Ryan Allen and Salvador Tovar, co-owners of ‘Sparky’s Fun & Joy’ receive a ‘Certificate of Congressional Recognition’ on their 5th anniversary in Inner Richmond neighborhood.
Last Saturday, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi took a merchant stroll along Clement Street to visit local small businesses and talk with their owners.
The Congresswoman’s office said she believes small businesses are the engine of our economy, and this was an opportunity to support and meet small business owners in her Congressional district.
Pelosi was accompanied by Cynthia Huie, head of the Clement Street Merchants Association. The visit included stops at Seedstore, Park Life, Toy Boat, Green Apple Books, and Nourish Cafe.
Sparky’s Fun & Toys received a special ‘Certificate of Congressional Recognition’ from Congresswoman Pelosi in honor of their 5th anniversary in the neighborhood.
Pelosi is a fan of dark chocolate, and we noticed that Toy Boat owner Jesse Fink is offering her up a chocolate ice cream cone in one pic. We also gave her a dark chocolate chip cookie at Nourish. 🙂
She also stopped in at Blue Danube cafe, 6th Avenue Aquarium & Flowers, Burma Superstar, Wing Lee Bakery, and Schubert’s Bakery.
Sarah B.
Kevin Hunsanger, co-owner of ‘Green Apple Books and Music,’ and Cynthia Huie, President of the Clement Street Merchants Association speak with Leader Pelosi on her visit to the Inner Richmond neighborhood.
Cynthia Huie (middle), President of the Clement Street Merchants Association, and her sister Jennifer welcome Leader Pelosi to their store ‘Seedstore’.
Co-owners David Song and Jaime Alexander (left to right) welcome Leader Pelosi to their store Park Life
Leader Pelosi meets Jesse Fink, owner of Toy Boat Dessert Cafe
The owners of Nourish Cafe with Leader Pelosi
Ah, my old neighborhood! <3
I like Derek’s new perm.
Has anyone ever seen Nancy Pelosi without a camera person and an entourage in tow? Has she ever been seen in a Starbucks or other coffee shop by herself just sipping a brew? Has she ever been spotted in the checkout lines at a Safeway or Target? Has she done anything the last 20 years (or so) that wasn’t aimed at advancing her political career?
@Richmond Resident WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Question – are any of the Asian businesses (markets, dollar stores, etc) part of the Clement Street Merchants association?
Sad. Very sad.
Thanks so much for sharing her Merchant Walk with your readers! It was such an honor to host the Congresswoman in our neighborhood. She did actually visit several other businesses that weren’t listed: Wing Lee Bakery, Schuberts, and Blue Danube. She also wanted to add the Aquarium and Flower Shop, Alex’s Bakery and a few others, but weren’t able to stop due to time. Also, to respond to the Richmond Resident with the criticism above, I accompanied her and worked with her team during the planning phase of her visit, and she really kept her group to a minimum and spent time with each merchant speaking to them about their businesses. The only press that was invited were the Chinese newspapers, The Richmond Review and The Richmond Blog. I felt that the photos were much more valuable to the people who wanted to take photos with her than for her advancing her career. There were many residents excited to meet her and she never turned anyone away.
And as for the question about the Asian businesses, many of the small business owners in the association are Asian and Asian American. Our list of member merchants grows each month, so we really do hope to include the voice of every business on this street. If you know a business that you think should be a part of our neighborhood association, please reach out to them and mention it.
LOL – hey, Jesse Fink, you want a visit from the health inspector?? get your bare hands offa the cone!
Wow- great to see how Nancy Pelosi’s propaganda machine is not too ashamed to even infiltrate the commentary section of neighborhood blogs!
there’s really no diversity in the merchant’s association. at least according to the website, there are NOT “many” businesses in the association that are asian. and there’s one asian board member, but does she actually speak fluent chinese to communicate with the large number of asians in the neighborhood? this association does not reflect the neighborhood at all.
http://www.clementstreetsf.com/#!our-members/c1622
To answer your questions Steve, more than half of those businesses are Asian owned and YES we are fluent in Chinese and YES we do communicate with other Asian owned businesses on Clement. Interesting that you would say something like that when you’re not a part of the association nor attend the meetings. Also, to everyone’s negative comments,it was such an honor to have one of the most powerful women in the country visit. I would stop assuming you know anything about being an Asian business owner on Clement and the organization that DOES support us when you’re not a part of it anyways.
Actually more than half of the businesses in the organization are Asian owned and YES we can speak Chinese among other languages fluently. No business is ignored by the Merchants Association ESPECIALLY since we can speak Chinese but it takes two people to want to participate. Some do and some don’t.
Perhaps Steve, you shouldn’t be so negative about an organization you so clearly are not a part of and don’t even go to the meetings for. Being an Asian woman business owner I saw only the positives in Nancy Pelosi’s visit and was excited to just meet one of the most powerful women in our country.
The Merchant President has been amazing in trying to bring the community together and has made great strides in getting more people to join. Did this visit happen years ago when she wasn’t president?? Nope. So I think we should all just be thankful for something awesome to happen on our street because our neighborhood is amazing! (Besides all those negative people commenting…. please just move out of the Richmond, you bring our neighborhood down).
The people who think that Pelosi getting her picture taken with merchants is propaganda or primarily to benefit her career are hilarious.
She doesn’t need her career advanced; she’s arguably the most powerful woman in the country.
Did anyone stop to think that maybe merchants might like to have their picture taken with her for THEIR benefit? I’d love to have a pic taken with Pelosi to show my friends… it would be something I’d treasure for a long time. Maybe the merchants thought the same.
Richmond Resident- yes in the past 3 years I’ve seen Congresswoman Pelosi twice in Clement Street stores just on her own or with someone in her family. Both times I saw her was in Citikids which is now gone. She was with members of her family and was very low key.
I’m sure she’s been around other times, I just happened to be in the store when she was those times.
You seem very cynical about an elected representative visiting some of her constituents and bringing them business and publicity.
It’s concerning that there is a disproportionate amount of one race in these images and that the businesses featured cater to that community (preppy, middle income) especially with the wonderful diversity amid Clement Street — including shops that do not regularly sell expensive items or services and are also vital to our “small and local” culture.
Why was she visiting Nourish Cafe-a place that had been open half a week, and isn’t on Clement St.? Looks like someone’s got friends in high places?
@Booboo – Pelosi’s office contacted the blog to cover her merchant walk, and it was then that I mentioned the opening of Nourish. A nice coincidence and we were thrilled to have her stop by our first week.
Sarah B.