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With the Mervyns Heights district losing their eponymous resident, our friends at The Front Steps are wondering who will occupy their former space?
They recommend scooting Trader Joe's across Geary, pointing out how packed the small store and its parking lot are at nearly every hour of the day. We respectfully disagree, for as much as we adore the two-story Tanforan Target and its amazing cart-levitating escalator, dig if you will the picture of a two story Trader Joe's. People get aggro enough at folks who can't make up their mind in front of the salty snacks (true story: at the Masonic TJs we once saw an little old lady snap "you shouldn't eat any of them, fat boy!" at a man who was deliberating overlong between varietals of tortilla chip), imagine the frosted freakouts at the umpteenth asshole who jams up the works when he forgets to pull his case of Two Buck Chuck out of the lower cart rack! Bad news.
Who do you think should go in there? We'll kick it off: not to get all Art of War and shit, but there's something so satisfyingly piss on your grave* about the idea of Target (which, as Leanne pointed out , owned Mervyns until 2004, in a spin-off deal that Mervyns claims forced them into bankruptcy) moving in to that space once Mervyns crosses that rainbow bridge.
Sure, we're shuddering at the idea of the already prone to packedness 43 and 38 crammed full of folks toting Target loot (oh, wait, we forgot, people don't take the bus to do stuff like that), but it would be cool to get our Go International duds (shut up, we're wearing our 27 buck Go Rogan jeans RIGHT NOW and they look FANtastic) without leaving our fair City.
*technically, we guess that cute little Target dog would do the pissing.
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Fortnum and Mason
Whole Foods has been shopping for a new location, this centralized location would be perfect and takeover TJ's market.
I would love a Target there. It would be madness at first, yes, but so much better than trucking it down to the Colma or DC ones (which are super crowded, as well).
Forget shops. We need a big flashy bowling alley!
I second the bowling alley idea!
I imagine there will be protests if Target tries to move in. People don't like those "big box" stores around these parts.
Also, best overheard line at Trader Joe's (worker to a sample-hogger): "Sir, I'm going to have to ask that this be your last sample."
I predict a Spirit Halloween superstore. Then replaced by some shitty chain store, because that seems to be what Masonic shopping center is about.
Why do people love Target? I was totally underwhelmed the first time I went to one (yes, it was Tanforan).
It would be a good location for a Target, but the TJs traffic is bad enough, Target traffic would be awful. But then we'd be able to shop til we drop without leaving our fair city, and that would be nice (even though I have a lot of problems with Target, despite their excellent ad campaigns). Honestly, though, that mall is so crappy they should raze the whole thing and put something else there. I don't think anyone will mourn the few stores that manage to hang on in there. A Whole Foods would be redundant with the one on Franklin pretty close by and the Albertson's not 5/6 blocks away.
I agree that a bowling alley would be the best use of the space. Bowling! In the middle of SF!
i hate to admit it, but i would love love love a target there.
there, i said it.
Bowling alley? Not a bad idea since Japantown Bowl was torn down and housed full of NIMBYs.
Target = "F-ck YEAH!"
Bowling alley would be great, especially if the Presidio Bowl goes away.
(and, tangentally...Akit, please don't characterize the whole Webster building as NIMBYs...most of us are regular people who worked hard to buy housing, and had no idea about the letters that were sent.)
A propose a massive whore house.
Well at least someone is saying something about the TJ traffic jammers, too bad it had to be an old lady. TJ's has the stupidest customers this side of Rainbow.
My bad bananaanna.
But I have to know, you never had any idea that the letters were sent to the J-town community about the street fair in August? That's really screwed up, then the building owner and board president was acting alone.
Bowling. nuff said.
It's easier for me to make my monthly trips to the Targets in Daly City or Colma than it is to get to the Sea Bowl in Pacfica; I vote for bowling as well.
In recessionary times we need to go back to the basics: SEARS.
Aside to akit: no, we had no idea. I found out when I read it here or on curbed, I can't remember which. The neighbors to whom I spoke also had no idea.(and these are condos, so there is no one building owner)
Replace Mervyn's with Kohl's :)
But I agree, if a Target was there, I would probably cream my jeans. Similarly for a bowling alley. Whole Foods? No thank you. I'll continue battling the TJ's crowd with the rest of the neighborhood.
It is the worst mall of all time, and SF already has a Best Buy (arguably the best store in the complex, despite sucking). Maybe razing the whole thing and putting up housing would be an OK solution. Or maybe mixed-use buildings like the one on Oak and Broderick.
I forget where I read it, but someone somewhere decided that that shopping mall is the worst designed mall in the country. I think we would be lucky to get a Target there.
Bowlin-&-Hoors.
We could call it "Jerseyland."
Target is full of cheap shit made in china, and are excellent at fooling the masses with their 'designy' BS.
TraderJoes/whole foods in that case should take over. AND more parking for the packaged-food lovers that drive and idle in the location across the street (at T.J.'s) to get their multi-plastic wrapped goodies.
I just want to take a moment to applaud the use of "dig if you will the picture."
How about we make it a giant cineplex. It would be great, because you could sneak in your Pirate's Booty and chocolate truffles from TJ's.
It's about time we put The Bridge and Four Star out of business anyway.
Liquor Barn
Oops. I don't think that last comment came off as sarcastic as I meant it to be. I don't like the idea of a Target in the middle of the city, just like I wouldn't like a cineplex in that location.
Bowling alley would be great...although, I think there used to be one very close by, if not on the foot of Mervyn Heights that went under.
How about a Dave and Busters? clearly that's whats missing in SF. Skee ball anyone?
I've lived in the city for 7+ years, and without a car, getting to a Target (or any similar store) is rough and near impossible! I think Target would be awesome, especially if they gave a $2 discount to those who took public transit (eligible transfer or monthly pass) to get there.
If not a target, maybe a 24-Hour Fitness Sport with basketball court and pool? That way, we'd have a cheaper alternative to the not-so-cheap JCC!
The first year I moved here, I used to think "a target would really be helpful." But after almost six years with no car, and such a drastic change in eating/shopping habits, I have to say I don't really have that much use for a Target.
I say tear it all down and build what we really need: more housing.
Looking at Craigslist, it seems like there's a bunch of empty rentals, but none that are "affordable." Would MORE housing be what's needed? Or perhaps some regulated shift in how to make it affordable? Or is this just the white elephant in the room?
Guys, if you need to load up on cheap plastic crap, drive down to the Daly City suburbs and fill up at the Target down there, plenty of parking too!
TJ's has plenty of parking, if that one is too busy for you then go to SoMA or the Wharf TJ's. That big retail bunker where the Masonic Cemetery was should be turned into a park and housing over retail -- that might take care of the wind tunnel that yellow monster creates as well.
Ranch 99.
I vote Target below, housing above (no height restriction - great views, most affordable) expand the 43 bus service (paid for by easement/enviro review etc...)
if you guys really wanted to bowl the one in jtown wouldn't have left.
KWillets, got my R99 mini-clubcard on my keyring. I love that place!
Wow, Dave and Busters. I'd drool over that one.
We should have let a Target in years ago, because of all the sales tax revenue that is leaving the city. One at Masonic & Geary wouldn't stave that off completely, since Colma is still faster to get to from many places in SF, but it'd help.
Whole Foods isn't opening new stores for now. Just the ones that are already leased. Apparently an "economic downturn" means people don't want to squander their money at a grocery store with such brazen markups.
Target: A great place to get ripped off at!
http://consumerist.com/5067122/target-will-pay-17-million-after-inaccurate-scanners-overcharged-californians
As I told pantsgolem last night, taxable retail is better for the city. TJs and WF have mostly food sales which are not taxable. Bowling & pools do not have much in retail sales.
With Target, Kohls or the like the city would get both payroll tax and sales tax. San Franciscans send a lot of sales tax revenue to San Mateo County with Target and Home Depot.
BTW, could we convince pants and other frequent posters to change their icons? I will read a post and think I should tell my son about the good post. THEN I notice he wrote the post.
I know I'm coming late to this party, but:
IKEA!