A few days ago we noticed that the Vanguard Properties office on the northwest corner of Haight and Scott was suddenly empty.
It got us thinking — why is there so much turnover at northern corner locations on Haight Street?
For example…
800 Haight:
As we just mentioned, Vanguard Properties has vacated the location and moved to the Mission, leaving this prime corner space up for lease.
798 Haight:
The former home of Maire Rua salon was supposed to turn into an organic market almost a year ago, but things have obviously stalled.
700 Haight:
The location was home to Burger Joint for ten years until the restaurant shuttered in August. Fortunately Palmyra opened in the space in late January, and seems to be doing pretty well. (Have you tried the kebab plate?) Still, it’s too soon to declare the curse broken on this one.
598 Haight:
Ugh, RNM. The restaurant abruptly closed over a year ago, supposedly for “renovations,” but never re-opened. We hear rumblings about potential new tenants for this place, but as of today it remains dark.
500 Haight:
Witness the sad, slow atrophy of Clay Oven. The restaurant only opened in January of 2010, but since that time it has undergone a fairly strange transformation, from functional restaurant, to ostensible merger with Indian Oven, to… well, this.
Though the lights are on and the tables are set, don’t be fooled: Clay Oven does not want your business! Instead, they’re literally redirecting customers to Indian Oven on Fillmore. Gone is all “Clay Oven” signage outside the restaurant. When you call their phone number, Indian Oven picks up. When you click the Haight location’s link on Clay Oven’s website, it takes you to Indian Oven’s website.
So, yeah.
We’ve contacted the owner to find out what’s up — we’ll keep you posted.
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Granted, there are exceptions to the northern corner curse. Axum Cafe and Rotee seem to be doing alright, Lo-Cost Meats thrives despite the too-honest name, and HSM Realty has been holding it down at 600 Haight Street for years.
But what about the corner locations on the south side of the street? Two Jacks is enjoying its 34th year at 400 Haight. Haight Fillmore Whole Foods is only slightly younger, having opened in 1979. Lower Haters and Edo Salon are both neighborhood mainstays, and you know Walgreens ain’t going anywhere.
Yes, the south side, it seems, is stable. So what’s at play on the north side? Higher rent? Pure coincidence? A curse? We don’t know for sure, but it’s a slow news week, so we’re gonna go ahead and say curse. If you have a better explanation, we’re all ears!