I wanted to get a post out quickly to celebrate the reopening of Arizmendi Bakery on 9th Avenue. It is is no secret that like everyone else in the neighborhood, I’ve missed this place, so now that it’s reopening, I kinda want it to stick around so I bought a bag of assorted rolls, muffins and such this morning.
I took the N just for dramatic effect. You can see the video on Instagram Reels or YouTube. It may seem a bit silly, but when this place was closed, the whole neighborhood felt the pain, and it didn’t feel good. Besides, there was a slight lull in activity early in the morning so I got some nice photos:
It may seem a bit odd to make a big deal about a local bakery reopening, but as I’ve said before, businesses like these are more than just dollars and cents on a balance sheet.
When you go into a locally owned place like Arizmendi, you are more than just a transaction - you get the feeling that the people working there see you as something more than that and that shows in their baked goods. If small business is to survive in a place as challenging as San Francisco, that kind of connection is going to become more important.
Likewise, we as consumers/citizens/residents/whatever of Our Fair City, need to show up with our money and support the locals. Good vibes make everyone feel good, but vibes don’t pay the rent. A dollar spent at a local business does a lot more good for the local economy than a dollar spent at a chain store.
So, if you have a chance this week, go down to Arizmendi Bakery and get a treat! You’ll get a good treat and you’ll help the neighborhood. What a deal!
PS: I also want to give a shout out to Willow on the Glen, the cheese shop that opened next to Arizmendi a few years ago. They recently celebrated their 2nd anniversary, and they also now have a liquor license! This means they can now sell an assortment of imported beers, ciders, etc., many of which you can’t find anywhere else. If you’ve not yet gone in to check out Willow on the Green, you really should.
They have a great assortment of foods and whatnots from the UK, and they even saved Christmas last year because they were the only place in town that had “Christmas Crackers” when I was looking for them. Score another point for the locals!