THIS LAVISH oversized limited edition book brings together a collection of favorite photographs and stories from the pages of the New Fillmore. It tells the story of an ever-changing small town in the big city with a rich history and a strong sense of community.
Available exclusively at Browser Books on Fillmore, or order online.
THIS DOCUMENTARY — filmed entirely on Fillmore Street — tells the story of longtime Fillmore resident Kelly Johnson, who used a new California law to end his life on his own terms.
“I’m going to really miss our clients on Fillmore,” said shift manager Annabelle Cimino.
THE STARBUCKS at 2208 Fillmore Street is set to close its doors on December 1, leaving loyal customers and locals shocked and disappointed.
Annabelle Cimino, the store’s shift manager, has worked at the Fillmore location since 2017. Known for her personal touch, Cimino greets regulars by name and even hand-decorates their takeaway bags.
The building, one of several on the block now owned by venture capitalist investor Neil Mehta’s nonprofit, has faced its share of challenges. Last year, both the air conditioning system and the sewage line were replaced. But the introduction of Starbucks’ single-cup brewing machines, alongside the new air conditioning system, reportedly exceeded the building’s electrical capacity.
“We believe the building couldn’t support the electrical load,” Cimino said. “I’m going to really miss our clients on Fillmore Street.”
Staff members have been breaking the news to customers, many of whom frequent the shop daily. The location is particularly popular with students from nearby schools, including Convent, University High School, Hamlin and Stuart Hall, who flock to the shop for sweet drinks, cookies and K-Pops.
“This is my home,” said University High freshman Sofia Linadev. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
All of the employees have been offered positions at other Starbucks locations, Cimino said. Starbucks continues to have shops in the neighborhood inside the Mollie Stone’s on California Street and at Fillmore and O’Farrell.
As campaign season wraps up and the winter rains begin, Fillmore continues to see significant changes.
Nordstrom Local: Nordstrom wants to bring its first Nordstrom Local in San Francisco to 1919 Fillmore, the former Minted location. The shop would offer online shoppers pickup, returns and alteration services. Nordstrom will present its plans at a neighborhood meeting on November 14.
New restaurants: The former Pizza Inferno space at Fillmore and Sutter has a new tenant: a Japanese/Korean concept from Kevin Chen, who already owns Nono at 1730 Fillmore and Bubu at 2417 California. The new venue promises to be significantly larger than his two existing establishments. … Wise Sons has opened inside the Jewish Community Center at 2500 California from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. daily.
More jewelry: Rocksbox is set to open its first retail location at 2208 Fillmore, previously occupied by Little Words Project. The new retailer joins existing Fillmore jewelry businesses Eric Trabert Goldsmiths, Mureta & Co. Antique Jewelry, Catbird, Gorjana, Fiat Lux and Hi Ho Silver.
Real estate: The twin buildings at 2035-2047 Fillmore, formerly home to AquaItalia shoes, Apizza and Mio — now relocated a few doors south — have been sold. The asking price was $8 million. Real estate agent Pamela Mendelsohn would not disclose the new owner, but says it’s not venture capitalist Neil Mehta, whose nonprofit has bought a number of other properties on Fillmore this year.
Cynthia Traina is a longtime Fillmore resident and an agent with Vantage Realty San Francisco. Send items for Street Talk to CT@cynthiatraina.com.
The priciest neighborhood sale was 2855 Pacific, which closed at $15.25 million.
REAL ESTATE | CYNTHIA TRAINA
Cash buyers dominated local home sales in October. Of the 12 single-family home sales that closed in the neighborhood — in Pacific Heights, Lower Pacific Heights, Cow Hollow and Presidio Heights — 10 were cash purchases.
Three notable fixer-upper properties changed hands: 2245 Union, zoned commercial but convertible to residential, sold for $2.6 million; 2752 Buchanan sold for $3.1 million; and 2760 Vallejo commanded $9.5 million. The month’s priciest sale was 2855 Pacific, which closed at $15.25 million, slightly below the asking price.
November begins with 30 active single-family homes and 73 active condominiums on the market. Prices range from an entry-level condo at 2040 Franklin #1006 for $499,000 to the penthouse across from Lafayette Park at 2006 Washington #10 at $29 million. The least expensive single-family home is a 2-bedroom, 1.5-bath property at 18 Orben listed just under $1.8 million, while the highest-priced property on the market remains 2990 Broadway at $32 million, on the market for 123 days. Many ultra-luxury homes continue to await qualified buyers.
October brought the narrowest gap between condo and single-family home sales in recent months. Among the 18 condos sold, the top sale was a five-bedroom unit in a duplex at 2205 Pacific Avenue, closing at $7.28 million. The second-highest sale was a three-bedroom unit at The Pacific (2121 Webster), which sold for $3.5 million after 181 days on market. The month also saw three duplex sales. Currently pending sales for October include 11 condominiums and 6 single-family homes.
Cynthia Traina is an agent with Vantage Realty San Francisco. Contact her at CT@cynthiatraina.com.
Royalito Taquito with human friends at Harry’s on Fillmore.
SORRY TO REPORT that the Fillmore Halloween Pet Costume Stroll never happened. I hung around for about an hour and the only evidence of a pet walk was a Chihuahua with a taco outfit. That was it. I finally went into George, the pet shop, and was told there was supposed to be a pet walk, but no one showed up.
There was not much evidence of Halloween on Fillmore Street. Perhaps part of these crazy times.
Ines Wilson has become a fashion advisor and media star at Invision.
FILLMORE STREET is losing an icon this week.
After a decade, Ines Wilson is leaving Invision, the optometry office and eyewear emporium at 1907 Fillmore. She has become a valued fashion advisor, helping Invision’s clients choose stylish glasses that flatter their faces. October 31 is her final day.
Wilson’s outsize personality and star quality have made her a standout not only on the street, but also on Instagram, where she has been featured in dozens of videos.
The videos resulted from a collaboration between Wilson and Luis Quiroz, Invision’s social media director. They recently shot a final video that serves as something of an exit interview for a familiar face on Fillmore.
The third floor at 2500 Steiner is now on the market for $9.95 million.
REAL ESTATE | CYNTHIA TRAINA
What a difference a month makes. Only three single-family homes sold in September in nearby neighborhoods — Pacific Heights, Lower Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights and Cow Hollow — compared to eight sold in August.
Reflecting the enduring appeal of living near shops and restaurants, all three homes were located within a block of Fillmore Street. These included a charming Victorian at 1935 Webster (just over $3.3 million); 2338 California ($3.8 million), which had been on and off the market since 2023 and saw nearly a $1 million price cut; and a fully gutted and remodeled Edwardian at 2542 Fillmore ($6.5 million), which is technically two units.
Now on the market: Currently there are 29 active single-family homes on the market, with 17 of them listed within the last 30 days. If you’re shopping for a home priced at $10 million or more, you’re in luck — there are 13 options. In the $5 to $10 million range, there are 10 options.
Under $3 million, only three single-family homes are listed, as of October 1. The least expensive, at $2.39 million, is a gutted and modernized Victorian at 1863 Pine near Gough. A Queen Anne just off Fillmore at 2245 Union, currently zoned commercial, is listed just under $2.7 million. Just off prime Fillmore is 16 Wilmot, an 1800s Victorian priced at $2.995 million.
Condos, co-ops, townhouses and TICs: In September, 22 units were sold in the area. The least expensive was a one-bedroom, one-bath unit at 2415 Van Ness, which sold for $400,000. The most expensive was 1958 Vallejo #7, which sold for $4.8 million.
Currently there are 85 active units on the market. The least expensive is a studio at 2415 Van Ness listed for $459,000, while the most expensive is a full-floor penthouse co-op at 2006 Washington #10, now at $29 million. It was listed last year for $35 million. Located on Lafayette Park, this unit carries a hefty monthly fee of $11,954.
Closer to Fillmore, in the tower of full-floor co-ops at the northeast corner of Alta Plaza Park, is 2500 Steiner #3, listed at $9.95 million. The unit was purchased four years ago for $7 million. Despite being on a lower floor, its position at the crest of the hill offers sweeping views of the park, the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. The property comes with a monthly fee of $4,104.
Cynthia Traina is an agent with Vantage Realty San Francisco. Contact her at CT@cynthiatraina.com.
Investor Neil Mehta at the Clay Theater on Fillmore Street.
By NEIL MEHTA The San Francisco Standard
I am, according to certain misleading reports, the mysterious evil investor buying property up and down Fillmore Street. These reports haven’t been very clear on the details of my sinister plan, but it sure does sound nefarious.
The plan calls for six-story buildings on Fillmore and eight-story buildings on California.
By THOMAS REYNOLDS
Height limits on prime blocks of Fillmore Street may be “upzoned” from 40 feet to 65 feet under plans being reviewed by the city’s Planning Department.
The change would allow buildings up to six stories on Fillmore from California north to Jackson Street.
The proposed changes would also raise the height limit from 40 to 65 feet on Broadway between Fillmore and Laguna. On portions of California and Bush streets, the height limit would be raised from 40 to 85 feet, allowing eight-story buildings.
It’s all part of an upzoning plan being developed by Mayor London Breed’s administration to meet a state mandate that 82,000 new homes be built in the city in the next six years.
Changes in state law intended to spur housing development, plus the state density bonus, could potentially raise those heights even further, if affordable housing is included.
The proposal would apply to many other areas throughout the city, including the commercial stretches of Union, Chestnut, Polk and Clement streets.
Fillmore Street was not originally included in the proposed upzoning maps, but that changed early this year, just after investor Neil Mehta bought the Clay Theater and the storefront next door. After the map was revised in early February, a nonprofit funded by Mehta bought a number of additional buildings on the 2200 block of Fillmore and pursued still others.
City planners said Fillmore had always been part of their plan.
“It was a simple oversight,” said Joshua Switzky, deputy director of citywide planning. “We had always intended (and stated) that we were proposing rezoning in the commercial corridors … For some reason, we missed Upper Fillmore on the early drafts.”
The upzoning proposal, which would make changes throughout the city, is currently working its way through the Planning Department. More information, including an interactive map of the proposal, is available on the Planning Department’s website.
The Planning Department’s upzoning map from Fall 2023 did not include Fillmore.
A toy store and hobby shop is coming to 2185 Fillmore Street.
STREET TALK | CYNTHIA TRAINA
A new toy and hobby store, Just for Fun, is coming to 2185 Fillmore, the storied space most recently occupied by Mudpie, now moved to a smaller space a few doors down. It’s most famously the longtime home of Fillamento, the still-fondly-remembered design emporium that launched the renaissance of Fillmore Street back in the 1980s.
Michelle O’Connor, who acquired the original Just For Fun store on 24th Street in Noe Valley during the pandemic, is on a mission to bring toy stores back to San Francisco. She’s already opened a second location at 1957 Union Street. Fillmore — expected to open in October — will be the third. The local, family-owned retailer will feature a variety of toys, puzzles and games for all ages, plus art supplies, homewares and pop-up events including book signings and in-store concerts. O’Connor, originally from England, says owning a toy store has its challenges for a mother of two: She has to ration the toys she takes home, just to keep things manageable.
Coming soon to the Clay? Two different operators are said to be vying to reopen the Clay Theater. Mystery investor Neil Mehta, who has bought a number of buildings on Fillmore Street this year, and his team are expected to announce the news as early as October. The theater’s protected status raises questions about whether a cafe can be incorporated into the space and whether the number of seats in the theater will be reduced. Stay tuned. … Mehta’s right-hand man Cody Allen, like his boss a neighborhood resident, is rumored to be forthcoming soon with details about their plans for the buildings they’ve acquired this year on Fillmore Street. Let’s hope that includes good news for La Mediterranee, the beloved eatery at 2210 Fillmore, whose owners have gone public with their frustrations over extending their lease.
Also coming to Fillmore: Catbird, the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand, is opening on September 18 at 2124 Fillmore. The brand, which promises “jewelry as poetry,” already has stores in Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. … Construction has begun to convert the ex-Bank of America space at 2310 Fillmore into a branch of Citibank. … And construction is finally underway on a renovated Palmer’s — potentially reopening as soon as November — on the corner of Fillmore and Clay. The “Peet’s to Palmer’s” crowd is ready to celebrate.
Hail and farewell: Pascal Rigo’s Apizza, at 2043 Fillmore, is gone and won’t be coming back to Fillmore, where it started. Instead, it’s opening a new location on Divisadero Street, along with a Loving Cup frozen yogurt shop. Rigo also owns Loving Cup, as well as his original La Boulangerie on Pine Street. … Longtime local favorite Ten-Ichi, the Japanese restaurant and sushi bar at 2235 Fillmore, will hold a closing party on September 21. The final day at the current location is September 30. The owners are raising money to fund a move elsewhere.
The long-stopped clock could again be a beacon at Fillmore and California.
Hola Rosa Mexicana: Neighborhood favorite TacoBar, on the corner of Fillmore and California, has reopened after a freshening-up inside and out and a stylish new gray and Mexican pink paint job. … Now when can we expect some attention to the rest of that wonderful old building — especially the long-ignored clock on this key corner?
Upcoming local events: Join Friends of Lafayette Park for a free screening of Mrs. Doubtfire in Lafayette Park on September 15 at 7 p.m. Bring a blanket. … Celebrate Godzilla’s 70th anniversary in Japantown with a three-day festival from September 13 to 15, featuring movie screenings, Godzilla cosplay and more. More details at Bay Area Film Events. … Farther down the street, Sunday Streets comes to the neighborhood on September 22 from 12 to 5 p.m. on Golden Gate Avenue between Laguna and Webster. Streets will be closed in the area. … And a Scent Stroll on Fillmore — now being called Fragrance Row, for its numerous scent shops — is said to be in the works.
Cynthia Traina is a longtime Fillmore resident and an agent with Vantage Realty San Francisco. Send items for Street Talk to CT@cynthiatraina.com.
