Supervisor Bevan Dufty Column: New Business

Thanks to the Courier for inviting me to share topical information about the Castro.

New Business
I have worked to secure City funding for the LGBT Center’s Economic Development programs that
help open new businesses and others find employment.

Tracey Williams is the Center’s Economic Development Specialist (415-865-5611 or traceyw@sfcenter.org) working with Director Ken Stram to help attract new businesses and retain existing businesses in the Castro.

Tracey is pleased to report that Ruby’s, a new men’s clothing store, has opened in the old site of Something Rainbow at 4126 18th St. Owner Ryan Hill is mixing some of his owns designs with other men’s fashions. Please welcome Ryan.

The Center has also surveyed the community to understand the types of new businesses we most need in the neighborhood and they are embarking on an effort to recruit these businesses. Feel free to offer ideas and feedback to Tracey about this GLBT Historical Society.

My hope is to see a world-class museum of our community’s history in the Castro.

With the opening of Milk on Nov. 26, we will hopefully see a tremendous increase in visitors to the Castro, supporting our businesses and learning our history. Working with our outstanding GLBT Historical Society (glbthistory.org), led by Director Paul Boneberg, I negotiated with Washington Mutual Bank for a year’s free rent at the old Ritz Camera location at 18th and Castro streets.

Passionate Struggle is the exhibition that will also open on Nov. 26 featuring hundreds of artifacts tracing our history in San Francisco and Northern California, with a special emphasis on the Castro. There will be four sections: Politics, People, Places and Pleasures. Harvey’s presence and importance to the Castro will be a major feature and there will be $3 admission for visitors.

Levi Strauss deserves major kudos as the $50,000 presenting sponsor for the exhibit and we are very indebted to Washington Mutual and their successor JP Morgan/Chase for their generosity. Hundreds of smaller donors have contributed and Marcos Construction and Gensler have been critical to this exciting development.

I hope that we can build upon this important exhibition to find a permanent home for our history in the Castro.

Levi Strauss
I am excited that Levi Strauss is opening their new location on Monday, Nov. 10 in the former Castro Video location at 525 Castro Street. I will take part in a formal ceremony at 5:30 p.m., although it should be open earlier and stay open till midnight that first day.

Levi’s Jeans is tremendously excited to come to the neighborhood and they are producing a book chronicling the shared history of Levi’s Jeans and the gay community.

As part of their commitment to the neighborhood, Levi Strauss is delivering a holiday package to each merchant in the neighborhood providing elements that can create a common thread for the holidays among the diverse window displays in the Castro. They will also participate in this year’s tree decoration and lighting ceremony. So it should be a blast. This should be a great year to celebrate the season in the Castro and to consider all the ways we are so fortunate to have community here. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work for you and the neighborhood.

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