Union Square, San Francisco Shopping Guide

A map some of the coolest independent shops in Union Square, San Francisco.

Argonaut Book Shop

Between the Gold Rush and the 1906 earthquake, the Mexican American War and the OJ trial, we say California has had more history than some centuries-old nations. Argonaut Book Shop is the...

Big Pagoda

The goods of most American showrooms purporting to sell Chinese furniture are about as Chinese as Beef and Broccoli and Chow Mein. Not so at Big Pagoda. Owner Kurt Silver spent over a decade in...

Britex Fabrics

We're not exactly clothing designers nor do we pretend to be, but even we can't can't help peeking inside Britex Fabrics every time we pass by it. Such is the allure of thousands...

De Vera

A small out of the way storefront is no precursor to the drama and refinement that waits inside De Vera. The store mainly holds the designs of San Francisco jewelry designer Frederico de Vera. De...

Huf

Huf is all about sneakers. Retro sneakers, classic Vans, a ton of Nike along with some brands you'll be hard pressed to find outside of New York. The sneakers are set up gallery style for...

Le Sanctuaire

For quite literally a taste of the good life, try Le Sanctuaire. The foodie haven stocks the absolute finest spices and specialty food products (Iranian caviar, French salt, premium olive oil),...

Metier

Metier is how we've come to prefer our clothing stores. No massive avant-garde installation art. No secret doors or hidden signs. No gimmicks. Just a long, long rack of nice clothes. Some...

Rasputin Music

In lieu of the sanitized, homogenized look of corporate record stores, Rasputin Music prefers something a little more interesting. Posters, stickers and flyers cover the walls. Black shelves house...

Rims & Goggles

Whether looking for simple, conservative wire-rimmed frames or colorful, even flamboyant plastic frames Rims & Goggles has the frame, or probably the dozen or so frames for you. The Bay Area...

The Archive

Reader Suggested: This store is one of GQ's top 100 (men's) stores in the US.

Argonaut Book Shop

http://www.jargol.com/images/stores/us/ca/san_francisco/argonaut_book_shop_1_web.jpg

Between the Gold Rush and the 1906 earthquake, the Mexican American War and the OJ trial, we say California has had more history than some centuries-old nations. Argonaut Book Shop is the unofficial keep of said history. The antiquarian book focuses it's collection on the Western Americana in general and California in particular.

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Address:
786 Sutter Street
San Francisco CA 94109

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-415-474-9067
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9-5 Sat: 10-4 Sun: Closed

Tags: books, california, rare books

Big Pagoda

http://www.jargol.com/images/stores/us/ca/san_francisco/big_pagoda_1_web.jpg

The goods of most American showrooms purporting to sell Chinese furniture are about as Chinese as Beef and Broccoli and Chow Mein. Not so at Big Pagoda. Owner Kurt Silver spent over a decade in China and Big Pagoda is the product of his years there. The store is stocked its own line of classic and contemporary Chinese furniture, made in China by artisans trained in classic cabinetry....

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Address:
310 Sutter Street
San Francisco CA 94108

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-415-296-8881 or 1-877-272-4632
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10-6 Sun: Closed

Tags: antiques, asia, china, furniture, home accessories

Britex Fabrics

http://www.jargol.com/images/stores/us/ca/san_francisco/britex_fabrics_1_web.jpg

We're not exactly clothing designers nor do we pretend to be, but even we can't can't help peeking inside Britex Fabrics every time we pass by it. Such is the allure of thousands upon thousands of fabrics. Browse 4 floors of leathers, laces, silks and jerseys, but if you're actually looking to buy you're better off asking for help.

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Address:
146 Geary Street
San Francisco CA 94108

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-415-932-2910
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10-6 Sun: 12-5

Tags: buttons, fabrics, textiles

De Vera

A small out of the way storefront is no precursor to the drama and refinement that waits inside De Vera. The store mainly holds the designs of San Francisco jewelry designer Frederico de Vera. De Vera's jewelry designs area worldly, incorporating a variety of methods, precious and semi-precious stones and an antique gilded look. Accenting the collection are antique jewelry pieces,...

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Address:
29 Maiden Lane
San Francisco CA 94102

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-415-788-0828
Hours: Mon: Closed Tue-Sat: 10-6 Sun: Closed

Tags: home accessories, jewelry

Huf

Huf is all about sneakers. Retro sneakers, classic Vans, a ton of Nike along with some brands you'll be hard pressed to find outside of New York. The sneakers are set up gallery style for maximum effect.

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Address:
808 Sutter Street
San Francisco CA 94109

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-415-614-9414
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11-7 Sun: 12-6

Tags: sneakers

Le Sanctuaire

http://www.jargol.com/images/stores/us/ca/santa_monica/le_sanctuaire_1_web.jpg

For quite literally a taste of the good life, try Le Sanctuaire. The foodie haven stocks the absolute finest spices and specialty food products (Iranian caviar, French salt, premium olive oil), hard-to-find cutlery, European cookbooks not widely sold in the US, and professional quality gadgets and appliances.

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Address:
315 Sutter Street
5th Floor
San Francisco CA 94108

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-415-986-4216
Hours: Mon-Fri: 10:30-4:30 Sat: By Appointment Sun: Closed

Tags: cookbooks, foods and drinks, kitchen, spices

Metier

http://www.jargol.com/images/stores/us/ca/san_francisco/metier_1_web.jpg

Metier is how we've come to prefer our clothing stores. No massive avant-garde installation art. No secret doors or hidden signs. No gimmicks. Just a long, long rack of nice clothes. Some of the clothes are from small, hard to find European and New York labels. Some are from wider carried, better known brands. Some pieces are casual and fun, others are glamorous. Think of the store...

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Address:
355 Sutter Street
San Francisco CA 94108

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-415-989-5395
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10-6 Sun: Closed

Tags: women's accessories, women's clothing

Rasputin Music

http://www.jargol.com/images/stores/us/ca/san_francisco/rasputin_music_unionsquare_1_web.jpg

In lieu of the sanitized, homogenized look of corporate record stores, Rasputin Music prefers something a little more interesting. Posters, stickers and flyers cover the walls. Black shelves house new and used CDs of all genres, along with an ever-growing collection of DVDs. A vinyl section holds thousands of records, new and used, classic and obscure (though mostly obscure). A creepy...

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Address:
69 Powell Street
San Francisco CA 94102

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-800-350-8700
Hours: Mon-Thu: 11-8 Fri-Sat: 11-9 Sun: 12-7

Tags: music, vinyl

Rims & Goggles

http://www.jargol.com/images/stores/us/ca/san_francisco/rims_and_goggles_unionsquare_1_web.jpg

Whether looking for simple, conservative wire-rimmed frames or colorful, even flamboyant plastic frames Rims & Goggles has the frame, or probably the dozen or so frames for you. The Bay Area eyewear shops bring in high-end, high-quality frames from Europe and adds in their own extensive line of frames that are handmade in the US.

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Address:
445 Sutter Street
San Francisco CA 94108

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-415-397-6511

Tags: eyewear

The Archive

Reader Suggested: This store is one of GQ's top 100 (men's) stores in the US.

» Full Details Open Link in New Window
Address:
317 Sutter Street
San Francisco CA 94108

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-415-391-5550
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10:30-6:30 Sun: Closed

Tags: avant-garde, men's accessories, men's clothing
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