Babies have always had places to shop in Noe
Valley. Now, with the
birth of a maternity fashion boutique called Heroine,
expectant moms are moving
toward equal rights.
Angela Clement Gomez and husband Edwin Gomez
unveiled their new
addition in November, in the former home of Bespoke Cycles, at
the corner of
Castro and 24th streets.
“I’ve always dreamed of opening a boutique in San
Francisco,” says
Clement Gomez, a freelance photographer and graphic designer.
“And when I
became pregnant with our son Griffin, the type of shop became
obvious to me.”
Painted white with accents in pistachio green,
Heroine offers
handpicked clothing and accessories for “ladies, moms, and
babies,” says
Clement Gomez. “They can be worn before, during, and after
[pregnancy], or if
you are not even a mom at all,” she says.
Browsers of all types will appreciate the wood
floors and spacious
aisles, which allow for easy steering of strollers and
toddlers.
Lining the walls are tunics, wraps, and dresses,
from casual to
elegant. There is an array of designer denim, including skinny
jeans from James
Jeans, Maternal America, and Seraphine. “Youcan’t
even tell they
are made for expecting moms. They just look like awesome
stylish jeans,” says
Clement Gomez. Prices range from $100 to $175.
The shop also carries sexy nursing lingerie by
Belabumbum
($23-$95) and sleep bras from One in the Oven ($50).
For infants and toddlers, such as 17-month-old
Griffin, Heroine
offers organic cotton onesies and T-shirts, including
screen-printed designs by
local artists Sweetpea & Pie. Other kidswear, like the
black hoodies with
tattoo-style hearts from Rock ’n’ Roll Babies ($34.99), have
retro appeal.
Dads and moms may tussle over what Clement Gomez
says is the
store’s best-selling item: buffalo-leather and felt diaper
bags that can double
as laptop bags ($175-$300).
Clement Gomez and husband Edwin, who live eight
blocks from their
shop, couldn’t be happier with their Noe Valley location.
“There are a lot of
stylish ladies and moms here,” says Clement Gomez.
“One of the best things about being here in the
store is seeing
all of the adorable babies and kids. People come in and bring
their dogs, too.
We have treats for them. It’s such a wonderful neighborhood to
be in.”
Heroine is open Tuesday through Friday from 11
a.m to 7 p.m., and
Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fred Meyer and
Dani Sheehan-Meyer offer an eclectic assortment of gifts
at their Cliché Noe, many locally produced.Photo by Pamela Gerard
Cliché Noe Gift Store
4175 24th St. between Castro/Diamond
282-5416 www.clichenoe.com
Fred Meyer and Dani Sheehan-Meyer say they opened
the doors to
Cliché Noe Gift Store on Friday, Nov. 25, the day after
Thanksgiving, to “catch
that little wave” of holiday shopping. Now they are looking
forward to a spring
gold rush.
The husband-and-wife team spent seven years
researching the gift
business and three months renovating the space Meyer’s family
has owned for
five generations at 4175 24th St. (The building is the
birthplace of the
Pioneer, the first car built in California, and more recently
it sheltered the
San Francisco Mystery Bookstore.)
Sheehan-Meyer describes the now light-filled shop
as an “eclectic
store for all ages,” offering everything from jewelry,
greeting cards, picture
frames, and baby shoes, to clocks, soaps, handbags, and men’s
hats. Much of the
selection has roots in California, she says.
In the gourmet food section, you can find
Anette’s raspberry,
amaretto, and port sauces from Napa ($9.90), and Corning’s
balsamic, lemon
olive, and garlic olive oils ($10) from Corning, Calif.
San Francisco born TOKYObay watches with brightly
colored wrapped
straps ($64-$70) decorate a table at the front of the store.
“We didn’t forget our tourists,” says
Sheehan-Meyer, pointing out
a set of cartes postales by Cavallini &
Co. of South San
Francisco ($12) that features a tin of vintage San Francisco
scenes.
Local art also has a home at Cliché Noe. “We’re
open to giving
people an opportunity to showcase their talents,” says
Sheehan-Meyer.
According to Sheehan-Meyer, the shop is the
exclusive purveyor in
Noe Valley of Minnetonka moccasins, for toddlers aged 6 months
to 2-1/2 years
($19-$30).
Cliché Noe also sells Trollbeads, silver and
handmade glass beads
from Denmark ($31-$47), which are used to make “New Age charm
bracelets,” says
Sheehan-Meyer.
The Meyers carried an appreciation for
wine-related items with
them when they moved from Santa Rosa to San Francisco in
August of last year.
“We’re on a campaign for no more naked wine bottles,” laughs
Sheehan-Meyer.
To that end, she stocks Just Sleeve It wine
carriers ($30),
including one covered in men’s shirtsleeves, replete with
cuffs and buttons.
The Carlotta Clutch wine purse, which is adorned
with fake pinto
pony fur, has already sold out three times, Sheehan-Meyer
says.
“When you come to shop in our store, we want you
to have a unique
shopping experience,” says
Sheehan-Meyer. “If we can’t find it, we’ll get it for you.”
Cliché Noe Gifts is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6
p.m.
