Tech Product Store 'B8ta' To Move In At Near-Complete Hayes & Laguna Development

Tech Product Store 'B8ta' To Move In At Near-Complete Hayes & Laguna DevelopmentImage: Sternberg Benjamin Architects
Teresa Hammerl
Published on March 21, 2017

The soon-to-be-completed five-story mixed-use development at Hayes and Laguna streets has found a tenant for its corner ground-floor retail space.

B8ta is a store that allows customers to discover, test, and buy new tech products, such as smartbulbs, robots, juicing systems, VR glasses, smart home security cameras or even smart devices for pets.

A b8ta store in Santa Monica. | Photo: Courtesy of b8ta

B8ta already has retail stores in Palo Alto, Santa Monica, and Seattle. Though the company has its headquarters in San Francisco, the Hayes Valley store will be its first retail store in the city, co-founder and CMO Phillip Raub confirmed via email. 

"Customers can expect to find products they've never seen before, and often ones that aren't available in any other physical retail space," Raub said. "We want customers to learn about brand-new products, get a chance to try them in real life, then be able to take them home on the spot."

The development of 580 Hayes, which formerly housed Hayes & Kebab, has been in the works since 2015. When it's finished, it will offer 29 market-rate condos and 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, which B8ta will share with a location of Portland-based ice creamery Salt & Straw.

According to Raub, the company chose Hayes Valley because it is well-balanced, with both locals and tourists visiting to shop. 

Because of its non-commercial vibe, he said, "it felt like the perfect place for people to discover new and innovative products."

Raub was not able to provide further details, such as the size of the store. An opening date also has yet to be set, but he believes it will open "later this year." We'll let you know when it's ready.