Irony: Expanded Starbucks in Safeway opens, Industrialists closes

Irony: Expanded Starbucks in Safeway opens, Industrialists closesNew Starbucks inside Safeway (photo: Castro Biscuit)
Roy
Published on August 08, 2013
New Starbucks inside Safeway (photo: Castro Biscuit)
New Starbucks inside Safeway (photo: Castro Biscuit)
Old Safeway Starbucks kiosk getting demo'd (photo: Castro Biscuit)
Old Safeway Starbucks kiosk getting demo'd (photo: Castro Biscuit)
Well this was interestingly timed... Safeway's newly expanded Starbucks located near the front of the store has just opened for business. Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon, moving vans hauled away what was left of the Industrialists' inventory after a fire sale the past few days that saw many of their items marked down 90%. The Industrialists' space (2201 Market Street) at the corner of Market and Sanchez was hoped by some to be the site of a new Starbucks location for the Castro. Due to many neighborhood association, merchants, and resident protests, and not fitting the new formula retail rules, Starbucks was denied their conditional use permit for the location. The new Starbucks is front and center in the Safeway and features a sitting area off to the side. The grocery store's regular cafe seating area has been torn apart. No one at the store we spoke to was sure of what would be happening to it moving forward.
Former Industrialist's Space (photo: Castro Biscuit)
Former Industrialists space (photo: Castro Biscuit)
As far as the future of the Industrialists' space goes, we sent them an email to get more information about their closing. Perhaps the property owner is renovating the building (and the defunct, dilapidated parking area surrounded by a chain link fence) and we'll see a return of the metal furniture store? We'll let you know what we hear back.