Fence up around Industrialists' parking lot. New Starbucks just around the corner?

About two weeks ago a chain-linked fence was placed around the parking lot adjacent to the Industrialists' stainless steel furniture shop at Market and Sanchez (the future location of the Castro's fourth Starbucks). The chain-linked fence nearly completely blocks the entrance to the shop and gives it the appearance of being out of business, even though they are still open.

While some are taking it as a sign that Starbucks is readying demolition of the space, we spoke with an employee who noted that the fence was actually put up by the city due to the rotting of the base of the support beams that hold up the open overhang above the parking lot, making it a public safety hazard. Many of the beams even have steel supports at their base to reinforce them, but even those are starting to bend and give way. The fenced-off area was home to a former ZipCar car-sharing parking lot. As for the dug up street corner in front of the shop, SF Curbed has confirmed that the utility work happening there matches a permit filed by the chain a few months back for the buildings rehab.

The owner of the shop gave no indication as to when they would be vacating the space to make way for the construction of the new Starbucks, but a giant fence in front of the shop's entrance will no doubt hasten the closing of the Industrialists' already low-trafficked shop.