Potrero Hill, San Francisco

The Neighborhood Newswire recently published an article about some of Potrero Hill’s long time small businesses, featuring Flo’s Hair Styling, The Good Life Grocery, and Center Hardware.

The article provides some history about these businesses (Flo’s Hair styling on 20th St. has been around for 53 years, The Good Life Grocery opened in 1974, and Center Hardware started in 1980), and touches upon the impact that new development such as Whole Foods and Home Depot might have upon these businesses and the character of Potrero Hill:

Challenges are emerging for the Hill’s owner-operated small businesses. A Whole Foods under construction at 17th and Rhode Island streets could eat some of Good Life’s lunch. Ever the community-supporter, Hudiburgh (part owner of the Good Life) noted that she was “glad it is a Whole Foods and not a Target. It is a beautiful store with good food.” But that doesn’t mean she’ll take the new competition lying down. To combat Whole Foods, Good Life will upgrade its facility. “I’ll do whatever it takes for me to stay competitive, but it has to make sense financially for me to stay open,” said Hudiburgh. She emphasized her commitment to her employees, who receive comprehensive health benefits. “As long as people keep walking their dogs and their kids by, I’ll be here,” said Hudiburgh.

Guntner (majority partner of Center Hardware) is confident his family business will stay busy once a 148,500 square-foot Home Depot moves in just on the other side of 280 on Bayshore Boulevard. Because his store caters to a more commercial crowd, contractors instead of weekend do-it-yourselfers, time is an issue. “What you can get here in three to five minutes would take you over 10 minutes at Home Depot,” said Guntner. “It’s a smaller store and I have people who can actually help you. There is always someone up front to ring you up.”

Cimino (owner of Flo’s Hair Styling) is happy about new businesses in the area, but hopes Potrero Hill does not lose its “glamour.” “The whole Hill has changed,” said Cimino, waiting for his 2:30 appointment to arrive. “With UCSF, all the condos and new homes, this place is up and coming.”

Hudiburgh believes that local businesses can help the Hill retain its character. “There needs to be outreach on behalf of the merchants; this has always been an activist community,” she said.

The article also points out that the Potrero Hill Association of Merchants and Businesses is teaming up with the Potrero Boosters Neighborhood Association and the Dogpatch Neighborhood Association to create a “Louder Voice.”

“This is a critical time,” said Goldstein (Potrero Hill Association of Merchants and Businesses president), adding that the San Francisco Planning Department will soon make zoning recommendations for the area. Goldstein’s main concern is a change of designation on 18th and 20th streets from Neighborhood Commercial NC1 and NC2 to NC3. “We do not want to get NC3; that allows for business space up to 50,000 square feet,” said Goldstein, who has lived on the Hill for 34 years. “We want to be able to keep those neighborhood-serving businesses.”

Related note: This year’s Potrero Hill History Night will be held Sat. Oct 21st at Enola Maxwell Middle School and will salute Potrero Hill businesses.

• Potrero’s Small Businesses Offer a Piece of History [Neighborhood Newswire]