Gus's — Local services in San Francisco

My favorite grocery store in SF. Everyone is super nice, killer historic location (Hashbury, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix lived next door, Grateful Dead), chilli and soups are amazing, poke bowls, great meat selection, fresh produce, deep coffee selection, wide sandwich menu. You pretty much get it all in a small efficient package. The store is definitely small for grocery store, but the vibe is good and it's nice to get a little more intimate with your fellow shoppers every once in awhile. If your grocery shopping in the epicenter that launched the summer of love and hippies, you better not mind other people close by browsing organic products. There's also outdoor seating on the street with some of the most amazing "people watching" around. There are often people playing guitar or other instruments. If you bring your kids they have kid sized grocery carts and the staff will win over their little hearts with lollipops or cookies while...

Why are the staff so unfriendly? Exceptions are the Latina girl at checkout and the Asian guy at poke bar. And the older white guy at checkout. They’re lovely. Otherwise I kind of dread going here because of how awkward asking for help or checking out is when no one cares to be of assistance or say hello back. Products are so expensive, but I hope it means the employees are being compensated decently. The young white girl at checkout honestly looked like she was really going thru it. Never seen someone so miserable to be at work it was so palpable. And the baristas are quite cold, it feels wrong to even leave a pity tip. I don’t think I’m a difficult customer as I’ve worked so many customer service jobs in my past and I know how to stay in my lane. So idk if the weird vibes is all a Haight thing specifically because nowhere else in SF do I feel this unwelcomed as my own neighborhood market, unfortunately. Convenient...

The Filipino butcher-fishmonger insulted me on Wednesday because he overheard that I’m from NYC while I was speaking to another customer. He recounted that he was stereotyped in NYC and therefore all NYers are snobs. It was in 1982. Apparently he hasn’t recovered from it yet and needs therapy.

A conversation between clients is none of his business, by the way. His ignorance of basic social etiquette was glaring.

The people at checkout are equally unfriendly and sometimes hostile. It’s a cash register. Ask politely, and people will cooperate. Drop your snobby attitude. It is a grocery store, not an exclusive club.

At least in NYC, our fishmongers and butchers don’t insult customers who simply want to order food and get home. The process should be frictionless.

I will avoid this person, and will minimize my visits...