What’s Going On Here (Building I Incorrectly Thought Was the Un-AA Space)?
November 19, 2009
UPDATE: I am an idiot and took pictures of 998 Valencia (to the left of ATA) rather than the un-AA space at 988 Valencia (to the right of ATA). I get my empty Valencia storefronts confused. My apologies.
Some redecorating going on in the not-American Apparel on Valencia and 21st former Botanica Yoruba space?
What kind of establishment would want a wall of horizontal beat-up two-by-fours? Discuss.
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Burrito Justice 
There’s a new permit by the original owners, but not a whole lot of detail.
Maybe they’re going back to the eating establishment permit they filed in 2006?
Shoooot. I would have taken it. I mean, if I had money and stuff.
Regard the permits you linked to:
I had talked to the owner about the space a few months ago and indicated that he was having trouble renting out such a large, unfinished space. He said that we was going to subdivide the space, provided no one took the whole thing, and replace the garage door with a storefront. Based on the permits, it looks like he did exactly that.
that bottom pic isn’t the not-AA; it’s the former Botanica Yoruba on the corner. i loved that place — it filled the intersection of valencia and 21st with the scent of frankincense, mingling with roasting coffee from ritual, vanilla from the saffron importers, and spices frying from Dosa, all fresh in the bright morning air! heavenly!
it’s still delightful, but missing something magical without the incense.
guess i should have tipped them a few bucks for the service, since i never bought anything there….
The other great thing about Botanica Yoruba was that it was a polling place on election days. That always made me feel very, very San Franciscan, voting in the voodoo supply store (I hope voodoo is the correct word here.)
Crap, you’re right — the non-AA space is to the right of ATA, 988, not 998. Well, this is rather embarrassing. I get the empty Valencia storefronts confused.
raceycarr, I loved that polling place. “Vote Chango!” as I used to say.
My girlfriend lived upstairs. During ceremonial times, young women and men would be strolling around that intersection. Also, the smell of tobacco they used in their ceremonies—-and the oft-heard bleating of a goat or sheep, no joke.
They’ve moved over around the corner, but it has only meant a more homogenized stretch of valencia.
Young women and men dressed all in white, head to toe, is what I meant to say
I’m still looking for a mid-price eatery. Something above a taqueria, but below, well, Bar Tartine, Foreign Cinema, Range, Dosa, Spork, etc. I’m such a yuppie scumbag gentrifier.
was walking by a few nights ago and there were some people inside doing some work. my buddy and i asked what was going in next and the worker replied, “a wiccan temple.”
no shit.
as long as there’s incense!!
actually, i asked the other day and they said “art gallery and community space” — which i suppose could mean wiccan temple, no?