The owners of Terrific Street, a "community art clubhouse" and retail establishment at 1534 Grant Ave. (between Filbert and Union) have decided to close up shop after a year and a half in business.
"We felt passionately about the fact that it was possible to create a physical space in the neighborhood that was kind of an experimental community space with vague notions of what it could be," co-owner Brady Baltezore told Hoodline.
"We had a lot of great intentions, but not a lot of focus."
He hinted that the end of Terrific Street wasn't the last time we would hear from him.
"From an ethos standpoint, Terrific Street has become the foundation for another business," Baltezore said, adding that "details will be forthcoming."
Originally owned by six friends who live in the neighborhood, the business was a mix of art, retail and hangout space. The shop was "an excuse to spend more time together as friends and creative individuals," Baltezore told Hoodline in 2015.
Terrific Street—which garnered national attention after hosting an art installation featuring "canned parrots"—initially carried a small selection of books and magazines as the group decided the direction of the space.
Eventually, it evolved into a spot that featured local artists and artisans and offered classes, screen-printing demonstrations, tarot readings and live music.
One reason behind the closure may have also involved the use of the space as an entertainment venue, something it was not zoned for. Planning records show that a complaint was filed against the business on May 1st, alleging illegal use as an entertainment venue with a bar.
The complainant stated that the retail space had closed in March and was illegally used for parties that included alcohol, but without the conditional use authorization Planning requires.
But this wasn't the case, said Baltezore. "Essentially, it was an ineffective retail environment we created," he said. "So we joined up with one of the many space rental startups in the Bay Area, Peer Space, and started doing events."
By using Peer Space, Baltezore said, special event permits provided by California Alcoholic Beverage Control were obtained by the event organizer, and events at Terrific Street—which included alcohol—were technically permitted in the space.
However, Planning inspectors were required to assess the situation after the complaint.
"In the course of responding to the complaint," Baltezore said, "The city found information about the building that wasn't divulged to us when we signed the lease. So we were able to work out a deal with the landlord to end the lease early, and we mutually parted ways."
(Baltezore would not reveal what that information was on the record.)
On June 27th, Terrific Street announced its closure on Instagram:
As for the now-vacant space, we contacted realtor Jeannie Gant with Dot Real Estate to find out if there were any takers so far, but she declined to comment.
