How a NY Times article majorly affected businesses in Glen Park

Bird and Beckett, located in Glen Park, is part bookstore, part music venue. Bird and Beckett, located in Glen Park, is part bookstore, part music venue. Photo: Blair Heagerty / SFGate Photo: Blair Heagerty / SFGate Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close How a NY Times article majorly affected businesses in Glen Park 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Glen Park isn’t exactly a destination neighborhood in San Francisco.

The main stretch is only about two blocks, and if you love staying on top of the new, hot bar or restaurant, well, it isn’t here.

That’s because most businesses in the commercial blocks of this small neighborhood have been open at least 10 years. That’s a feat for any business in San Francisco, which has seen multiple closures of long-standing businesses in recent years.

But after the San Francisco Crosstown Trail was established in June 2019 — the 16.5-mile urban hike that traverses through some of the city’s underutilized green spaces — these small businesses have had a bit of a boost from curious explorers. Mostly invading on the weekends, these travelers are looking for something unique about San Francisco, a side they haven’t seen before.

“Glen Park is a little like Shangri-La; people can’t find it even though the highway and BART are right there,” said Eric Whittington, the owner of the bookstore Bird and Beckett. “It’s hidden but it’s got a nice history dating back to when it was rural. We’ve got nature trails in the canyon; there are nice restaurants. It’s a sweet spot.”

Whittington said sales have definitely increased at the store, especially with each bout of press coverage. (Whittington also said sales were pretty steady this week, noting that people are grabbing books to keep them occupied during coronavirus concerns, especially parents of kids.)

He said it’s a great place for people to take a break on the trail, especially since they’re likely getting a little fatigued after hiking five miles. He also said that’s why he thinks the New York Times coverage of Glen Park, in particular, was so generous — he said the writer seemed a little tired.

“It really was a boon,” Whittington said. “Usually those things don’t do much for us, but that was the center spread of the travel section for the Sunday paper and it was online.”

Since the store isn’t just known for their books (the name is a combination derived from jazz musician Charlie Parker and author Samuel Beckett), Whittington takes advantage of chatting with customers and letting them know more about the store’s events, and he’s seen an uptick in attendance. They host live jazz musicians every Friday, in addition to monthly poetry readings and other concerts weekly. Everything is supported by the store’s nonprofit arm and suggested donations are collected at each show.

“To us, it’s really important that we’re making a place for local musicians to play,” he said. “We don’t really book out-of-town people.”

Higher Grounds Coffee House, another stop mentioned in the New York Times coverage of the trail, also has seen an increase in visitors, especially on the weekends. The coffee shop has been open for 38 years, and owner Manhal Jweinat said people love the small town feel of Glen Park when they get there.

“When you’re in Glen Park, it doesn’t feel like you’re in a big city,” Jweinat said. “That’s why they call it the village.”

Jweinat also owns Italian restaurant Manzoni, another longtime spot just a block away, and recently took over as owner at Le P'tit Laurent, a French restaurant that has also been a neighborhood mainstay. When the owners approached him because they were leaving the city, he was able to buy the building as well.

Owning the building that houses both the French restaurant and the coffee shop could be key, as rising rents and tough landlords are something that can mean the end for some San Francisco business owners. Whittington also noted having a “kind landlord” as the key to his longevity.

Whittington said he’s not surprised people love the trail, and he hopes it will continue to show people different sides of San Francisco. “With the BART station, we’re right here. It’s a good spot to be if people can find us.”

Tessa McLean is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: tessa.mclean@sfgate.com | Twitter: @mcleantessa