Bay Area/ San Francisco
Published on May 04, 2011
The 9 Sexiest Vacant Storefronts in the Lower Haight: Where Are They Now?
Back in April of 2010, we profiled The 9 Sexiest Vacant Storefronts in the Lower Haight, showcasing the emptiest, most potential-ridden spaces in the neighborhood. Let's check back in with these vacuous beauties to find out which are off the market, which are still looking for love, and which new additions are making their debut on this year's list!


#9. 473A Haight
Status: NO LONGER VACANT! Out with the Designer Brands, in with Love Haight Computers, which snagged this slender beauty in December 2010.
#8. 442 Haight
Status: NO LONGER VACANT! This former cannabis club now gets its kicks courtesy of SFCollection, which opened in July.
#7. 340 Divisadero
Status: WASN'T ACTUALLY VACANT - OOPS! You know how sometimes folks act like they're available when they're not? Yeah. Custom Orthopedic Appliances was actually in business the whole time. Talk about mixed signals!
#6. 463 Haight
Status: NO LONGER VACANT! Though it's still keeping details of its status private, we're told that this one's been turned into an artist's residence and studio.
#5. 350 Divisadero
Status: NO LONGER VACANT! After flirting with a cannabis club for months, this one finally committed to a boxing and martial arts gym in February.
#4. 798 Haight
Status: NO LONGER VACANT, ALMOST! The former Maire Rua salon has been claimed by the folks behind the New Santa Clara Market across the street. We were told that a new organic market would be opening at the location last summer, but clearly things are a little behind schedule. Maybe she has cold feet?
#3. 1100 Oak / 401 Divisadero
Status: NO LONGER VACANT, ALMOST! This one was on the market for years before suddenly getting engaged to Chase Bank last year. It's a polyamorous relationship with the two adjacent storefronts, which also got annexed in the deal. So controversial!
#2. 150 Steiner
Status: STILL VACANT! No, it's not actually turning into a hybrid Indian restaurant / nail salon, you gullible goofs. Sadly, it's not turning into anything. Can somebody fix that? Anybody?
#1: 701 Haight
Status: STILL VACANT! Good golly, the things we would do with this one. The location, the windows, that column... Er, sorry, we get carried away sometimes. Anyhoo, we don't even know if this former laundromat is on the market, but we're sure it would consider an offer from the right suitor. Could it be you?
So, there you have it -- of our top nine sexiest storefronts, only two are still available. Not bad! But that doesn't mean we're out of the woods, Lower Haight. In fact, we're gonna add four lonely locations to our list -- two that didn't quite make the cut last year, and two hot properties that just recently hit the singles scene.
#4. 295 Divisadero
This one used to be a chiropractor's office, and we hear it was supposed to turn into a yoga studio, but all we see is frosty, unadorned mystery. What's going on in there, 295? Anything? Update: Commenter Dennis informs us that this one's now unavailable, being used as an office by a graphic design company. Thanks Dennis!
#3. 544 Haight
Formerly known as: Trunk There's not a lot of junk left in this Trunk -- in fact, there's not much of anything at all. Since Trunk ditched the space in January, this one's been on the prowl for a new tenant. We expect somebody'll snatch it up soon!
#2. 598 Haight
Formerly known as: RNM Oh RNM... what are we going to do with you? Approaching nine months on the market, enduring price drop after price drop -- how low will you go to find a mate? Chin up, RNM. If you don't value yourself, who will?
#1. 480 Haight
Formerly known as: Lee's Meat / Popular Market First of all, if you have to advertise yourself as "popular," you're almost definitely not. This one's been vacant for years, and we hear there's all sorts of dire stuff going on inside -- like, for starters, "a foot thick mixture of mud, rainwater, human and rodent feces." Adorable. Also, recently someone smashed the front door's glass in (or out??), and nobody seems to care. But come on, a huge space near a bustling intersection? This place is totally infested -- with potential! Can anyone make an honest market out of it? Time will tell, but we sure hope so.
So, that's it for this year's sexy storefronts. Which are going to find partners, and which are destined for spinsterdom? Check back next year!