Earlier this spring, we got word that a purveyor of fine foods was moving into the former African Outlet spot. On Friday, Flavour Shop opened its doors, the latest small business to debut on Octavia between Hayes and Grove streets.
The shop was founded by Mert Civan and Stephanie Valentino. The pair met when Mert hired Stephanie (who's also a real estate agent) to find him a house in San Francisco last year. The pair got to talking about their shared experiences of spice markets and foods discovered on international travels, and the idea of Flavour Shop was born.
Plans were developed earlier this year, and a mere five months later, the shop is open for business at 524 Octavia St. "We started it up, and we're so happy," said Mert.
As for why Mert and Stephanie chose Hayes Valley for their business, it appeared to be a no-brainer. "It's so hip, and so international, you see people from all over the world," Stephanie said. "There are a lot of people in this neighborhood who are familiar with what we carry."
The shop may also fill the void left by the closure of nearby specialty foods store Nosa Ria late last year.
Everything Flavour Shop carries has been tried and tested by the pair, who have a keen eye for not just fine quality products but also ones that are tricky to find elsewhere. Flavour Shop has a selection of pastas and sauces from Italy or dolmas from Turkey, but also focuses on carrying local products. Many of the cheeses are produced by nearby farms, and many of the cookies, crackers are locally-made.
Best-sellers in the few days the shop has been open have included jars of honey and nuts (selling for $9.99), along with sour cherry juice, an early customer favorite.
The plan is to carry more products as time goes on, depending on what customers are asking for. So if you're craving something that you can't seem to find in other shops, drop in and see if Mert and Stephanie can order it for you.
Flavour Shop is still finalizing its hours, but it will most likely be open either 10:30am-7:30pm, or 11am-8pm.
