FOGGY NOTION
A former post office might not seem like the most obvious spot to open a hip little gift shop in the Inner Richmond, but to part-time photographer Alissa Anderson, its allure was obvious: an intimate floor plan, high ceilings and loads of beautiful light.
“I like that there’s opportunity here,” says Anderson, who lives nearby. “I think this building has the potential to become something really cool.”
Foggy Notion is a good start. With just a little paint and some beautiful reclaimed wood fixtures, it already looks as if a major transformation is under way. Since moving in, she has managed to draw fresh faces out to the neighborhood, hosting pop-up vintage clothing sales and a handful of other events that cut through the usual gloom.
“I would love for other like-minded businesses to open up here,” she says. “But somebody had to be the first.”
Anderson, who creates products for her own brand, Mittenmaker, behind the counter, offers handmade jewelry, Earth-friendly home fragrance products and assorted accessories, most of which are produced locally. The most popular items include Juniper Ridge’s eco candles from Berkeley; leather goods by San Francisco’s BBLLSS; and driftwood vases by local wood artisans Anzer Farms.
One corner features a crate of hard-to-find vinyl records curated by Anderson’s boyfriend, Andy Cabic, of the folk-rock band Vetiver. Anderson also sells local art and a handful of independent publications, including a book of her rock ’n’ roll photography featuring acts including Devendra Banhart and PJ Harvey.
There’s also a shelf of exclusive Mittenmaker goods: whimsical wallets made from old tennis racket covers, elegant zip pouches and purses crafted from Pampero rum leather bags, and chunky necklaces built out of found parts. “My whole thing is I don’t use any new materials,” she says. “It’s all about recycling.”