Neighborhood market reopens in long-vacant Castro space, with pizza on the way

Neighborhood market reopens in long-vacant Castro space, with pizza on the wayTwin Peaks Market is now open at 4686 18th St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Steven Bracco
Published on September 04, 2018

Castro and Upper Market residents now have another option for grocery shopping at a small neighborhood market.

Twin Peaks Market opened earlier this month at 4686 18th St., the space formerly occupied by Fenway Market. It closed in 2014, and the space has sat vacant ever since.

Currently, the store offers basic groceries, snacks and sandwiches, but will soon expand to other options. New owner Nimar Shatrat, a Daly City resident, tells Hoodline he is currently applying for a license to sell beer and wine.

Twin Peaks Market's Nimar Shatrat. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

First-time business owner Shatrat is currently studying mechanical engineering at City College of San Francisco, and will soon be transferring to San Francisco State University. 

He decided to open a market in the Castro because "it's a nice area, and they don't have a lot of stores ... up the hill, there's no stores, and this store will be convenient."

Shatrat tells Hoodline his ultimate goal is to operate a pizzeria within the market. He's currently going through the permit process with SF Planning in order to add a kitchen hood to the space, which he expects to take at least three months.

After the space has been renovated, shoppers will be able to pick up groceries alongside freshly baked pizza. The pizzeria will also offer delivery.

"Customers won't have to go all the way to Safeway or Mollie Stone's, they can come here," Shatrat added.

Customer Chris Millican shops inside Twin Peaks Market. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

Neighborhood resident Chris Millican, who's lived in the Castro for over a decade, was shopping in the store with his dog when Hoodline visited.

"It's very convenient to be able to walk and grab snacks and sandwiches and not have to drive all the way to Safeway or Mollie Stone's," he said.

Hoodline also asked Shatrat about the future of the vacant space right next door at 4690 18th St., which was formerly Cuban restaurant Chan Chan. He told us he didn't know if a new business would be moving in.

Twin Peaks Market is now open seven days a week.