After Tantrum temporarily relocated from Cole Valley to the Inner Richmond in April due to a seismic retrofit, it wasn't clear when the vintage shop would return to its original digs. Although owners Richard and Amanda Weld signed a lease for their current location at 248 Clement St., they're planning to return to its original location on 858 Cole, next month.
"They are almost done, and I think they're waiting for final inspections," said Richard Weld. "We have to build the shop back out again since they gutted it to do the retrofit. It's just walls and a floor right now."
After painting, decorating, installing new shelving and restocking inventory, Weld said they expect to unveil the remodeled Cole Valley shop within the next few weeks. "We're hoping to be open before Halloween," he said. "As soon as they let us get in there, the sooner we can start."
The move to Clement Street brought the store into contact with kids and parents in the Richmond, said Weld, "but we have a lot of customers who've come over from Cole Valley as well."
As a result, the Welds will maintain both shops, which sell toys, games, greeting cards, party supplies, and other sundries. Even though Clement was intended to be a short-term stay, Weld said, "the shop has been really great, and we want to keep it."
Initially, Tantrum planned to expand into the adjoining storefront at 862 Cole St. after Doug's Suds laundromat lost its lease in May 2015. "They wanted to make it all once space, but engineering-wise, they weren't able to," said Weld.
Several neighborhood residents have heard rumors that a coffee shop will be moving into the former laundromat, but we weren't able to find any permits on file with the Department of Building Inspection or the Department of Health. However, according to a recently updated real estate listing, the former laundromat has been leased.
Along with seismic renovations, building permits indicate that the one-time launderette is being outfitted with new lighting and plumbing, a tankless water heater and an ADA-compliant bathroom. Because 862 Cole lies within the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Commercial District, the Planning Department would need to issue a conditional use (CU) permit for a full-service restaurant to open at the location.
The Ice Cream Bar, Padrecito, Kezar Pizzetta and Burger Urge were the last restaurants approved inside the Haight Ashbury NCD. Limited-service restaurants like coffee shops also need Planning approval, but no CU is required. We'll watch this space and will provide an update when new information's available.
