Happy Pride Month! Here's a brief roundup of recent changes to Castro area businesses. In this edition, a Progress Pride Flag mural gets repainted, a flower shop moves, and a hair removal salon closes.
Rainbow Mural at Jane Warner Plaza
The Rainbow Mural at Jane Warner Plaza has been repainted just in time for Pride Month.
The mural was painted last year by Castro resident and artist Harry Breaux. Over the course of the past year, the mural faded. In March, the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District announced that it would be repainted.
Progress Pride Flag mural organizer Harry Breaux (center). | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Breaux and his team of volunteers were out in Jane Warner Plaza two weeks ago, repainting the Progress Pride Flag.
Breaux tells Hoodline that there were enough leftover funds from last year to pay for the mural's repainting.
Additionally, the six planter boxes at Jane Warner Plaza have been painted the colors of the Rainbow Flag. Castro resident and real estate agent David Ayerdi sponsored the project.
Ampersand (740A 14th St.)
Castro and Duboce Triangle boutique flower shop Ampersand has moved to a new location around the corner from its current location.
Last week, Ampersand moved from 2190 Market St. to 740A 14th St., between Church and Belcher streets. The space was previously home to Core 7 Real Estate.
Ampersand has moved to its new location at 740A 14th St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Ampersand had been at 2190 Market St. since 2019. The shop originally opened in a carriage house at 80 Albion in the Mission.
"After over six years at the previous location on Market Street, I was ready for a change and to create a new, beautiful space, and hoping to be the cutest shop you've ever seen," said owner Emerson Boyle.
Ampersand has departed 2190 Market St. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Boyle tells Hoodline that Ampersand will be hosting a grand opening sometime soon; a date has not been set.
Ampersand's departure from Market Street marks the second business to leave the ground-floor retail spaces at apartment complex The Duboce. Last year, Castro beer hall and restaurant Willkommen closed after six years.
European Wax Center (2241 Market St.)
Hair removal salon European Wax Center has departed the Castro as plans for a new yoga studio at the site move along.
European Wax Center opened in 2021 in the former Fidelity National Title space.
As Hoodline previously reported, the 'World's Largest Pilates Brand' Club Pilates has proposed opening a new studio in the space.
European Wax Center at 2241 Market St. is now closed. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
European Wax Center customers can now visit locations in Nob Hill (1058 Hyde St.) and City Center (2675 Geary Blvd)
With over 1,300 locations worldwide, Club Pilates currently has four locations in San Francisco: Diamond Heights, SoMa, NoPa, and Cow Hollow. A fifth location has been proposed in Lakeshore Plaza. The Castro would be Club Pilates' sixth location.
Under the city's formula retail rules, businesses with 11 or more locations worldwide must obtain a conditional use permit before opening anywhere in the Castro or Upper Market.
Club Pilates is still working its way through the approval process, and a Planning Commission hearing to obtain a conditional use permit has not been set at this time.
If you've seen something new (or closing) in the neighborhood, email your tips and photos to [email protected]. If we use your info in a story, we'll give you credit.
