Hayes Valley will soon see a new shop, as Los Angeles-based bag designer Clare Vivier is planning to open a store in the neighborhood next month.
Tipster Andrew D. first tipped us off to the news that the "affordable luxury" designer would be heading into Hayes Valley. When Hoodline reached out to confirm the news, digital strategist Alexis Brunswick let us know that Clare V. is slated to open mid-June on 344 Linden St., where a restaurant was originally supposed to move in three years ago.
Instead of moving forward with the restaurant, SF Planning Department documents show that a change of use permit—converting the former laundromat space to retail use—was issued earlier this year.
The new store on Hayes Valley's living alley will be designed by Kate McCollough, who is also behind the company's Los Angeles and New York shops, Brunswick tells us.
Since it is still being planned, no renderings or photos of the store are available yet.
"The location is geographically interesting," Brunswick pointed out, "as it’s across from the first Blue Bottle on Linden Alley."
She added that the space will include French-inspired designs and artwork, light pink floors, and a garden that will adjoin the store with Steven Alan on Hayes St.
For founder and creative director Clare Vivier herself, the store opening will be a homecoming of sorts, as the designer had graduated from the University of San Francisco, living in the city for 12 years during the 1990s. Back then, she also opened up her first retail store, Behind The Post Office on Haight Street.
"Opening my seventh store in San Francisco, which feels like a hometown for me," she told us, "is very special. For our opening, we're going to have a few exclusive items that touch on the personal relationship that I have with the city."
The store will also be decorated with a wallpaper featuring hand-drawn graphics of Vivier's favorite places in the Bay Area, which will also be printed on collectible totes and tees.
First created in 2008, the brand now has four other stores in California, and two in New York. The Linden Street shop is their first store in Northern California.
The company is currently looking to hire a full-time manager, full-time key holder, as well as a part-time key holder for the new location in Hayes Valley.
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