— By Jack Morse (@jmorse_) |
The Woods Curiosity Shop announced late last week that they will be closing their doors for good at the end of March. The store, located on 16th Street between Dolores and Guerrero, billed itself as “a cabinet of curiosities—that miniature world of marvels that recalls a time when strange, simple things still had the power inspire awe and wonder.”
The owners, sisters Lisa and Sandy Wood, announced their intention to close in a Facebook post:
The Woods has some sad news: we will be closing our sweet little shop the end of this month (March 29th will be our last day open to the public) and in April by appointment only while we move things out. We put our heart and soul into this tiny space and it will be sad to see it go. Come by and say “goodbye”!
And while the announcement points blame at no one thing in particular, the sign in the shop’s window (pictured above) suggests that there just isn’t enough weird left in The New Mission™ to sustain a funky shop like theirs. And in what reads like a depressing bit of clairvoyance, on their homepage under the banner of “A New Kind of Curiosity Shop” one finds the following:
The world is growing tamer and “samer” day by day. Come away to a strange and special place. A place that will enchant you, surprise you, and maybe even change you a bit. Come away to The Woods.
[Photo: Josh Ellingson]
Comments (15)
Not much of a surprise. I walk by there all the time, and the only person I ever saw inside the store was the guy who runs the skull shop next door.
Same. I have been in a few times, and it was interesting browsing, but each time I wondered how they were actually staying in business, because I wasn’t sure to whom they were selling. Thinking a store is cool and has interesting stuff is not the same as giving them money in exchange for goods. While we all appreciate the former, the latter is also required if the store is going to stay open.
The neighborhood really has changed since they opened. In 2013.
Seriously. And nothing against the owners or their dreams, but let’s face it - a retail outlet offering insect dioramas isn’t really a guaranteed recipe for business success anywhere else either. Don’t blame The New Mission.
I didn’t know this store existed, *shrug* Let’s not get too depressed every time something alters, not like this was some neighborhood fixture… Honestly I’m not sure this was even worth reporting
Are we going to blame ‘the new Mission’ for every single business that fails nowadays? Maybe they just had shitty stuff? or crappy service? or high prices?
R, or maybe you should have visited it instead of making shitty assumptions?
It was a fun little store, and say what you want but the new Mission is surely growing tamer and ‘samer’ day by day indeed.
KEEP SAN FRANCISCO WIRED
Not sure how aping Paxton Gate helps keep SF weird. Seems like just another form of tameness. “I know! We’ll sell quirky tchotchkes! NEVER BEEN DONE.”In any event, the idea that you’re an important cog in / bellwether of the city’s identity seems a bit presumptuous.
Keep Portland– um, I mean
Keep Austin– er,
Keep San Francisco weird! Not “samer”
…WAIT
Admit it, San Francisco is getting more boring every day. There’s probably an app do gauge the weirdness level, if that’s an easier way to understand.
Fact
things even as simplistic as the Roxie’s choice of programming have changed to cater to the nu neighborhood in the last few years. I used to go at least once a week - now maybe once or twice a month.
I think the issue with this store as been mentioned. A lot of people appreciate the sentiment behind it but don’t feel the need to buy their items. for example, my house is full of rare, vintage finds from all across the country, as well as DIY work (oddities and otherwise) but I never had the urge to shop at the woods. It’s just not my taste. And I initially moved to SF in hopes of it being weird all the time.
You’re a consumer, a vulture. You want to things to be weird, people to exist that will facilitate it. But of course you have no contribution to the weirdness of the city beyond eating from the existing plate. Enjoy
Tom Waits shopped there. Fuck your “taste” - ya Herb
My favorite blacksmith used to be in that building! Finest horseshoes in all the city. Now I’ve got a pissed off horse.