Popular Sandwich Shop Ready To Reopen In San Francisco's Castro
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Get ready for a serving of what loyal customers know all too well as the "Dirty Secret Sauce." The hugely popular - yet polarizing - sandwich shop Ike's has set its sights on reopening in San Francisco's Castro District.
The hole-in-the-wall shop at 16th and Sanchez was forced to close after the building's owner was simply overwhelmed with complaints.
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
"The garbage was problematic, the noise and odor levels were continuously bothersome, and the crowds unruly," summed up one detractor.
Those opposed to the shop faced off against supporters at a recent San Francisco Planning Commission meeting.
"Vomit? I've never seen that. I don't know who's going to be crazy enough to vomit up these good sandwiches, anyway," declared one of the shop's supporters.
Ike's owner sought permission from the commission to reopen his shop down the street, in a larger location.
"This is an important business that has gotten a lot of press and controversy. And we support them in our office to make sure they can move forward to retain the jobs that they have," Ellen Parker with the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce said in support of the proposal. "And to become a successful business in the city so that we can show that San Francisco is a good and friendly place to do business.
"The old location was so tiny, the line could only be outside. There was no space inside to have a line. Now we have a place inside," a woman added in support of the move.
"I like Ike, I like his business, but I just feel like he's way too high volume to be in our small neighborhood," another woman said diplomatically.
The commission ultimately approved the move, with Ike's slated to open in the bigger location, which will feature seating, in February.
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