Neighbor Profile — Cassie McKeown of Bi-Rite

As told by Lydia Horne

For quarantined NOPA residents, relief from our tiny apartments comes from a few precious outlets: Golden Gate Park, restaurant takeout, and the grocery store. At one such respite, Bi-Rite Market Divisadero, Cassie McKeown has been at the helm as the beloved SF establishment calibrates to prove essential services to the community.

 It’s a challenging puzzle for McKeown, Bi-Rite General Manager, to maneuver the sanitation and safety requirements of businesses enforced by the SF Department of Public Health and CDC. Recently Bi-Rite introduced a shift in operations to accommodate the different needs of shoppers. McKeown explains, “We modified our hours to provide dedicated shopping time for our senior and at-risk guests, and give my team extra time to reset the store and rest each night.”

 Still, many shoppers feel anxiety (justifiably) stepping out into the world and entering a public space—like the market. McKeown, not missing a beat, emphasizes efficiency to her staff. This way, people get out the door faster and back to their sanitized sanctums sooner.

 Ensuring employees are working safely and collaboratively is a priority for McKeown, who’s also noticed a sense of cohesion within the team - most of whom live near enough to walk or bike to work - since the start of the crisis. “We were able to bring staff from Bi-Rite’s Catering, Cafe, and Creamery locations onto the Market team,” she says. “It’s been truly amazing to see everyone really pull together.” There’s now a ‘Wall of Love’ in the Bi-Rite team break room that’s covered with printed thank-you emails and messages posted on social media. 

 McKeown moved to San Francisco in 2010 and has worked at Bi-Rite for the past two years. Right on-brand, McKeown is a passionate cook and reports quarantine cooking has inspired new recipes in her kitchen. She’s witnessed a creative culinary spirit among Bi-Rite shoppers too, as sourdough starter has been flying off the shelves and folks fill their baskets with seasonal produce. For McKeown, cooking is a unifier: “I’ve always found food to be really comforting, and there’s this awesome sense of accomplishment people have when they tackle a new recipe or technique.”

Neighbor Profile — Ivan and Natasha from Barrel Head Brewhouse

as told by Carmen Chan

This past March, Barrel Head Brewhouse would’ve been celebrating it’s 6th birthday, but instead, the shelter in place order put the restaurant bar on hiatus. Ivan Hopkinson (co-founder) and his team didn’t immediately turn to food delivery or take outs, instead, they decided to stay closed to see what was safe or not. With some help from their building landlord and vendors, Barrel Head has been able to retain 90% of its employees and continue to pay their healthcare and wages. The sense of a community (Ivan is also a neighbor) has helped the Barrel Head team keep their spirits high.

And that spirit is the essence of their recent beer stand. If you happen to walk by Barrel Head during the afternoon between 4 and 7 PM, you may notice an inconspicuous sign noting $4 to-go beers and an open sliding window. The makeshift beer stand offers to-go Barrel Head brew and $3 jello shots. The idea came from one of the bartenders, Crystal. All proceeds go to the employee wages and the prices are purposely low so it is affordable to all neighbors. The hope is to give the restaurant regulars and neighbors a few minutes a day away from their stay-at-home routine for some fresh air and a beer. The beer stand is a means to having a little bit of fun and the team is continuing to brew up more new ideas to keep everyone’s spirits high.

As of this week, Barrel Head reopened their food take-out and delivery. If you are hungry for a barrel burger or some prawn pasta - now you can get it! Or if you happen to be out for a stroll, stop by Barrel Head for a to-go beer or a jello shot, and see what the team has up their sleeves coming next. All Ivan has asked for, is for folks to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

If you would like to support Barrel Head from the comfort of your couch - you can either order food to be delivered or purchase an e-gift certificate for yourself or a friend to be spent after we’re all out and about again.

Neighbor Profile — Haile and Abeba from Oasis Café

as told by Elisabeth Kvitashvili

When you think of tasty food that’s a little bit exotic, with unusual flavors and has a bite to it, there’s no better place to head to than Oasis Café at the corner of Divisadero and McAllister on the edge of NOPA. Haile Tadesse and his wife Abeba Gedam have welcomed customers to their Ethiopian/Eritrean café since 2010.  A member of the Tigrinya people who hail from territory located along the Ethiopian/Eritrean border, Haile opened a small store in the Oasis current location in 2007.  After three years he and his wife decided to convert the store into a café where he could “introduce his culture and food” to the community.  Haile and his family are locals themselves living just a few blocks away in NOPA while their oldest son is up the street at USF.

For ten years Oasis has served as a gathering spot for NOPA locals and as well as for the Ethiopian/Eritrean community given Haile and Abeba’s emphasis on excellent coffee and healthy food which represents the authentic flavors of their homeland. The Ethiopians say that arabica (coffee bean) originated in the highlands of Ethiopia which today remains one of the world’s top producers of quality coffee.  At Oasis you can get a mix of breakfast, lunch and dinner options, both American and Ethiopian/Eritrean style.  Meat and many vegetarian dishes and platters are available with the Veggie Combo, an all vegan dish, being the most popular.  Also popular are the meat sambusas with hot sauce and chicken tibs served with injera, the spicy bread with which one eats the spicy dishes.

Normally OASIS employees 8 people, representing a mix of cultures. Ranferi from Guatemala is usually behind the counter to take your order while Musa is in the kitchen preparing the dishes. Marcellino can be seen both in the kitchen and up at the counter.  With business down between 50-70% on any given day, Haile has had to lay off some staff though three remain.  Oasis has installed a protective shield at the counter and gloves and masks are worn by the Oasis staff but has not yet shifted to delivery service owing to the associated costs.  Instead, Haile would like people to order online through OASISCAFESF.COM or stop by the café which remains open every day opening at 7am.  Haile and Abeba are very grateful for the continuing support they continue to receive from loyal customers and hope more  people in the community will stop by to try their delicious food.  I am a regular customer with an almost daily sambusa order ready for me to go with my Haile’s Choice coffee.  

Neighbor Profile — George Hanhan from Home Service Market

as told by Michelle Petersen

It’s been weeks since San Francisco issued the shelter in place order. I figured it was coming, but it still feels surreal. Never in my lifetime, or even my parents lifetime, have we been through this. I’ve heard it compared to the great depression. I’ve heard it compared to the world wars. Clearly, it’s not that bad - we just have to stay home! Every opportunity to go outside, to walk the dogs, to get some exercise; feels strange, disobedient, but so refreshing. It’s been three weeks and I haven’t been to the store yet - I haven’t needed anything. Now I do though - basics are dwindling. The large supermarket shelves are empty. TP, flour, sugar? How can they be out, is this the apocalypse? 

And then I walk by Home Service Market at the corner of Hayes and Central. George, the owner for the last 22 years has everything I need. When I approach the cashier stand and he sees my flour and sugar he says “do you need yeast?” Well, yes I do. “I’ll get you some from the back. We bake our own bread.”

George, his wife Evon and his son Spiro (goes by B) have been running the market since 1998. Before that, George drove a delivery truck and made drop-offs at the market. He thinks it’s been in the neighborhood since the 1950’s. They’re a small, family owned business and have been very fortunate to have the support of the neighbors. In fact the biggest concern for them now is to stay healthy. George says they’ve been there a long time, they know many of the neighbors and they’re very blessed to still have business.

If you’d like to help support the market, get your basic groceries here. Place an order for a takeout sandwich over the phone (415) 346-7000. Say hi to George, Evon or B while you’re there. They’re open 7 days/week. 

Neighbor Profile — Ali from Central Coffee

For twenty-five years, Central Coffee Tea and Spice has been a welcoming space for the eclectic residents of NOPA. In that time, Central Coffee, as it’s known to locals, has become a fixture of the neighborhood and has cultivated a consistent sense of place and reliable community, even as the area around it has evolved and changed.  

Ali Gharavi originally discovered the then empty space in 1993 after peeking through a hole in the wall of the next-door laundromat. Two years later, he was able to open the cafe we know today.  Throughout its entire tenure, Ali has worked seven days per week welcoming residents, typically employing a small staff of neighbors.

Though it has not been easy, Ali, himself a NOPA resident, has kept the shop open during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The skeleton crew has risen to the challenge of social distancing, employing gloves, sanitizer, physical barriers, and more-frequent hand-washing - following the strict protocols set by the SFDPH in order to ensure both they and their patrons stay safe. In doing so, Ali has incurred the additional cost of these measures even as revenue has diminished. Additionally, Ali continues to serve the community he loves by delivering food and coffee to long-time customers who are elderly or otherwise need to stay strictly inside.  “They didn’t quit on me back then [when he was getting the cafe started]” and now he is determined to not quit on them either. 

If you would like to support Central Coffee Tea and Spice, in addition to stopping by for a take-out coffee or snack, you can: 

• Buy a gift certificate (or a few) that can be redeemed at a later date. 

• Order coffee or snacks delivered by Postmates (stay tuned for other platforms)

• Call to order whole beans (Ali will send to your address).  (415) 922-2008

Central Coffee is located at the corner of Grove and Central and is serving to go items 7am-1pm Mon-Fri and 8-2pm on Saturday and Sunday