— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |
A few weeks ago, a rumor was being floated that the old Z Barn furniture shop on Valencia was going to be replaced by some whimsical boyhood dreamworld. Turns out we're just getting some dumb Minneapolian adult furnishings emporium.
Reader Grizzled Mission fills us in:
Remember when someone was saying that the huge space next to West of Pecos (formerly Z Barn, and other things over the years) was going to be a slot car racing thing? It sounded preposterous, yet strangely, also plausible in the grown-up-Chuck E. Cheese that SF is becoming.
Well, the construction barrier in front of the space now has painted on it “Blu Dot Coming Soon.” Blu Dot is a contemporary furniture manufacturer. I even have something of theirs in my living room.
Bummer. Slot cars and/or a Dave & Busters sounds way better than a flyover state's answer to IKEA.
Comments (7)
I’m kinda surprised by this. That’s a pretty big brand, but I guess they don’t have enough exclusively Blu Dot stores to qualify as formula retail.
As a furnituremaker, I’m always surprised by this company’s success. It’s low value furniture in that it’s moderately priced, but very low quality imported crap. Ikea, but at 2X-4X the price. Their stuff looks good online, but whenever I see it in a store, the display model is falling apart.
Two things in their defense: first, I think their design is, generally, “2X-4X” better than Ikea, second, I have one of their Chicago bookcases and it’s held up perfectly well for almost 15 years (purchased at Echo on 24th in the late ‘90’s).
That’s, of course unrelated to their moving in on Valencia. As far as that goes, well, it’s not another restaurant, and it’s not a vanity boutique, so that’s good. In fact, with the Therapy furniture store and Monument across the street (both have which have been on Valencia for, what, decades?), it may be a burgeoning furniture district.
I’m not opposed to this place, I just thought that people who don’t like change would care.
Their designs are innovative, but as a furniture nerd, I think their sourcing, engineering and execution are poor for the price. Wish them the best. Heckuvalot cheaper than my stuff.
HAHA I’m the slotcar troll. I am an idiot, but so are we.
Well at least it’s not another overpriced restaurant.
maybe, but I bet a food joint would hire more workin class folks.
yeah, maybe, but judging by the staff in the front of the house at most of the new restaurants, that doesn’t really seem to be the case. However restaurants do typically employ tons more people than retail.