Bi-Rite really is coming to the Richmond!! Plus, steel Eichler, Decorator Showcase home asks $25 million, and SF cottage with million-dollar views asks $899K
Eichler but make it steel.
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Well, hello there. You guys know how excited I’ve been about the possibility of central Richmond being home to the newest location of upscale market Bi-Rite. When the news first broke, I contacted their business team to confirm the intel, and they only said, “nothing is finalized yet.”
But now there is photographic proof that the high-end grocer is moving in. There’s the trademark baby blue hue on the scaffolding around the California Street storefront plus a sign promising that Bi-Rite really is coming! The company just made it official on Friday with an announcement on Instagram. “We’re working toward opening a new Bi-Rite Market at 6001 California St. Coming 2027.” Adding, “We’re not just opening a store. We’re committing to the neighborhood for decades to come.”
It’s a great and much needed addition, although my bank account may be less thrilled.
Staying on the westside, this week, friends introduced me to a hidden away jazz club in the Golden Gate Park Boat House at Stow Lake, with a series known as Lakehouse jazz. The music was superb and the intimate setting felt like a speakeasy. There was barely any power, drinks were passed around in the dark, and the audience squeezed in among nautical decor.
I also made the trek to see what magic the designers of the Decorator Showcase had spun up inside a fully remodeled Pacific Heights home. That very residence will soon be on the market with its glow up and a list price of $25 million. (Read more below.)
And, mark your calendars for the Hayes Valley Wine Walk. It’s basically an excuse to sip vino and stroll through the neighborhood. Tickets for the May 16 event are available on Eventbrite.
And for the cinephiles out there, the 69th SF Film Festival opens tonight with “The Invite” at the Castro Theater. The film is set in San Francisco and stars Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde. Wilde, who also directed, is expected to attend the screening.
There are almost too many good real estate stories to mention, so here are some you may have missed.
Nudist resort lacks appeal? Lupin Lodge has lingered on the market in Los Gatos for a few years. The 112-acre property in the hills first came on the market back in 2023 with a price tag of $32.8 million and prompted plenty of winking headlines. Three years and one price cut later, no buyer decided to put on their big-girl (or boy) pants and ink a deal. Now, the Mercury News reports it’s been taken off the market and the only items on the horizon for the property are the July 4 party and a celebration of International Skinny Dip Day on July 11. Tell a friend.
OpenAI home: The Victorian home where Greg Brockman and Sam Altman started OpenAI has come to market in the Mission District.
According to sales materials, Brockman leased the home in 2015-16 after the building had been renovated. The living room became HQ for the earliest stages of the company that claims them as co-founders. The AI innovators leased the modernized two-level penthouse, unit A, which is now available for $1,545,000.
Spanning over 1,800 square feet with three bedrooms and two full baths, the space features vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, wide-plank flooring, and an open layout.
According to Compass listing agent Shane Ray, the entire mixed-unit building is available for sale, or a buyer can choose from individual units.
Beauty in Belvedere: A William Wurster-designed residence is coming on the market for the first time in almost 50 years. With a list price of $50 million, it’s the most expensive listing in Marin County.
Set on a private road within an exclusive island just north of San Francisco, the modernist design from 1967 features landscaping by Thomas Church. It also offers “astounding” views of the Bay Bridge, San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and Mt. Tamalpais, according to Compass listing agent Bill Smith.
He adds, “This home served as a family retreat for 48 years. With the growth of the family to more generations they felt the home had served its purpose.”
This week, there’s an Eichler made of steel! And a cute cottage with many stairs. And yes, the Decorator Showcase home. Read on.
Eichler watch: X-100 awaits a buyer
The Belvedere Eichler on the water we covered a few weeks ago was a real rarity, but the Eichler X-100 is a true one-of-a-kind. Located in the hills above San Mateo, this mid-century marvel was designed as a prototype to show the power of steel.
Designed by A. Quincy Jones in the mid-1950s, this Eichler opened to the public in 1956 and was a test to display what an all-steel home looked like. Featuring skylights aplenty, a wide open layout, and walls of glass, the home was a vision of the future.
However, homebuyers weren’t compelled by this particular vision and the all-steel concept was abandoned by Eichler, who continued to build his signature homes throughout the ‘60s and early ‘70s.
After falling into some disrepair and in need of a lifeline, the X-100 was brought back to pristine condition after an exacting restoration was completed in 2017.
Now, this home on the National Register of Historic Places is ready for its next steward. Listed with the Boyenga Team of Compass for $4.5 million, it awaits a buyer in search of a home with a peerless pedigree.
—Erik Gunther
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Cute cottage for $899K comes with million-dollar views
A tucked-away cottage on the Iron Alley Stairway (one of the steepest stairways in SF) awaits a buyer who’s ready to ascend.
Built back in 1913, this turnkey single-family home with unparalleled city views just hit the market for $899,000.
Located a short 59 steps down the staircase that runs between Corbett and Clayton Streets, the adorable abode offers 818 square feet, one bedroom, and breathtaking views.
Agent Leah Johnson with City Real Estate notes that while this staircase home “may not appeal to every niche, I believe it will attract a significant audience. It serves as an excellent condo alternative and could attract investment-minded buyers given the current strength of the rental market.”
Johnson adds, “I can easily see a buyer deeply connected to the city and woven into the fabric of San Francisco identifying with this home.”
The updated space offers new vinyl plank floors, an updated kitchen, skylights for a light-filled interior, and a “manicured hillside mini garden.”
While the stairs may present a challenge to some, this home presents a very cool opportunity, either as an investment or to enjoy for yourself.
Downsides? Coming home late at night after a drink or two (don’t do that!), and street parking only.
Upsides? Bragging rights to this singular residence, easy access to public transit, and just a short walk to tech shuttle stops as well as easy freeway access.
Plus, you’ll have a great set of gams guaranteed with a built-in stair master attached to your property.
Decorator Showcase puts on a show
What a difference a month makes! I attended the hard hat party midway through the Decorator Showcase project on March 18. Now the home at 2315 Broadway has flung open its spruced-up Victorian doors for a full reveal. It’s reimagined to the max and ready for its close-up.
The Decorator Showcase, now in its 47th year, is an event that brings together designers, architects, builders, and landscapers. Each is assigned a space in a home that has been stripped down to the studs.
Now totally remodeled, this four-level, nearly 10,000 square foot residence is coming to market for $25 million.
If you can’t afford to buy it, at least buy a ticket to tour the home. The fundraiser supports University High School’s Financial Aid Fund, which to date has raised $21 million. The transformed spaces are on view until May 25.
My favorite room may have been the powder room by the entrance. Designer Rachel Scheff fully understood the assignment and leaned into the Victorian era for her moody-yet-elevated take. Located just off the entrance, the space includes a vestibule and separate room for the sink and WC. The Los Angeles-based designer told me, “I really try to do a unique take on bathrooms. It should be a sanctuary.”
Designed by architect Moses J. Lyon in the 1890s, the mansion is a quintessential San Francisco Victorian originally built for the Anspacher family. It was later owned and thoughtfully preserved by architect Herbert P. McLaughlin, whose 60-year family stewardship honored and maintained the home’s integrity.
The historic eight-bedroom residence features original details such as stained glass and multiple fireplaces, large public rooms, high ceilings, built-in benches and many staircases. You’ll also find 7.5 bathrooms, a sunroom, formal and casual living spaces, offices, and a south-facing garden.
Details I appreciated included a whimsical floral motif applied to the ceiling of the dining room by Stephanie Marsh Fillbrandt of Mash & Clark Design.
Designer Tineke Triggs hewed to a “bakehouse” theme in the kitchen, including bent wood cabinets, herringbone floors, and a newly-created pantry featuring a hand-painted mural.
And a shower in one of the upstairs bathroom designed by Lizette Marie Bruckstein included a surprise outdoor space made private with a touch of greenery.
My only question is: Will the eye-popping bespoke spaces created with fanciful flourishes ultimately attract a buyer who wants to keep them?
While you ponder that question, enjoy the show.
Must Like Fog is a San Francisco-based newsletter that’s looking at must-see real estate, cool architecture, fun neighborhoods, and more. Come obsess with me, a long-time real estate reporter who wants to keep the party going with a Bay Area twist. If you’re into real estate, the Bay Area, and want to get the inside track on these topics and more, please subscribe.
Huge thanks to editor extraordinaire Erik Gunther.