Castro specialty market Muuu Meat has backed out from its plans to open at 3998 18th Street, formerly 7-Eleven.

The long-troubled 7-Eleven permanently closed in March 2021 after years of complaints from neighbors.

LA-based Muuu Meat announced plans to open in the 7-Eleven space in January 2023. Five months later the Planning Commission approved the project and construction permits were issued.

Despite plans to open in the third quarter of 2023, after months of inaction Hoodline learned that Muuu Meat has abandoned the new location.

Muuu Meat (now SuKarne) has abandoned plans to open at 3998 18th St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

 

In an email shared with Hoodline, District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman's office confirmed Muuu Meat is "no longer moving forward with this space."

Over the past year, Hoodline has attempted to contact Muuu Meat and its real estate manager Aaron Ruiz for an update but has not received a response.

Muuu Meat's website has been deactivated and the company has rebranded as SuKarne. A map of locations on SuKarne's website still shows the location at 3998 18th St. as "coming soon."

Founded in 2017, Muuu Meat (now SuKarne) is headquartered in Irvine, CA. The company opened its first store in downtown Los Angeles, and since that time has expanded to 36 locations with the goal of 40 locations across the US. San Francisco would be the 37th location.

Castro residents and neighbors around the store who have long advocated for improvements at this store and supported Muuu Meat were disappointed by the news

"We attended multiple meetings to voice our support for the project and ensure it would best serve our community," explained Castro resident Thomas Lucas. "Our intentions were clear: collaborating with Muuu Meats to bring a new retail option to our neighborhood in a retail space deeply needing revitalization and investment."

"Most disheartening, we learned earlier this week that Muuu Meat has officially abandoned its project without any formal notification or explanation," said Lucas.

"Because we were concerned about the lack of progress in developing the site, we reached out to both Mr. Lesser and his client, and we were met with silence," added Lucas. "This led us to take the responsibility of contacting Supervisor Mandelman’s office for assistance. Regrettably, Mr. Lesser and Muuu Meet again ignored inquiries from the Supervisor’s office."

Construction work never started at this location. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline

 

Permit expediter Phil Lesser, who helped Muuu Meat obtain its permits, tells Hoodline he recently drove by the space and was disappointed to see construction had not started. "I'm just as frustrated as everybody else," said Lesser. Lesser said he has not heard from Muuu Meat since getting its permit approved.

Public records indicate a construction permit was issued in January 2024 to remodel the space including replacing the ceiling, subfloor work, ductwork, installing coolers and freezers, and making the bathroom ADA-compliant. Construction costs were estimated at $225,000.

On a recent visit by a Hoodline reporter, construction documents and renderings of Muuu Meat's new location were still visible inside the store.

"This is not merely a setback for the planned retail shop; it represents a disregard for the community's voices and the efforts we made to support what was, until recently, a collaborative endeavor," added Lucas. "I am deeply disappointed with Phil Lesser and the Muuu Meat Corporation for their treatment of me and my neighbors throughout this process."

Hoodline contacted property manager Anchor Realty for comment but did not receive a response.

A new tenant for the space has not been announced at this time.

"A transparent communication line is essential in any community partnership," said Lucas. "Muuu Meat and Mr. Lesser's lack of engagement has disheartened community members who were hopeful for positive change at this site."

"As we look ahead, we remain committed to working with responsible partners who genuinely respect our community’s input and needs," added Lucas. "We hope to find new opportunities for development at this location that prioritizes open dialogue and collaboration."