By Gary Carr
Seneca Klassen is a chocolate nut. His shop, Bittersweet, the chocolate cafe at 2123 Fillmore Street, is the culmination of a lifelong passion for chocolate.
“I’m a home chocolate-maker from way back,” Klassen says. For years, he’s collected recipes for chocolate drinks and confections, concocting goodies in his kitchen capable of driving a chocoholic [...]
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Sweet news coming
to Sutter and Steiner
It won't be quiet for long at Sutter and Steiner, where the classy French restaurant Cassis and longtime local favorite Neecha Thai have both closed.
Cassis will be replaced by a new spot called Sweet Maple, which will forgo dinner and concentrate on breakfast and lunch. The owners have three other coffee shops in the area.
Neecha, which was in business on the corner for 22 years, will be replaced by a new Thai restaurant called Sweet Lime. And the building itself is owned by Mr. Sweet.
MORE INDIAN: A new Indian restaurant called Mehfil is in the works at 2301 Fillmore, formerly home of Crepevine.
"Mehfil is an Indian Urdu word which means gathering of family members, relative, friends, colleagues sharing good moments, good food and having great fun," say the owners, who are already in business south of Market at 600 Folsom.
But they seem a little confused about their new Fillmore home, saying on the website: "The San Francisco Richmond district is the home of our newest location."
JEWELRISM ARRIVES: Jewelrism — a new shop at 2512 Sacramento in the former home of the Romi boutique — features jewelry pieces great and small in a space outfitted with feminine flourishes and vintage furnishings. The shop is also a haven for jewelrymakers. It offers more than 1,000 clasps, fittings, beads, chains and gems, including parts for earrings, necklaces, rings, pins and bracelets.
Kay Kim opened Jewelrism after selling jewelry parts for two years at the online store etsy.com. It’s an extension of the family business for Kim, whose brother owns a factory that makes jewelry parts in South Korea. The handmade selections in the shop change weekly with every shipment of new items.
BITTER NEWS: The chocolate cafe at 2123 Fillmore, Bittersweet, has closed. A posting on the store's blog tells the story:
"Bittersweet closed our Fillmore street store in San Francisco. Unfortunately, with our lease term up and negotiations coming to a rather abrupt end, we just couldn't sustain the 30% rise in rent the landlord was looking for."
BEAUTY BAR CLOSES: The Tokyo Lash Bar at the Shu Uemura cosmetics boutique at 1971 Fillmore is a thing of the past. Parent company L'Oreal closed all of Shu Uemura's stores in the U.S., although Shu Uemura products will still be carried by a number of department stores. L'Oreal — which also owns Kiehl's at Fillmore and Washington — plans to move Kiehl's down the street to occupy the Shu Uemura space at Fillmore and Pine.
TAKE THE CAKE: Elizabeth Falkner has closed Citizen Cake on Grove Street, but it's taking considerably longer than planned to reopen in the longtime home of Vivande at 2125 Fillmore.
The tablehopper reports on a conversation with Falkner about her plans:
"She described the new look as Victorian-era apothecary-meets-soda fountain (that serves beer and wine, heh). Speaking of beer, she mentioned beer floats, and to that, I say cheers, plus sodas made with gum syrups. She explained the restaurant and patisserie will be combined, with 30 seats (including 6 bar seats) open for guests who just want to come in for an eclair and coffee, or a sit-down lunch or dinner (some seats will be held for reservations as well). . . . Lunch and dinner will be served daily, continuously from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m."
IT'S A MIRACLE: After six long empty years, the rebuilding of the former vintage shop at 2028 Fillmore is nearly complete. The upstairs — for many years occupied by shrinks — will return to residential use. Tenants have been angling for the downstairs storefront, and a lease should be signed soon. Expect another women's clothing boutique.
COMING & GOING: Winterbranch Gallery at 2119 Fillmore has closed. Nellie Muganda's Neja Cosmetics, now relocated to Union Street, has been replaced at 1850 Fillmore by Natural Sense Organic Mattresses. . . . The olive oil store O & Co. at 2208 Fillmore will be replaced by Yoppi, a new frozen yogurt shop. L'Occitane, O & Co.'s corporate sibling across the street, shut down for 10 days for a freshening-up and is now re-open for business.
