Cole Hardware Opens New Holiday Pop-Up Shop On Mission Street

Cole Hardware Opens New Holiday Pop-Up Shop On Mission StreetPhoto: Courtesy of Cole Hardware
Alisa Scerrato
Published on November 29, 2016

Five months after fire destroyed Mission Street’s Cole Hardware location, the Karp family is back in business with a new pop-up. It’s called the Cole Hardware Holiday Pop-Up Shop, and they’ll be selling Christmas trees, lights, Hannukah candles, gelt, and other holiday decor. 

Store owner Rick Karp told us that the idea for the pop-up came from former Mission Street employee Shanead Mueller, now the pop-up manager. She first approached Karp with the idea to sell Christmas trees on the sidewalk outside the former location, but they quickly found out that it wasn’t feasible due to city restrictions. Shortly thereafter, they discovered a vacant insurance office across the street, so Karp approached the landlord about renting it out for a pop-up.

Former employees have been working at other Cole Hardware locations since the fire, with some relocating to their two new stores in SoMa and North Beach early next year. Three of the four people running the pop-up are former Mission Street employees. 

Karp says that they’ve been getting a lot of inquiries from former customers about their return to the neighborhood, and a number of folks have called about getting trees delivered, so he’s excited to be back in the neighborhood again.

Rick Karp. | Photo: Alisa Scerrato/Hoodline

“Losing the [Mission] store to the fire made me feel like I lost a close relative,” said Karp. “Being a member of that community has been an integral part of my life. I definitely want to open again. And I know my kids [David and Adrianna] do as well. Unfortunately, we didn't own the building ... The property owner has chosen to sell the site. We will be contacting the new owner to work with them about incorporating us into their plans for the new building.”

The new pop-up will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday every week through December 24th. Hours are 11am-7pm on Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday.