First, Hoodline has the renderings of the condos that will replace Flax Art & Design. After years of their wooden guy trying to take down Travelodge, they finally lost the battle. The new condos will pay homage to San Francisco’s rich architectural history and – oh wait, it’s just another big boxy building.
Next, Uptown Almanac reports that after thirteen years, Therapy’s furniture store on Valencia will close at the end of this month. The landlord increased their rent from $5,700 to $10,500, so, make of that what you will. It’s hard to remain shocked at this point.
[UPDATE: Image by Google Streetview inserted to clarify that the furniture store, on the left, is closing, while the clothing store is remaining open]
In conversation, Whelan mentioned that he was never late on rent, and that there is simply “more demand for [Valencia Street] than there is Valencia.” Whelan believes that with the average “consumer on Valencia Street [being] a hyper-affluent tech person,” a Valencia Street store “becomes a billboard to promote [a company’s] brand.” The outrageous rent paid simply becomes another line item in a company’s marketing budget.
You know, like Times Square or something. Cool. Awesome. Love it. I’m sorry, I’m trying not to be so negative. But this neighborhood is being smothered by a huge pile of money. Speaking of money, you can save some by taking advantage of Therapy’s clearance sale!
Just to start off the comments here, I’m aware that these are both businesses with fairly high priced goods, at least they were when they first appeared in the area. The fact that those high prices are not generating enough money to keep them around is, I think, the larger point.
The outrageous rent paid simply becomes another line item in a company’s marketing budget.
Just like a Mission address used to be another accessory to a hipster’s street cred. Move on. There are other streets and neighborhoods to make your home or open your store.
I wish they would move on. I am 3rd generation Mission District .. no hipster! I love my neighborhood and trying to stay as long as I can or can stand it now.
Dear lord, that’s a fugly building.
Concur.
I’m not sure if I understand whether it’s the furniture store or the clothing store that is closing, but I’ve shopped at Therapy’s clothing store for years and this is not a high priced store, especially in comparison with other, more recent additions to Valencia Street. I’m not a person with a disposable income. Therapy is definitely not in league with other stores where you can expect pricetags upwards of $200 for single items of clothing.
So I guess Muddy Waters and Arinell are next?
Actually Aslam’s is next; apparently they are facing a near doubling of their rent. They do a good business and I really like having them nearby, but I don’t know if they can weather that sort of increase.
Oh…that sucks.
That’s been one of my go-to restaurants on Valencia for ages.
The brothers that ran the grocery on 16th and valencia said they were shutting down due to the exact same doubling of rent.
also:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-nations-gentrified-neighborhoods-threatened,2419/
The photo above is Therapy’s clothes and gift shop next to the furniture store. As far as I’ve heard so far, that’s staying open.
Yes, just the furniture store is closing.
Wow, some real reporting instead of twee photos of some pissant’s lunches.
I like you.
Sad to see The Rapy go, it was always my favorite example of really poorly planned out mixed capitalization.