True Sake installs window sign protesting new Hayes Valley parklet

Photo: Teresa Hammerl/Hoodline

There appears to be a "Parklet War" brewing in Hayes Valley, as tipster Natbat described it when they alerted us to a new sign in the window of Hayes Valley sake store True Sake.

"A parklet for personal profit literally 30 feet from an actual park — perfect!" reads the sign in the window of 560 Hayes St. (between Laguna and Octavia). Repurposed sake bottles underneath spell out the hashtag "#SoSanFrancisco."

The sign appears to be referencing the recently installed parklet across the street at 517 Hayes, which is just around the corner from neighborhood park Patricia's Green.

Located adjacent to Greek restaurant Souvla and deep-dish pizza parlor Patxi's, the new parklet was spearheaded by Souvla founder/CEO Charles Bililies. Though it provides overflow seating for both businesses, it is technically open to all members of the public, not just customers of the two restaurants.

"This parklet allows us to widen the sidewalk in the busy Hayes Street corridor, and provide additional accessibility in one of the busiest blocks of the city," Bililies told Hoodline last month.

The newly completed Hayes Street parklet.

As we reported when it opened last month, the parklet has been in the works for four years, and had to undergo an extensive approval process with the Planning Department prior to construction. It's unclear whether True Sake's owner, Beau Timken, registered any formal complaints during that process.

Reached via email, Timken declined to comment, telling Hoodline that he has "nothing to add" beyond the sign. A Souvla spokesperson also failed to respond to multiple requests for comment.

Planning Department spokesperson Gina Simi told Hoodline that neither her department, nor SF Public Works, have received any recent comments or complaints about the parklet.

So for now, it appears True Sake's window protest is just that. We'll keep you posted on any further developments that might impact the parklet's future.

Thanks to tipster Natbat. See something interesting while you’re out and about? Text Hoodline and we’ll try to find out what's going on: (415) 200-3233.