Messenger Bags

Mission Workshop Replaces Therapy Furniture

This past August we wrote about Therapy, the successful purveyor of expensive/hip furniture, being forced out of its Valencia Street location by a looming 84% rent increase. Following on the heels of other established businesses pressured to leave the 16th and Valencia area, Therapy’s dilemma seemed like only the latest example of an increasingly common trend. 

There was much speculation as to who the eventual new tenant would be, with some commenters suggesting that this was merely another step toward the inevitable mallification of Valencia Street. As such, it was with great interest that we read this post from Mr. Eric Sir:

Local backpack and messenger bag company Mission Workshop appears to be moving to the old Therapy Furniture spot on Valencia at 16th. But here’s the interesting thing: their old store on Rondel is right behind the Valencia location. […]

So the old and new locations share a common wall. If they wanted to — and I should stress that no building permits have been filed as of today — they could bust out some axes and make one huge store.

There is no word as to whether Mission Workshop is paying the $10,500 a month rent, as demanded by the location’s landlord in August. And while on the face of it this seems like a risky move for Mission Workshop, as their rent is no doubt skyrocketing, we can (and should) take solace in the fact that the location is staying local.

It seems that the mallifaction of Valencia Street may have taken a break, if only a brief one.

[Mr. Eric Sir]

Comments (10)

Can Valencia really support 2.5 fancy messenger bag stores? Enough to pay a gadzillion dollars in rent?

I keep expecting a Valencia retail collapse (starting with Fine Arts Optical at 20th), but it keeps not happening. I think there are a lot more trust-fund retailers looking for something to do with their time than you might expect. I recently spoke to a local retailer who was giving up the ghost after six years of losses. Some folks have the bank account to endure that.

Chrome is owned be Keen (quarter billion dollars of sales last year), they can afford rent anywhere they want.  

Great company, good news.

All my experiences with this company have been fantastic, and their products are top-notch.  In fact, this has inspired me to write a post about it!

they just have to sell like 8-10 bikes to make that! lol

Yup, a lot of trust fund money going into fancy “concept” retail stores on Valencia. 

Long live Summit coffee!  Back when Web 2.0 meant something!

I’m often surprised at what people _think_ is going on, on Valencia St.  Several statements here are way off base including UA’s statement that Therapy’s furniture is expensive.  UA have you been furniture shopping lately? Yes compared to Mission Thrift its’ expensive but walk next door into Monument.  That’s expensive.  Also, most business owners that I know, don’t make much if any money.  I know several whose employees make more than them.  I’m sure there are some but I don’t know anyone who’s supporting their business with a trust fund or money from “Daddy.”  They’re mostly hard working–in their stores, daily–and either hold 2nd job, have a supportive spouse, or some other means of trying to pursue their dream.  After tending bar at night for 14 years my business – and yes I’m keeping that to myself  because I know how these things go – makes money and finally supports me but I’m not the millionaire everyone probably thinks I am.  Just making a living which, as you know, is getting tougher here in SF.  I don’t want Valencia to change either.  I don’t want it be overrun with high-end restaurants, chains or others trying to capitalize on what we’ve built here but I also know that’s why those businesses want to come here.  There are scores of older, most often Latino, businesses, that started here.  Some ambitious bars came in early, followed by the artists for cheap rent (or vice versa).  Then additional ambitious businesses came, like the artists for the cheap rent.  And it’s the combination of those early adopters pursuing their dream alongside the Latino businesses that makes this place special. And you know why?  Because they’re owner operated—no, not trust-fund-owner operated—but run by someone who cares about what they’re doing.  Maybe we should get over the trust fund crap and work together to preserve what we have. 

And S, Mission Workshop sells bags and apparel.  They don’t sell bikes.   You’re probably thinking of Mission Bicycle who by way of comparison (check out Freewheel and Valencia Cyclery) doesn’t sell expensive bikes.   They’d have to sell a lot more than that to cover rent.  And for what it’s worth, when folks make comparisons like this they’re taking what _they think_ is an expensive price and making the ridiculous assumption that all that money goes into the owner’s pocket and that it’s not used to cover rent, wages, utility bills, thousands of dollars of useless workers comp, the COST of the item, liability insurance, phones, an alarm system if you can even afford that, city taxes and fees, etc. … do a little math.

It’s a lot different than you think.

P.S. Sad to see Therapy go (bought stuff from Wayne when he opperated out of the refrigerator room behind what was Jack’s bar) but also happy to see Mission Workshop taking the space.

Mr Valencia you win the internet award for old timer of the mission.  Look for us to pop up into a vacant overpriced restaurant space in the future. In the meantime visit Alameda where we are now selling furniture. Best all, Wayne