Here's a brief roundup of recent changes to Castro area businesses. In this edition, a Thai restaurant and an art gallery have shuttered, a convenience store has opened, and a new dental office is on the way.
Mr. Hen Noodles House (4039 18th St.)
Mr. Hen Noodles House at 4039 18th St. has closed. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Castro Thai restaurant Mr. Hen Noodles House quietly closed last month after less than two years in the Castro.
Hoodline contacted Mr. Hen for comment but did not receive a response. The restaurant's phone has been disconnected and its website has been disabled.
Mr. Hen opened in December 2022 at 4039 18th Street, formerly Rooster & Rice. Mr. Hen struggled from the start; foot traffic at the restaurant always appeared light and the dining room was rarely busy.
The space at 4039 18th has seen a great deal of turnover in the eleven years since Vietnamese restaurant Zadin closed in 2013. Since then, it's housed five closed restaurants: Urban Picnic, Mekong Kitchen, Indo Restaurant, Rooster & Rice, and Mr. Hen. Asian fusion restaurant Malacca briefly operated out of the space from 2005 to 2007.
Longtime Castro residents will recall that 4039 18th was the longtime home of burger joint Hot 'N' Hunky which operated from approximately August 1981 until June 2005. (Let us know the exact dates, if you know them, in the comments below).
Schlomer Haus Gallery (2128 Market Street at Church)
Schlomer Haus Gallery at 2128 Market St. is now closed. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Castro art gallery Schlomer Haus has shuttered after three years in the neighborhood.
Schlomer quietly closed its gallery last month. On a recent visit to the gallery by a Hoodline reporter, all of the art and fixtures had been removed.
When reached by phone, a Schlomer Haus Gallery representative confirmed the gallery was closed and that they would open a new gallery in Healdsburg.
Schlomer Haus opened in November 2021 in the former men's clothing store Maas Stacks.
A new tenant for the space has not been announced at this time.
Sage Dental Care (595 Castro St.)
Sage Dental Care opens next month at 595 Castro St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
The Castro will soon have a new dental office. Sage Dental Care will be opening next month at 595 Castro Street, formerly One Medical.
Amazon-owned One Medical closed its Castro Street offices last year after opening at a larger location at 2355 Market Street.
Public records indicate Sage Dental Care will be remodeling the space. Work includes relocating the doors, installing new cabinets, creating dental equipment rooms, and converting a restroom into an office.
Construction costs are estimated at $85,000.
According to a job listing the new dentist has "has a decade of experience working in all areas of general dentistry – including hospital and homecare - and is beginning his own practice."
Body (450 Castro Street)
Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
A new convenience store has opened at 450 Castro Street, formerly men's clothing store Body.
The new store, which opened in September, retained the name Body. Body's old sign on the exterior also remains.
The new store offers an assortment of drinks and snacks along with wigs, shoes, costume items, and other apparel.
Castro business owner Sam Dughman purchased the building in June for $2.13M. Dughman also owns Rossi's deli just a few doors away from Body.
Men's clothing store Body closed in 2019 after 40 years in the Castro. The closure was in part caused by the 4-alarm fire that damaged the building along with the adjacent building that housed QBar, which is now set to reopen Friday, November 8.