Noe Valley Residents Hunger for a Locally Owned Grocery

From the Noe Valley Voice, "Responding to the long-term vacancies of two neighborhood grocery stores--Real Food Company on 24th Street and Mikeytom Market on Church Street--more than 40 residents packed St. Philip's Parish Hall on Jan. 12 to talk about bringing a community-oriented grocery store to Noe Valley. With Bell Market--now the only full-service grocery in the neighborhood--currently up for sale, "We don't need another grocery store vacant for two years," said Friends of Noe Valley President Richard May, explaining why the meeting was held."

"The last word from the Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. was that it is looking to sell several stores in its Ralphs division, including the 24th Street Bell and the Castro and South Van Ness Cala Foods. Meanwhile, Nutraceutical Corporation, owner of the Real Food Company, which has been closed since August 2003, has promised the neighborhood it will remodel and reopen a health food store, but the company has yet to file any new permit applications."

"Vicki Rosen, president of Upper Noe Neighbors, expressed similar frustration about the lack of a store along outer Church Street. Mikeytom, located at Church and Day, was forced to close in 2003 after the building's owner demanded a large rent increase. The long-term vacancy has "really left a blight on the neighborhood," Rosen said. Former Mikeytom co-owner Tom Maravilla, who attended the meeting, told the group he and his partner, Mike Meischke, definitely were interested in operating another grocery store in the neighborhood."

"Nothing would make this neighborhood happier than to get a good, locally owned grocery in that space," [Supervisor Bevan] Dufty agreed. But, he cautioned, "We have to get real pretty fast and put some money on the table. I'm worried if we hang on too long, Kroger will move ahead with someone else."

The next grocery summit will take place Monday, Feb. 16, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., at St. Philip's Hall on Diamond Street between 24th and Elizabeth. Interested parties can offer their input at the meeting or send comments by e-mail to rambooks@pacbell.net or by mail to Friends of Noe Valley, P.O. Box 460953, San Francisco, CA 94146.

Some Noe locals comment on their own blog, adding their $0.02...