Neighborhood Comings and Goings: Nooworks Out, El Rancho Grande In

by Andrew Dalton on May 30, 2010

First up, Nooworks – that adorable little shop of screenprinted tees and totes and such attached at the hip to Workshop announced in a blog post that they’re packing up and heading down to the Mission. While it’s always sad to see someone leave the neighborhood for the delusional glamor of Valencia Street, we have to wish Nooworks well as they settle in to their new location at 15th and Valencia. You have to admit that’s a pretty good fit for their wares. No word on what’s filling their void at Baker and McAllister yet, but maybe Kelly Malone will have room for some extra sewing machines because we need more recycled sweater beer coozies at AggPan HQ (it’s hard to keep your beer cold when you live in a tent in the panhandle).

Also, as EaterSF noted earlier this week, a new quick-service joint is finally set to occupy the space that B’s BBQ left vacant over a year ago. All we have to go on right now is the name on the awning: El Rancho Grande and a cartoon sombrero (could be a bad sign). To offer some business advice to the newcomers, if I may: You’re going to have some steep competition in the organic/fresh/local/sustainable/white people Mexican food space, so maybe you should just embrace the cheap, taco-truck style mexican and capture the Collecting Unemployment market segment. You could be our neighborhood’s El Castillo.

Somewhat related: No official name or signage yet for Panini/Mike’s Coffee Shop (prev. On the Corner). And while we’re waiting on Ragazza, that pizza place filling in the long-lost Metro Kathmandu, some potential competitors are trying to grab your business. That’s their doornob up there with the candystriped paper in the window and the pizza delivery door-hanger.