A new Thai massage business is headed for the former Face It Salon & Spa at 2343 Market Street.
As Hoodline previously reported, Face It Salon & Spa closed in 2021 after 22 years in the Castro.
Public records indicate plans for the Wela Thai Massage & Spa have been in the works since last summer as it awaited changes to the planning code.
A change of use permit through San Francisco's Planning Department is not required after a recent change to the planning code. Last year, legislation by District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen amended the planning code to principally permit ground-floor massage establishments.
Construction work is currently underway at 2343 Market St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Hoodline reached out to Wela Thai Massage owner Tanasak Intaraviset for comment but did not receive a response.
On a recent visit by a Hoodline reporter, construction workers were seen inside building out the space.
Permit records indicate the remodel includes six massage therapy rooms, a new reception area, an all-gender bathroom, a break room, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements.
Construction costs are estimated at $192,000 and will take approximately three months. The approximately 1,700 square foot storefront is designed by local firm Xie Associates, Inc.
Floor plan for Wela Thai Massage & Spa. | Image: Xie Associates, Inc.
The opening of Wela Thai Massage fills one many storefront vacancies on the 2300 block of Market St. Earlier this year, Chadwick's opened in the former Subway location at 2375 Market St.
Last year, Art House SF (2324 Market St.) opened in the former Berkshire Hathaway office, and Healing Cuts opened in the former Streetlight Records location (2350 Market St.).
Ground floor retail vacancies continue to plague the Castro, and the 2300 block of Market Street between Castro and Noe alone has 7 vacancies; spaces formerly occupied by Weaver's Coffee & Tea (2301 Market), IXIA (2331 Market), Worn Out West (2354 Market), Coldwell Banker (2355 Market), Art Attack (2358 Market), Bisou (2367 Market), and Pottery Barn (2390 Market) all remain vacant.
