Welcome to Sunrise Market
Sunrise Market is more than just a neighborhood store located at 688 Haight St, San Francisco; it embodies community spirit and personal connections. Owned by the friendly Siguy, who also runs the nearby Axum Cafe, the market thrives on genuine hospitality. Customers appreciate its curated selection of products, from hard-to-find British candies to essential snacks and drinks, making it a convenient stop for locals. Despite its modest setup, the warmth of the staff and the engaging conversations turn each visit into a cherished experience. At Sunrise Market, you're not just a customer; you're part of a welcoming community.
-
688 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117 Hotline: (510) 828-4591
Welcome to Sunrise Market, a hidden gem nestled at 688 Haight St in San Francisco, CA. This quaint neighborhood market is not just a place to pick up essentials; it’s a community hub where warmth and familiarity bloom amidst the city's energetic atmosphere. From the moment you step inside, you'll find a clean, organized space run by local owners who make this market a delightful experience that goes beyond mere transactions.
Sunrise Market offers an eclectic selection of products catering to the diverse tastes of its patrons. Whether you're craving British candies like AERO bars and Curly Wurly, or looking for local favorites such as Honest Tea and a well-curated selection of beers and wines, this market knows how to satisfy a craving. Customers have raved about the reasonable prices, which add to the allure of shopping here,, even if some items might reflect a premium typical of small convenience stores.
- Friendly Staff: The owners and employees are known for their exceptional hospitality. Customers often mention how staff members recognize them and engage in genuine conversations, creating a welcoming atmosphere that feels like home.
- Neighborhood Connection: Owned by Siguy, who also runs the adjacent Axum Cafe, the market serves as a social hub where patrons gather not just for shopping, but to discuss Ethiopian culture, local politics, and, of course, food.
- Convenience: As the perfect pit stop before heading into the busy Mission district, Sunrise Market provides not just goods but also an ATM and a selection of items for a quick, pleasurable transit.
With reviews highlighting both the charm of the space and the amiable nature of the staff, it’s clear why customers keep returning to Sunrise Market. While offerings like stale energy bars and limited inventory can occasionally be critiqued, the fresh conversations and sense of community make up for it. In the bustling heart of San Francisco, Sunrise Market stands as a reminder that sometimes, it’s the local favorites and the friendly faces that create the most memorable experiences. Next time you find yourself in the area, take a moment to step inside this delightful market and discover its treasures.
great products ,local owner (very sweet), nice clean organized store also convenient for busy atmosphere
The guys who own , are what makes the store. They have decent selection, reasonable prices. By no means the most modern or upkept spot. But the hospitality, prices, and local support is why I continue to frequent this spot.
This is my little neighborhood market to go for my newspaper or Honest Tea. It is also where I go to talk about Ethiopian culture, Middle East politics and food. It's owned by Siguy, who owns the Axum Cafe next door and I love chatting with him..when he's not back in Ethiopia visiting his family. But I have Solomon if I want to talk sports..(he could be on ESPN he's so knowledgeable) or Ali, who's all into boxing. They have a fair selection of beer/wine and English goodies but no Haggis! If I had any criticism of the place is that some of the energy bars they sell seem to be out-dated..as in stale. But as for the conversations I have with the staff, they are always fresh.
They've got AERO candy bars here! And penguin chocolates! And white and black meats for the Irish in ya! Good selection. Good prices. Good location.
Sunrise has the three things I need to make sure my walk to the Mission (and the subsequent events that will unfold there) from the Lower Haight go off without a hitch. 1. ATM...because you can't go to the Mission without a little fuck-you money. (I'm actually not sure what "fuck-you" money is, exactly, and I probably don't have enough money to be spreading around "fuck-you" money, BUT I've been in love with the term since I first heard it and try to use it wherever I can). 2. Sparks...It's not a long walk to the Mission from here, but it's not a short one either. Brown-bagging a can of this favorite energy drink livens the journey and leaves me slightly buzzed by the time I arrive at my bar of choice. 3. Curly Wurly...Not only is this hard to find British candy yummy--it's also fun to say...in fact, it almost sounds dirty which makes me love it more.
Every employee there recognizes me both in and out of the shop and take the time to say hello and other idle chit-chat. I am only there once a week so I think that is a definite plus. Yes, it is overpriced. When has this become a surprise? It is a convenience store. I thought that it was common knowledge that large grocery stores actually don't make much money. Their profit margin ration is one of the slimmest in any retail industry. Secondly, they deal in volume as it becomes the only way to turn a profit. Lastly, giant stores, through ingenious social statistics wonks, are able to calculate the best loss leaders to make it seem like you are really getting quite the deal. As in, "holy cow, I only paid $1.29 for all this peanut butter!" "Hmm, I need some jelly now that I think of it...there is some right here for $3.75!" "oh, damn...maybe some milk and bread too now that I think about it." Play that scenario about 100x/day and the nickels they make from the three complimentary products eventually beat out the loss in peanut butter. Sunrise is quite a good example of the small convenience store. With such limited space where can they really implement any plan to mimic the same strategy. they can't so they have to have a higher profit margin on each and every item. they have no real room for complimentary items. This fact is noticeable as the high priced market down the street, New Santa Clara Market (was there an old one?) is actually cheaper. They have more room and inventory thus lower prices. So yes...sticker shock is high. We all get it. If you ran the place you'd do the same thing. Its not a charity its a business that needs to turn a profit. They also respond to market demands. They may have to decrease their profit margin if nothing sold at the price point. Therefore, I can assume that despite rumbling and grumbling the overall populace feels that it is not at the tipping point of an undesirable purchase. They open relatively early...that's nice. The crew is friendly..that's nice. The inventory is limited....that sucks but I understand. The ATM is nice. It's always clean and well lit. What more do you really need?
I think there might be a connection between this market and Axum Cafe, as there seems to be a lot of movement between the two and similar faces as well. This spot will help you out in a pinch, be it for cookies or lemonade or water or even, chicken broth!