SFMade, the nonprofit that promotes San Francisco manufacturing, opened its first permanent store on Tuesday at 373 Geary Street, on the ground floor of the Handlery Hotel in Union Square, the Chronicle reported. The Standard, which covered the ribbon-cutting, said the shop features work from 105 local artisans and makers.
Why it matters: The organization had previously run temporary pop-up markets. The Chronicle said more than 80% of the makers in the store do not have their own storefronts, and that the one-year lease is discounted because SFMade is a nonprofit. The Standard put the space at 1,049 square feet and said SFMade hopes to add about 50 more manufacturers in the coming months.
Merchandise includes clothing, home goods, shelf-stable foods, coffee, jewelry and prints, including bags from Rickshaw Bagworks, ceramics from MMclay and apparel from Cut Loose, the Chronicle said. Prices range from about $10 to $1,300 for a Sutro Tower sculpture that also serves as a clothes rack. The store is meant to double as a retail accelerator; a first group of 40 manufacturers is scheduled to start a six-week program this month. Executive Director Joyce Shulman called the permanent space “a big deal for SFMade.”
The Chronicle reported a $480,000, two-year grant from JPMorganChase to support the store and earlier pop-ups; The Standard described the grant as $500,000 over two years. Mayor Daniel Lurie, speaking at the opening, said the post-COVID downturn created an opening for local businesses to fill vacant storefronts, The Standard reported. Amazon and PG&E are among other sponsors, the Chronicle said. The store is expected to have one full-time manager and about four part-time associates.