WHY INNER SUNSET COMMUNITY FOOD STORE WENT DOWN - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 05:20, 19 April 2020

2020-04-19T05:20:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:20, 18 April 2020
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	[[Image:Inner-Sunset-Community-Food-Store-under-construction sm.jpg]]		[[Image:Inner-Sunset-Community-Food-Store-under-construction sm.jpg]]

	'''The collective at the Inner Sunset Community Food Store working on their new store over on Irving Street after they were forced to move back in 1982.''' That's an interesting story where the greedy property owner thought they could duplicate what the collective was doing and put up a mirror version of what we did after they forced us out. It of course failed as our customers all moved to the new place a couple blocks away. I was opposed to the plan to move to Irving and wanted to move into the Haight but Phil Bewely and the other guy who both eventually moved over to Rainbow grocery were dead set on a conservative agenda along the lines of packaging which got me booted out of the collective for my bulk agenda. This image is of me with Charlie Englestein (3rd from right with the glasses) who is bending over talking about the next steps in converting the former plumbing shop... Charlie was of course the main guy coordinating the project. I was the sheet rock guy as I was also doing produce shifts at the store... I'm the tall skinny guy on the right with the beard and long hair.		'''The collective at the Inner Sunset Community Food Store working on their new store over on Irving Street after they were forced to move back in 1982.''' ''That's an interesting story where the greedy property owner thought they could duplicate what the collective was doing and put up a mirror version of what we did after they forced us out. It of course failed as our customers all moved to the new place a couple blocks away. I was opposed to the plan to move to Irving and wanted to move into the Haight but Phil Bewely and the other guy who both eventually moved over to Rainbow grocery were dead set on a conservative agenda along the lines of packaging which got me booted out of the collective for my bulk agenda. This image is of me with Charlie Englestein (3rd from right with the glasses) who is bending over talking about the next steps in converting the former plumbing shop... Charlie was of course the main guy coordinating the project. I was the sheet rock guy as I was also doing produce shifts at the store... I'm the tall skinny guy on the right with the beard and long hair. ''

	''Photo and caption: Roger Herriod''		''Photo and caption: Roger Herriod''

Ccarlsson: added photo and extended caption from Roger Herriod

2020-04-19T05:19:57Z

added photo and extended caption from Roger Herriod

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:19, 18 April 2020
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	The community panicked, fumed, regrouped, scrambled and found another storefront. This time, however, it was a good number of blocks down Irving Street across 16th Avenue. Real estate speculation was rampant in the City, entire neighborhoods, races and classes were being displaced, and Inner Sunset's forced move was just one more disjointed dislocation.		The community panicked, fumed, regrouped, scrambled and found another storefront. This time, however, it was a good number of blocks down Irving Street across 16th Avenue. Real estate speculation was rampant in the City, entire neighborhoods, races and classes were being displaced, and Inner Sunset's forced move was just one more disjointed dislocation.

			[[Image:Inner-Sunset-Community-Food-Store-under-construction sm.jpg]]

			'''The collective at the Inner Sunset Community Food Store working on their new store over on Irving Street after they were forced to move back in 1982.''' That's an interesting story where the greedy property owner thought they could duplicate what the collective was doing and put up a mirror version of what we did after they forced us out. It of course failed as our customers all moved to the new place a couple blocks away. I was opposed to the plan to move to Irving and wanted to move into the Haight but Phil Bewely and the other guy who both eventually moved over to Rainbow grocery were dead set on a conservative agenda along the lines of packaging which got me booted out of the collective for my bulk agenda. This image is of me with Charlie Englestein (3rd from right with the glasses) who is bending over talking about the next steps in converting the former plumbing shop... Charlie was of course the main guy coordinating the project. I was the sheet rock guy as I was also doing produce shifts at the store... I'm the tall skinny guy on the right with the beard and long hair.

			''Photo and caption: Roger Herriod''

	The community store survived [[Mayor Dianne Feinstein\|Feinstein]], Reagan and enough of Bush at the new location. Then a new absentee landlord, this one absent even from the U.S., took over the property and promptly doubled the rent. Since this added up to doom for the store, the collective decided to look elsewhere. Space in its original base near 9th and Irving proved to be beyond its means. The owner of one choice long vacant location there refused even to consider any offer. That space sat empty for years until Blockbuster Video put up big time bucks in its futile attempt to bluster into the neighborhood.		The community store survived [[Mayor Dianne Feinstein\|Feinstein]], Reagan and enough of Bush at the new location. Then a new absentee landlord, this one absent even from the U.S., took over the property and promptly doubled the rent. Since this added up to doom for the store, the collective decided to look elsewhere. Space in its original base near 9th and Irving proved to be beyond its means. The owner of one choice long vacant location there refused even to consider any offer. That space sat empty for years until Blockbuster Video put up big time bucks in its futile attempt to bluster into the neighborhood.

Lisaruth: brought byline up to top

2015-12-03T19:12:47Z

brought byline up to top

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:12, 3 December 2015
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	'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>"I was there..."</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>"I was there..."</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Michael Steinberg''

			'''''In loving memory of Tet, one of Inner Sunset's founders.'''''

	[[Image:Peoples-food-system-on-the-march.jpg]]		[[Image:Peoples-food-system-on-the-march.jpg]]
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	May these survivors and the rest of us left draw wisdom from Inner Sunset's experience and learn how to outwit the forces that brought it down.		May these survivors and the rest of us left draw wisdom from Inner Sunset's experience and learn how to outwit the forces that brought it down.

	~~''In loving memory of Tet, one of Inner Sunset's founders. ''~~

	~~''--by Michael Steinberg''~~

Ccarlsson: added new photo

2009-07-11T00:24:49Z

added new photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:24, 10 July 2009
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	'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>"I was there..."</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>"I was there..."</font></font> </font>'''

	[[Image:~~sunset$inner~~-~~sunset~~-~~collective~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Peoples-food-system-on-the-march.jpg]]

	'''~~Inner Sunset Community~~ Food ~~Store Staff~~.'''		'''Members of the People's Food System marching in 1976 demonstration.'''

	''~~Photo: Teitelbaum~~''		''Photographer unknown''

	It was August, 1995, just after Jerry [Garcia] went down, and then the Mick [Mickey Mantle], that I got the word that Inner Sunset was going too. The world little noted nor long reflected on the demise of San Francisco's Inner Sunset Community Food Store. But I believe its life must be remembered and its death pondered, for these signify something of the birth and passing of a part of a special kind of community. Within those bookends are contained the tale of struggle and joy in transcending the dominant grasping venality of our times, and the ultimate failure to continue resisting its encroachments. This is also the story of petty and self-destructive internal power mongering, and displays of disrespect to the community that gave the store its life. Inner Sunset had suffered slipping sales since the economy went bad in Baghdad by the Bay in the early '90s, but it still did over a million dollars in sales up through 1994. Also in 1994 a statewide survey conducted by Calpirg, Pesticide Watch and the Sierra Club found that Inner Sunset had the largest number of different organic produce items in California, and rated it the #2 "Safe Food" store overall ([[People's Food System\|Rainbow]] was #1).		It was August, 1995, just after Jerry [Garcia] went down, and then the Mick [Mickey Mantle], that I got the word that Inner Sunset was going too. The world little noted nor long reflected on the demise of San Francisco's Inner Sunset Community Food Store. But I believe its life must be remembered and its death pondered, for these signify something of the birth and passing of a part of a special kind of community. Within those bookends are contained the tale of struggle and joy in transcending the dominant grasping venality of our times, and the ultimate failure to continue resisting its encroachments. This is also the story of petty and self-destructive internal power mongering, and displays of disrespect to the community that gave the store its life. Inner Sunset had suffered slipping sales since the economy went bad in Baghdad by the Bay in the early '90s, but it still did over a million dollars in sales up through 1994. Also in 1994 a statewide survey conducted by Calpirg, Pesticide Watch and the Sierra Club found that Inner Sunset had the largest number of different organic produce items in California, and rated it the #2 "Safe Food" store overall ([[People's Food System\|Rainbow]] was #1).
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	The community store survived [[Mayor Dianne Feinstein\|Feinstein]], Reagan and enough of Bush at the new location. Then a new absentee landlord, this one absent even from the U.S., took over the property and promptly doubled the rent. Since this added up to doom for the store, the collective decided to look elsewhere. Space in its original base near 9th and Irving proved to be beyond its means. The owner of one choice long vacant location there refused even to consider any offer. That space sat empty for years until Blockbuster Video put up big time bucks in its futile attempt to bluster into the neighborhood.		The community store survived [[Mayor Dianne Feinstein\|Feinstein]], Reagan and enough of Bush at the new location. Then a new absentee landlord, this one absent even from the U.S., took over the property and promptly doubled the rent. Since this added up to doom for the store, the collective decided to look elsewhere. Space in its original base near 9th and Irving proved to be beyond its means. The owner of one choice long vacant location there refused even to consider any offer. That space sat empty for years until Blockbuster Video put up big time bucks in its futile attempt to bluster into the neighborhood.

			[[Image:sunset$inner-sunset-collective.jpg]]

			'''Inner Sunset Community Food Store Staff.'''

			''Photo: Teitelbaum''

	The community store finally found another home, this time on 20th Avenue near Irving. The rent was high, as high as that demanded at its Irving site, but the space was twice as big.		The community store finally found another home, this time on 20th Avenue near Irving. The rent was high, as high as that demanded at its Irving site, but the space was twice as big.

Ccarlsson: Protected "WHY INNER SUNSET COMMUNITY FOOD STORE WENT DOWN": personal account [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-17T07:54:07Z

Protected "WHY INNER SUNSET COMMUNITY FOOD STORE WENT DOWN": personal account [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 00:54, 17 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: PC and protected

2009-01-17T07:53:57Z

PC and protected

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:53, 17 January 2009
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			'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>"I was there..."</font></font> </font>'''

	[[Image:sunset$inner-sunset-collective.jpg]]		[[Image:sunset$inner-sunset-collective.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 05:17, 23 August 2008

2008-08-23T05:17:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:17, 22 August 2008
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	[[~~Golden Gate Park Label~~ \|Prev. Document]] [[Doggie Diner \|Next Document]]		[[Sunset NW 1930 \|Prev. Document]] [[Doggie Diner \|Next Document]]

	[[category:Sunset]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:food]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:1970s]]		[[category:Sunset]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:food]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:1970s]]

Ccarlsson at 07:40, 21 August 2008

2008-08-21T07:40:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:40, 21 August 2008
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	The store atmosphere grew more cold and suspicious and caused community people to shy away. I tried to advise BOD people of other approaches to handle shoplifting and communicated what had happened to Trudy the day she was rousted from the street and then the community store. This did no good. The BOD seemed to live in its own insular arrogant world.		The store atmosphere grew more cold and suspicious and caused community people to shy away. I tried to advise BOD people of other approaches to handle shoplifting and communicated what had happened to Trudy the day she was rousted from the street and then the community store. This did no good. The BOD seemed to live in its own insular arrogant world.

	The lowest, and for me, turning point was when Keith McHenry was fired. [[Arresting 'Food Not Bombs' is Censorship\|Keith, Food Not Bombs] and all round activist, had been working at the store for a number of years. We became friends and then allies while working a produce shift together.		The lowest, and for me, turning point was when Keith McHenry was fired. [[Arresting 'Food Not Bombs' is Censorship\|Keith, Food Not Bombs]] and all round activist, had been working at the store for a number of years. We became friends and then allies while working a produce shift together.

	Keith had a lot of gripes about and enemies within the collective and felt isolated and intimidated. I couldn't believe that Keith McHenry, who routinely stood up to all kinds of crap from the SFPD, was made to feel this way in a San Francisco community food store. Together we organized a campaign to get rid of the BOD and reorganize the workforce into a true collective. Our efforts were totally rejected.		Keith had a lot of gripes about and enemies within the collective and felt isolated and intimidated. I couldn't believe that Keith McHenry, who routinely stood up to all kinds of crap from the SFPD, was made to feel this way in a San Francisco community food store. Together we organized a campaign to get rid of the BOD and reorganize the workforce into a true collective. Our efforts were totally rejected.

Ccarlsson: categories and links

2008-08-21T07:39:31Z

categories and links

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:39, 21 August 2008
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	[[Image:sunset$inner-sunset-collective.jpg]]		[[Image:sunset$inner-sunset-collective.jpg]]

	Inner Sunset Community Food Store Staff.		'''Inner Sunset Community Food Store Staff.'''

	It was August, 1995, just after Jerry [Garcia] went down, and then the Mick [Mickey Mantle], that I got the word that Inner Sunset was going too. The world little noted nor long reflected on the demise of San Francisco's Inner Sunset Community Food Store. But I believe its life must be remembered and its death pondered, for these signify something of the birth and passing of a part of a special kind of community. Within those bookends are contained the tale of struggle and joy in transcending the dominant grasping venality of our times, and the ultimate failure to continue resisting its encroachments. This is also the story of petty and self-destructive internal power mongering, and displays of disrespect to the community that gave the store its life. Inner Sunset had suffered slipping sales since the economy went bad in Baghdad by the Bay in the early '90s, but it still did over a million dollars in sales up through 1994. Also in 1994 a statewide survey conducted by Calpirg, Pesticide Watch and the Sierra Club found that Inner Sunset had the largest number of different organic produce items in California, and rated it the #2 "Safe Food" store overall [Rainbow was #1].		''Photo: Teitelbaum''

			It was August, 1995, just after Jerry [Garcia] went down, and then the Mick [Mickey Mantle], that I got the word that Inner Sunset was going too. The world little noted nor long reflected on the demise of San Francisco's Inner Sunset Community Food Store. But I believe its life must be remembered and its death pondered, for these signify something of the birth and passing of a part of a special kind of community. Within those bookends are contained the tale of struggle and joy in transcending the dominant grasping venality of our times, and the ultimate failure to continue resisting its encroachments. This is also the story of petty and self-destructive internal power mongering, and displays of disrespect to the community that gave the store its life. Inner Sunset had suffered slipping sales since the economy went bad in Baghdad by the Bay in the early '90s, but it still did over a million dollars in sales up through 1994. Also in 1994 a statewide survey conducted by Calpirg, Pesticide Watch and the Sierra Club found that Inner Sunset had the largest number of different organic produce items in California, and rated it the #2 "Safe Food" store overall ([[People's Food System\|Rainbow]] was #1).

	But in the end it fell victim, like so many other small businesses these days, to the real estate sharks and tax ripoff bureaucrats that constantly circle from below and above. It also hemorrhaged to death because its participants could not soon enough unite and create community to overcome these obstacles.		But in the end it fell victim, like so many other small businesses these days, to the real estate sharks and tax ripoff bureaucrats that constantly circle from below and above. It also hemorrhaged to death because its participants could not soon enough unite and create community to overcome these obstacles.
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	The community panicked, fumed, regrouped, scrambled and found another storefront. This time, however, it was a good number of blocks down Irving Street across 16th Avenue. Real estate speculation was rampant in the City, entire neighborhoods, races and classes were being displaced, and Inner Sunset's forced move was just one more disjointed dislocation.		The community panicked, fumed, regrouped, scrambled and found another storefront. This time, however, it was a good number of blocks down Irving Street across 16th Avenue. Real estate speculation was rampant in the City, entire neighborhoods, races and classes were being displaced, and Inner Sunset's forced move was just one more disjointed dislocation.

	The community store survived Feinstein, Reagan and enough of Bush at the new location. Then a new absentee landlord, this one absent even from the U.S., took over the property and promptly doubled the rent. Since this added up to doom for the store, the collective decided to look elsewhere. Space in its original base near 9th and Irving proved to be beyond its means. The owner of one choice long vacant location there refused even to consider any offer. That space sat empty for years until Blockbuster Video put up big time bucks in its futile attempt to bluster into the neighborhood.		The community store survived [[Mayor Dianne Feinstein\|Feinstein]], Reagan and enough of Bush at the new location. Then a new absentee landlord, this one absent even from the U.S., took over the property and promptly doubled the rent. Since this added up to doom for the store, the collective decided to look elsewhere. Space in its original base near 9th and Irving proved to be beyond its means. The owner of one choice long vacant location there refused even to consider any offer. That space sat empty for years until Blockbuster Video put up big time bucks in its futile attempt to bluster into the neighborhood.

	The community store finally found another home, this time on 20th Avenue near Irving. The rent was high, as high as that demanded at its Irving site, but the space was twice as big.		The community store finally found another home, this time on 20th Avenue near Irving. The rent was high, as high as that demanded at its Irving site, but the space was twice as big.
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	The store atmosphere grew more cold and suspicious and caused community people to shy away. I tried to advise BOD people of other approaches to handle shoplifting and communicated what had happened to Trudy the day she was rousted from the street and then the community store. This did no good. The BOD seemed to live in its own insular arrogant world.		The store atmosphere grew more cold and suspicious and caused community people to shy away. I tried to advise BOD people of other approaches to handle shoplifting and communicated what had happened to Trudy the day she was rousted from the street and then the community store. This did no good. The BOD seemed to live in its own insular arrogant world.

	The lowest, and for me, turning point was when Keith McHenry was fired. Keith, Food Not Bombs and all round activist, had been working at the store for a number of years. We became friends and then allies while working a produce shift together.		The lowest, and for me, turning point was when Keith McHenry was fired. [[Arresting 'Food Not Bombs' is Censorship\|Keith, Food Not Bombs] and all round activist, had been working at the store for a number of years. We became friends and then allies while working a produce shift together.

	Keith had a lot of gripes about and enemies within the collective and felt isolated and intimidated. I couldn't believe that Keith McHenry, who routinely stood up to all kinds of crap from the SFPD, was made to feel this way in a San Francisco community food store. Together we organized a campaign to get rid of the BOD and reorganize the workforce into a true collective. Our efforts were totally rejected.		Keith had a lot of gripes about and enemies within the collective and felt isolated and intimidated. I couldn't believe that Keith McHenry, who routinely stood up to all kinds of crap from the SFPD, was made to feel this way in a San Francisco community food store. Together we organized a campaign to get rid of the BOD and reorganize the workforce into a true collective. Our efforts were totally rejected.
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	Some other folks, myself among them, wanted to keep the doors open. There were enough of us to carry on. Meanwhile, newer people saw the absurdity of the BOD, and it was eliminated without any dissent. We reorganized the collective and worked out a monthly payment plant with our vendors.		Some other folks, myself among them, wanted to keep the doors open. There were enough of us to carry on. Meanwhile, newer people saw the absurdity of the BOD, and it was eliminated without any dissent. We reorganized the collective and worked out a monthly payment plant with our vendors.

	I concentrated my efforts on community outreach and finances. The former task was frustrating because all too often people around town knew the store as "the place that fired Keith McHenry." I should add that during this time Mayor Frank Jordan and his SFPD were carrying out their infamous Matrix Program against the homeless and their supporters, and Keith was faced with life imprisonment due to three trumped up felony charges against him.		I concentrated my efforts on community outreach and finances. The former task was frustrating because all too often people around town knew the store as "the place that fired Keith McHenry." I should add that during this time [[Mayor Frank Jordan\|Mayor Frank Jordan]] and his SFPD were carrying out their infamous Matrix Program against the homeless and their supporters, and Keith was faced with life imprisonment due to three trumped up felony charges against him.

	Dealing with financial reality at the store put me face to face with its well-entrenched parasites. To begin with, paying $4700 a month rent was outrageous, especially with falling sales and two years of sizable losses. But the landlord refused to lower the rent a penny, though he did graciously put off a scheduled increase!		Dealing with financial reality at the store put me face to face with its well-entrenched parasites. To begin with, paying $4700 a month rent was outrageous, especially with falling sales and two years of sizable losses. But the landlord refused to lower the rent a penny, though he did graciously put off a scheduled increase!
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	In the spring of '95 we also gave up almost half of our space in return for a $1000 a month rent decrease. We reorganized the store in to a better layout. But the accumulated burdens proved to be too heavy. When it all went down, no one who was responsible for creating the mess was there. The landlords and taxmen were too busy counting their spoils, and the squabblers who'd destroyed the community spirit had long since moved on to spoil other people's parties.		In the spring of '95 we also gave up almost half of our space in return for a $1000 a month rent decrease. We reorganized the store in to a better layout. But the accumulated burdens proved to be too heavy. When it all went down, no one who was responsible for creating the mess was there. The landlords and taxmen were too busy counting their spoils, and the squabblers who'd destroyed the community spirit had long since moved on to spoil other people's parties.

	Surviving members of the [[People's Food System People's Food System]] in SF are Veritable ~~Vegetable~~, a women owned and operated wholesale organic produce operation, as well as the remaining community food stores, Rainbow Grocery in the Mission, and Other Avenues out by the beach in the Outer Sunset.		Surviving members of the [[People's Food System \| People's Food System]] in SF are Veritable Vegetables, a women owned and operated wholesale organic produce operation, as well as the remaining community food stores, Rainbow Grocery in the Mission, and Other Avenues out by the beach in the Outer Sunset.

	These survivors are up against burgeoning corporate health food raiders such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market, the latter occupying a yuppie food palace convenient to Pacific Heights. That location is Whole Foods' most profitable in its far flung national network.		These survivors are up against burgeoning corporate health food raiders such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market, the latter occupying a yuppie food palace convenient to Pacific Heights. That location is Whole Foods' most profitable in its far flung national network.
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	''In loving memory of Tet, one of Inner Sunset's founders. ''		''In loving memory of Tet, one of Inner Sunset's founders. ''

	--by Michael Steinberg		''--by Michael Steinberg''

	~~Contributors to this page include:~~

	~~''Teitelbaum - Publisher or Photographer ''~~

	~~Steinberg,Michael - Writer~~		[[Golden Gate Park Label \|Prev. Document]] [[Doggie Diner \|Next Document]]

	[[~~Golden Gate Park Label \|Prev. Document~~]] [[~~Doggie Diner \|Next Document~~]]		[[category:Sunset]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:food]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:1970s]]

Admin: 1 revision(s)

2007-10-07T22:27:57Z

1 revision(s)

← Older revision	Revision as of 15:27, 7 October 2007
(No difference)