The iconic vintage store Distractions in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco will permanently close its doors later this month. The store's unique range of Victorian, steampunk, and period clothing from the 1960s and 1970s era has long catered to the local counterculture community for the past 47 years.

According to the SF Standard, owner Jim Siegel announced the impending closure, attributing his decision to the pandemic, negative media coverage about San Francisco, and the ongoing gentrification of Haight-Ashbury. Siegel, who himself is a part of the counterculture community, had been contemplating retirement, which the stated factors hastened.

Founded in 1976, Distractions became a popular destination for a diverse counterculture crowd, from hippies and ravers to fans of the Grateful Dead. Siegel, originally a teenage runaway, aspired to keep the spirit of counterculture alive through his store and successfully made it a thriving business.

Not only cherished by the local community, Distractions has also drawn attention from the arts world. According to LupitaNews, customers of the unique store have included musicians like Jefferson Airplane and Robert Plant, as well as comedian Chris Farley.

The looming closure spurred concerns among locals and customers over the changing identity of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. A local handmade jewelry maker lamented the loss of such a distinctive store, saying it adversely affects efforts for community-building during these challenging times.

Even Mayor London Breed expressed her sorrow over the closure and discussed the possibility of registering Distractions under the city's Legacy Business Registry program, hence prompting its reopening elsewhere. While employees' decision on this offer remains unclear, the fact that such an offer has been extended shows how much of an impact the store has made over nearly half a century.