Nice Niche: SF's Obscure Specialty Shops

by Patrick Heig - Citysearch Editor - 191 Reviews - 64 Lists

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Updated: September 24, 2009

"The key to failure is trying to please everyone"--Bill Cosby, presumably during his dark, post-Dr. Huxtable, pre-Jello spokesman phase. And Bill was right: While the ambition of the latest Asian-Italian fusion bar/restaurant-cum-lounge & charcuterie house is admirable, there's something to be said for finding your forte--doing one thing and doing it well. Enter the ultra-niche specialty spots on this list, which thrive by being the best, or at least the only, place in the city to get selvedge Japanese denim, Shaggy Mane mushroom spores or a convincing head-to-toe pirate getup. (Photo: Nothing but macarons at Paulette)

Particular Purveyors

  1. 1 4 Star Rating: Recommended 826 Valencia
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    826 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110 (map)

    When author Dave Eggers wanted to set up this volunteer-based tutoring center, the location they chose (826 Valencia) was zoned for retail, so, as a joke, he started a pirate supply store. Even funnier is the fact that the store actually turns a small profit, selling vials of "Scurvy Be-Gone," glass eyes, peg legs, swords, eye patches and everything else you need to look the pirate part...except the high-speed boats, mouthfuls of khat and RPGs.

  2. 2 Far West Fungi
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    1 Ferry Building Ste 34, San Francisco, CA 94105 (map)

    At the Gorrone family's all-mushroom market in the Ferry Building, you can buy fresh, organic portobellos, morels and baby shitakes their farm at Moss Landing, plus rare and exotic strains like the prized matsutake (when in season), nine types of truffles, funghi-hunting guides and even spore sets to setup your own 'shroom farm at home, like so many Phish fans before you.

  3. 3 Omnivore Books
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    3885a Cesar Chavez St, San Francisco, CA 94131 (map)

    In an age where bookstores as big as libraries can't survive, this little gem is flourishing by offering only one category: books about food. That said, there are new and used books about farming, butchering, cooking, eating and everything else you can do with food, plus rare foodie-tomes from as far back as the 19th century--you know, before being an omnivore was a dilemma.

  4. 4 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended Paulette Macarons
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    437A Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (map)

    Even amongst this list of ultra-specialized purveyors, this little dandy stands out: As the name implies, Paulette sells nothing but macarons. Sure, they come in tantalizing flavors like violet cassis, Madagascar vanilla and jasmine tea, but freaking macarons, really? They're pretty low on the dessert hierarchy, right down there with Peach Melba. But they are cute--and this shop is nothing if not adorable--and who knows, maybe macarons will be the next cupcake or fro-yo craze.

  5. 5 Self Edge
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    714 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110 (map)

    A Bruce Springsteen-esque passion for denim led Self Edge's owner to forge exclusive distribution deals with boutique Japanese labels, meaning this is the only place in North America where you can buy selvedge jeans--made from raw, handloomed, old-school denim--from brands like Flathead, Sugarcane and Iron Heart. The store does a brisk business among denim fetishists, even with jeans priced at upwards of $200. The Boss would be proud.

  6. 6 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended True Sake
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    560 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (map)

    The first store in the country to sell sake exclusively stocks over 220 varieties--the largest selection outside of Japan--from $14 bottles of Yaegaki Mu to $500 bottles of Kame. Whatever your level of connoisseurship, you'll be taken care of by the folks who wrote the book on modern sake, literally: also for sale is "Modern Sake: A Guide" by True Sake's owner, Beau Timken.

  7. 7 Zoe Bikini-Custom & Ready-Wear
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    3386 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110 (map)

    Cold summers, frigid water and foggy beaches make San Francisco a challenging location for a store that sells nothing but bikinis, but business is brisk here thanks to Zoe's uncanny ability to create custom bikinis that flatter real women's bodies (there are also tons of ready-to-wear bikinis in the store). You can even throw a bikini party there, where she'll draw the curtains and you and your friends can sip your BYOBs and try on the itsy-bitsies you'll need on that one day in September when it's hot enough to wear one.