ON & OFF CHESTNUT STREET
Summer Sweetness
The weather may not be cooperating – what ever happened to spring? – but you can tell summer is here by the sweet, sweet berries and cherries being grabbed up by happy shoppers at the new Fort Mason Farmers’ Market. Seems everything is sweet, from the early corn coming in to the stone fruit.
But if you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings right here on Chestnut Street, then check out the recently opened SusieCakes in the former Miette space between Fillmore and Steiner. There you will find specialty layer cakes from classics like Susie’s Famous Southern Red Velvet, Old-Fashioned Six-Layer Chocolate Cake and Traditional German Chocolate to the more exotic Tropical Coconut or Susie’s Celebration Cake (a six-layer vanilla cake with a rainbow of colorful sugar confetti and their signature retro-blue frosting). Flaky crust pies with cream or seasonal fruit fillings vary monthly, or you can go right for the creamy goodness of hand-stirred puddings or sour cream and seasonal cheesecakes. Judging from throngs lined up out the door already, the main attraction is Susie’s signature “frosting-filled” cupcakes offered in a variety of flavors like Chocolate Chocolate, Fluffy Coconut, Luscious Lemon, and Peanut Butter. You will also find festive cupcakes seasonally decorated, and miniature cupcakes to help reduce your guilt – but since they come in orders of three, you’ll have to share with a friend or two. A variety of cookies and bars are also available. Susiecakes is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SusieCakes:2109 Chestnut Street, 415-474-CAKE (2253), www.susiecakessf.com
Speaking of cravings, plans are underway for a new self-service restaurant called Crave City in the former Jorja space on Chestnut near Fillmore. Final permits have not been approved yet, but the plans call for a new storefront for the space and the cuisine is being touted as Egyptian. No other word yet, but it’s good to see the empty storefronts filling up relatively quickly on Chestnut, so the Marina can put on a good face for the coming tourist season.
Unfortunately, things don’t appear to be so sweet on Pierce Street, with four out of the nine storefronts there currently shuttered. With the Wells Fargo consolidation of Wachovia Bank, the great corner location of Chestnut and Pierce is still for lease. Just a few doors down, both Monaghan’s at 3259 and CC’s Pierce Street Manor 3243 have closed, though word on the street is that Monaghan’s will be reopening in CC’s spot and the old Monaghan’s will revert to retail (you know you’re an old-time Marina resident if you remember the Toy Chest). Add those shuttered storefronts to the perennially closed 3225 Pierce Street (over 15 years since Radio Shack moved out) and poor Pierce is looking like it’s fallen on hard times. Let’s hope the renovations happen quickly, but in the meantime, don’t be afraid to walk down the street and stop in City Clothing, Sloat Nursery, Bella Nails, The Sandwich Spot, or Golden Gate Pilates – they’ve got plenty of parking right across the street.
Just in case you want to peruse the neighborhood online before going out to shop or dine, check out the newly revamped website for the Marina Merchants Association at www.themarinasf.com. The MMA has just elected their new board of directors to include president Alex Feldman, SF Optics; vice president Mark Shannon, UPS Store; secretary Kaleigh Sheridan, Arbonne International; treasurer Jordan Mallin, Wells Fargo; and past president Kelly Keiser, Splendid Interiors. The website was just launched, so stay tuned for updates on the hundreds of business listings; or better yet, you can become a fan on Facebook to get updated information on happenings in the Marina.
But if you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings right here on Chestnut Street, then check out the recently opened SusieCakes in the former Miette space between Fillmore and Steiner. There you will find specialty layer cakes from classics like Susie’s Famous Southern Red Velvet, Old-Fashioned Six-Layer Chocolate Cake and Traditional German Chocolate to the more exotic Tropical Coconut or Susie’s Celebration Cake (a six-layer vanilla cake with a rainbow of colorful sugar confetti and their signature retro-blue frosting). Flaky crust pies with cream or seasonal fruit fillings vary monthly, or you can go right for the creamy goodness of hand-stirred puddings or sour cream and seasonal cheesecakes. Judging from throngs lined up out the door already, the main attraction is Susie’s signature “frosting-filled” cupcakes offered in a variety of flavors like Chocolate Chocolate, Fluffy Coconut, Luscious Lemon, and Peanut Butter. You will also find festive cupcakes seasonally decorated, and miniature cupcakes to help reduce your guilt – but since they come in orders of three, you’ll have to share with a friend or two. A variety of cookies and bars are also available. Susiecakes is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SusieCakes:2109 Chestnut Street, 415-474-CAKE (2253), www.susiecakessf.com
Speaking of cravings, plans are underway for a new self-service restaurant called Crave City in the former Jorja space on Chestnut near Fillmore. Final permits have not been approved yet, but the plans call for a new storefront for the space and the cuisine is being touted as Egyptian. No other word yet, but it’s good to see the empty storefronts filling up relatively quickly on Chestnut, so the Marina can put on a good face for the coming tourist season.
Unfortunately, things don’t appear to be so sweet on Pierce Street, with four out of the nine storefronts there currently shuttered. With the Wells Fargo consolidation of Wachovia Bank, the great corner location of Chestnut and Pierce is still for lease. Just a few doors down, both Monaghan’s at 3259 and CC’s Pierce Street Manor 3243 have closed, though word on the street is that Monaghan’s will be reopening in CC’s spot and the old Monaghan’s will revert to retail (you know you’re an old-time Marina resident if you remember the Toy Chest). Add those shuttered storefronts to the perennially closed 3225 Pierce Street (over 15 years since Radio Shack moved out) and poor Pierce is looking like it’s fallen on hard times. Let’s hope the renovations happen quickly, but in the meantime, don’t be afraid to walk down the street and stop in City Clothing, Sloat Nursery, Bella Nails, The Sandwich Spot, or Golden Gate Pilates – they’ve got plenty of parking right across the street.
Just in case you want to peruse the neighborhood online before going out to shop or dine, check out the newly revamped website for the Marina Merchants Association at www.themarinasf.com. The MMA has just elected their new board of directors to include president Alex Feldman, SF Optics; vice president Mark Shannon, UPS Store; secretary Kaleigh Sheridan, Arbonne International; treasurer Jordan Mallin, Wells Fargo; and past president Kelly Keiser, Splendid Interiors. The website was just launched, so stay tuned for updates on the hundreds of business listings; or better yet, you can become a fan on Facebook to get updated information on happenings in the Marina.
Jim Maxwell is a past president of the Marina Merchants Association and the S.F. Council of District Merchants, and owns Architects II in the Marina. E-mail: [email protected]
