I used to live in San Francisco, maybe 15 years ago or so. Having just made a brief trip back for the weekend, it was great to see a shop like UNIONMADE(become a fan on Facebook) filling a void in San Francisco's retail landscape.If I had to stock my Secret Fort for a long winter, I wouldn't have to go much further than a stop into UNIONMADE. Focusing in on American Heritage products, UNIONMADE has opened only this past weekend at 493 Sanchez st. (@18th). Start with coffee from 4 Barrel and take a stroll over to 18th and up toward the Castro and take your time. There are great things along the way: Bi-Rite Creamery, Tartine Bakery, Delfina restaurant, Dolores Park...and once you get your fill of some of SF's edible best, make your way into UNIONMADE to cap it all off.
It was a real pleasure to meet and talk with Todd Barket, proprietor, about all of the last minute mayhem right up to the opening.
It's a warm place, with friends of Todd and Carl's dropping in to wish good luck and help out around the store. Being a bit of a furniture maker myself, UNIONMADE'S furnishings, handmade by Carl Chiara at their home up north on the Russian River and out of sustainably grown timber from a local lumber yard, nod respectfully to Donald Judd. And check out the vintage Pashley in the window.
The shop offers American goods of both new and old provenance. You'll find the likes of Filson travel bags, classic Woolrich shirtjacs, SNS Herning sweaters, Rogues Gallery flannels, Alden footwear(including a custom styles exclusively for UNIONMADE), Hill-side ties and scarfs to name a few with more to come. Newly opened, it's a place that will continue to evolve, though the foundation is seemingly all there.
Both Todd and Carl are the nicest of guys (with an extremely sweet, newly adopted Greyhound) and have a real handle on things there at UNIONMADE.
If you're in the area, make it a point to stop in, have a chat and take a look. Help support the independent retailers who are doing things right.
UNIONMADE
493 Sanchez @ 18th.
SF, CA
94114
tel:415 861 3373
(Thanks Todd and Sam for hospitality and best of luck.)
*spotted: related post @ ACL
