Ingleside Merchants Association of San Francisco
Ingleside’s merchants munched and mingled this morning at That’s Amore SF!
Special thanks to Ahmad Murad for hosting!
And thanks to PawberShop, Ocean Paws, The Ingleside Light, Ocean Cyclery, Ocean Ale House, and Sunshine Dance Studio!
Small businesses are the backbone of every neighborhood!
Ingleside Merchants Association volunteers distributed pandemic supplies â masks, face shields, and hand sanitizer â provided by the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development to neighborhood small businesses.
Ocean Ale House owners Miles Escobedo and Daniel Silberman graciously allowed their building to be used as storage.
Alex Mullaney, publisher of The Ingleside Light, organized both drop-off and pick-up days for tens of small business owners.
On Monday, June 29, the Ingleside Merchants Association hosted a virtual meeting about the impact of COVID-19 on Inglesideâs small business community.
Ocean Ale House owner Miles Escobedo and Neil Ballard led the discussion joined by the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Developmentâs Jorge Rivas.
Almost a dozen small business owners and community members participated in the meeting that delved into the economic impact COVID-19 has had on the merchant community and neighborhood as a whole
Joanne Lei of Jojoâs Cafe said the federal governmentâs Payment Protection Program wasnât enough and that her business is at 10% capacity.
Escobedo said that his business and other restaurants on Ocean Avenue need disposable gloves, hand sanitizer and face masks. Rivas took note of merchantsâ Personal Protective Equipment needs in order to coordinate supply of those items.
The merchants association told Rivas that the purpose of the series of meetings about COVID-19 was in part to develop a tailored economic recovery strategy.
âIt is so important for business owners to stay connected during this crisis so that they can coordinate on how they can support each other and so they can speak to City Hall with one voice to get whatâs needed to stay afloat,â IMA Secretary-Treasurer Neil Ballard said.
The Ingleside Merchants Association intends to release a draft recovery strategy at the end of July.
On Wednesday, July 1, Ingleside Merchants Association Secretary-Treasurer Neil Ballard hosted a meeting about public transit and economic recovery in the Ingleside. More than 20 people attended.
Ballard, who is also the District 7 representative on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agencyâs Citizens Advisory Council, gave an overview of the state of transit projects in the district.
The meeting attendees then gave their feedback about the transportation challenges that the Ingleside faces and what needs to be done to get things back on track.
Several attendees said that they eagerly awaited the return of the K-Ingleside to get to West Portal and beyond. Attendees also supported the idea of a Slow Street in the Ingleside, and suggested Farallones Street and Grafton Avenue as possible Slow Streets.
Attendees generally expressed an urgent desire for greater attention to be paid to pedestrian safety, bicycle infrastructure, and transit reliability in the Ingleside, which has been historically overlooked.
On Friday, June 26, 2020, Ingleside Merchants Association co-founder and Ocean Ale House co-owner Miles Escobedo participated in a panel discussion organized by the San Francisco Council of District Merchants Associations for Small Business Week 2020.
In response to the public health emergency caused by the novel coronavirus, the panel discussion, called âPivoting to Success,â was held online and focused on how small business owners adapted to the pandemic.
The discussion was moderated by SFCDMA Vice President Masood Samereie and Nadia Anderson, government relations manager at panel sponsor Cruise. Aside from Escobedo, other panelists included Canela Bistro & Wine Bar owner Mat Schuster, Chloe Jackman Photography principal Chloe Jackman, EHS Pilates owner Tracey Sylvester, and Three Babes Bakeshop owner Lenore Estrada.
A recording of the panel discussion can be found here: https://youtu.be/feHndARKIG4.
For more information about Small Business Week 2020, visit https://www.sfsmallbusinessweek.com/.
In order to help local businesses get their online marketing into shape in the midst of the COVID-19 public health emergency, we have assembled a step-by-step guide entitled âDigital Basics for Small Businesses in the Age of COVID-19.â
The social distancing policies necessary to fight COVID-19 have taken a toll on San Francisco businesses, and many are anxious to know whether their favorite businesses will remain open in a few monthsâ time.
The guide covers all the necessary steps for businesses to develop their online presence, from creating a website to setting up social media accounts and email newsletters. It also includes information specific to COVID-19 and social distancing, offering guidance on how to adapt to doing business amid public health restrictions.
In May 2019, Ingleside Merchants Association held a Crawfish Cookout fundraiser at The Ave Bar on Ocean Avenue. The bar was packed with patrons eager to eat shellfish for a good cause.
Despite some technical difficulties, the crawfish eventually made it out and was a big hit. “I just visited New Orleans, and I ate some amazing food there,” Ingleside Merchants Association Secretary-Treasurer Neil Ballard said, “and today I feel like I’m on Bourbon Street all over again. What a win!”
As patrons waited their turn for a plate, they enjoyed The Ave Bar’s extensive craft beer and local spirits selection on a bright day in May.
In March 2019, Ingleside Merchants Association and SFPD officers from Taraval Station went on a corridor walk to discuss public safety in the Ingleside.
Captain Nicholas Rainsford was in attendance, as was Miles Escobedo, co-owner of Ocean Ale House. Escobedo gave Captain Rainsford a thorough overview of the specific types of criminal activity in the neighborhood, especially those of concern to businesses.
Ingleside Merchants Association members remain in close contact with Ocean Avenue’s footbeat officer about day-to-day safety concerns.
The Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside Business Association will hold its third meeting and the first quarterly meeting of 2018 on Tuesday March, 13, at 8 a.m. at Ocean Ale House, located at 1314 Ocean Ave.
Subjects to be discussed are commercial vacancy rate, the Office of Economic and Workforce Developmentâs Future of Retail study and report, Supervisor Sandra Fewerâs examination of vacancy controls, City College of San Franciscoâs âTown and Gownâ relationship and other items of import.
Neighbors, community leaders, and preservationists came together to celebrate the strides made in protecting and honoring the Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside neighborhoodâs distinct architectural and historical resources.
Over 45 people attended the Party for the OMIâs Historic Landmarks at the Ocean Ale House on July 26 to recognize the neighborhoodâs two new city landmarks and funding for the first phase of the renovation of the historic Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse.
âThe OMI is a quintessential San Francisco neighborhood complete with remarkable architecture and a unique history that deserves preservation and investment,â OMI Business Association co-chair and event organizer Alexander Mullaney stated. âThe neighborhood character we are celebrating is a precious resource connecting us to our past and shaping our future.â
In November, Ingleside Presbyterian Church was designated a city landmark both inside and out. In July, the former El Rey move palace was designated a city landmark and local and state officials secured funds needed for the first phase of the Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse renovation.
Ingleside-Excelsior Light Publisher Alexander Mullaney and Ocean Ale House co-owner Miles Escobedo organized as co-chairs of the newly formed Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside Business Association.
Speakers at the event included Ingleside Presbyterian Churchâs Rev. Roland Gordon, Friends of the Geneva Office Building and Powerhouseâs Dan Weaver, and District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai.
âThe OMI community â though split into District 7 and District 11 â gives so much to small businesses that we want to give back and develop those relationships,â Escobedo said.