After 56 years, the Castro's EV's Repair Service closes up shop

After 56 years, the Castro's EV's Repair Service closes up shopEV's Repair Service is now closed. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Steven Bracco
Published on April 04, 2019

Yet another longtime Castro business has closed up shop. This time, it's EV's Repair Service at 3417 16th St. (at Harlow), which has been in business since 1963. 

Hoodline reached out to the shop's owners, the Villaroman family, for more details, but did not receive a response. At this time, it's unclear if EV's closed entirely, or if it has moved to a new location.

Hailing from an earlier era in the neighborhood's history, EV's specialized in repairing heavy equipment, particularly beauty-salon and dentistry equipment.

In a message left in the shop's window, the family quotes a Bible passage, Matthew 16:26: "What good is a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" The passage is often used in reference to those who've acquired wealth but lost touch with their values, indicating that the closure may have been due to some sort of financial conflict. 

"We will move on and hold dear the lessons and love you bestowed upon us, Mom/Nana," the note continues. "We love you forever."

Note from EV's Repair Service. | Photo: A./Hoodline TIPLINE

EV's had long been a bit of a neighborhood enigma. Without regular business hours, many passersby may have even thought that it had already been closed for some time. 

But its disappearance is the latest in a series of notable business closures in the Castro over the past month. Firewood CafeChowOutfit and Beso have all shuttered, and floral shop Ixia, a legacy business, announced this week that it will be moving out of the neighborhood. 

Four of those businesses — Firewood, Chow, Ixia and now EV's — had served the neighborhood for 20 years or more. 

EV's Repair Service, prior to closing (2017). | Photo: Ay Lai/Facebook
Items to be repaired inside the shop (2017). | Photo: Ay Lai/Facebook

EV's two-story building, constructed in 1904, is currently listed for sale by Zephyr Real Estate. Listing agent Stu Gerry confirmed the building is for sale, and that the ground-floor retail space isn't currently being leased.

The second floor includes two dwelling units: a three-bedroom, one-bathroom unit and a smaller one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit.

In addition to the retail space that formerly housed EV's, the building's ground floor has three garages, one of which was once used for horse-drawn carriages.

Inside the now-empty EV's Repair Service space. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

Gerry tells Hoodline that when the approximately 5,000-square-foot building hits the market, it will be listed for around $3.5 million.

"The building hasn't changed for a long time, and it shows," he said.