There are a few recent changes in Cole Valley to report, including the homecoming of a favorite neighborhood shop, new developments at the former site of Alpha Market, and a noisy mystery that's been robbing some residents of their beauty sleep.
Luke's Local Awning Goes Up At Former Alpha Market
At the former Alpha Market, a new awning was hoisted last week for the incoming tenant, Luke's Local. In July, Alpha Market's owner, Abe Sala, announced his retirement from the grocery game after more than three decades, though he still owns Cole Valley Pets (910 Cole St.)
The new market will be the first physical location for Luke's Local, which delivers groceries and prepared foods. Although the store doesn't open until December, Chappell said that customers who order its Thanksgiving turkeys online can stop by the storefront to pick up their birds from November 22nd to 24th. Neighbors get a 15 percent discount with the code COLEVALLEY15.
Late-Night Bells At Grattan Elementary Disturb Neighbors
For several weeks, residents who live near Grattan Elementary have reported that the school's bells are going off late at night, disturbing the peace. Chimes have been reported as early as 8pm, sometimes continuing well into the night.
We called the school's office this morning, and were told that the problem occurred after the bells were reprogrammed for the end of Daylight Savings Time. As a result, am and pm were transposed, causing the bells to go off in the middle of the night. Officials are now working to resolve the issue.
Tantrum Reopens After Seismic Retrofit
Tantrum, the toy store and vintage shop that decamped for the Inner Richmond while its Cole Valley storefront was seismically retrofitted, has softly reopened in its original location at 832 Cole St. Although it was initially intended to be a temporary home, the Clement Street expansion proved to be a hit with Inner Richmond shoppers, so the store now has two locations.
The space was completely gutted during the seismic work, so Tantrum now has new lighting and fixtures and a new storefront. Owner Amanda Weld said she and her husband Richard are "extremely happy" to be back in Cole Valley in time for holiday shopping. A grand opening celebration is in the works.
Shuttered Laundromat Seeks To Become Limited-Use Restaurant
Next door to Tantrum, at 862 Cole, the Planning Department is reviewing an application for a change of use permit at the former Doug's Suds Laundromat, which closed in May 2015.
If approved, the space would become a "limited restaurant," the only type of new eatery currently permitted in the Haight Neighborhood Commercial District. (The district has a 1/4 mile buffer that restricts new full-service restaurants.) Unconfirmed rumors suggest the spot is under consideration for a new coffee shop.
Do you have a tip or a question about something in Cole Valley? Text your tip to (415) 200-3233, and we'll look into it.
