Musee Mecanique at the Cliff House, Johnny Appleseed’s, Nap’s, Petra Cafe, Irving 5 & 10, the 100 Van Ness building, Koko’s Cocktails, Video Zone, Into Video, Salvation Army on Sutter, Indian copy and printing place on 16th and Guerrero, mysterious corner store run by lone elderly woman on Guerrero and 17th, Adobe Books, Stacy’s Books, Kayo Books, Borders, Tower Records, the Gold Dust, Ace Cafe, the Red Vic, Lumiere, Alexandria, Coronet and Bridge theaters. [link]

Yeah dude I’ll always miss those amazing bloody marys at Nap’s, and I was way bummed when they shuttered that Borders to make room for Zeitgeist.

But at least we’ve got that great short film about the Ace Cafe, and the 100 Van Ness TV series (and zine).

[Image © 2010 Microcosm Publishing]

26 Responses to “San Francisco 10 or 12 years ago”

  1. Mel says:

    But Kayo isn’t closed…
    http://www.kayobooks.com/

  2. Christine says:

    Is 100 Van Ness going anywhere? I thought they were just replacing the facade!

  3. BIGLIPPEDKNEEGROW says:

    Blondie’s Pizza (not that shit excuse for it today), Leather Tongue, Rough Trade Records, Mission Records, 10 dolla hoes & decent crack for all.

  4. I remember that copy place – the one that let Swan come in to use the type-writer and fax his missives to the Herald Tribune?

    I used to go there for internet and printing.

  5. troll says:

    Remember Medjool?!

  6. Ad says:

    Pretty sure that mysterious corner store on 17th and Guerrero is still there. Either that or it was replaced by a new mysterious corner store.

  7. Perspective says:

    Everything goes away. You know why? Because otherwise, some poor schmuck would be stuck doing the same old shit, minding the same old store, year after year after year. Now imagine yourself in the same position.

    • bellpeppernostrils says:

      not exactly the point of the post but I will give you points anyway because you said something anyway and I think thats what we’re supposed to do for each other; give each other gold stars for just talking right?

  8. gregory says:

    foxy fckn lady omfg

  9. cubancigarcrisis says:

    add the Nite Cap and The Lusty Lady to that list…

  10. steve says:

    best sound in that edinburgh castle upstairs room :’(

  11. Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

    I miss the Tip-Top on the corner of Mission and 26th. And Abandoned Planet books (and their cat!) on Valencia at 16th… as well as Zante’s Indian Pizza’s 16th St. location.

  12. Vanessa says:

    Omg Cafe Video….

  13. David HassleHough says:

    These are your memories? Very recent for the most part. You don’t want me to trot mine out. Real talk.