Bernal Heights residents battling over move of grocery
People love Bernal Heights for its community-based atmosphere. That is, of course, until you try to remodel your house or move your market/liquor store.
SF Gate has an article today about the Reliable Market wanting to move up Cortland Avenue a couple of blocks after their current landlord decided after 15 years to go back into the grocery business. This would effetively add a second market/liquor store to Cortland, but the neighbors want nothing to do with it.
“…Reliable now finds itself in a dash to find a new home. Grocer Jad “Joe” Massis’ desire to set up shop in a new location after losing his lease at 249 Cortland has touched off a controversy among the store’s customers, the former landlord and some irate parents in the area, which has been radically altered by escalating home prices in recent years.”
The owners of the market found a new space “two blocks down Cortland Avenue, in a shop being vacated by the Cotton Basics clothing store. [The] new lease begins Nov. 1.”
The problem is that neighbors don’t want another liquor store in the ‘hood. “Via a neighborhood blog, e-mail lists, flyers and petitions, residents are being encouraged to complain to the city Planning Department and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control about Massis’ application to move his store.”
If you live in the neighborhood and have an opinion on this matter, here are a couple of links where you can get more information:
