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A requiem: The ghosts from 40 years of walking San Francisco

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I got my first job in San Francisco nearly 40 years ago, in the Flood Building, at 870 Market Street. A chubby cheerful, uniformed lobby attendant pressed the elevator buttons for me. The lobby was marble and, oh wonderful, there was a Woolworth’s on the ground floor.

I loved to sit at the curved Formica lunch counter just like I loved the ladies who served me: bright lipstick, hairnets, and pink puffy-sleeved uniforms. I loved the Coca-Cola glasses and the grilled cheese sandwiches. I felt grown-up: part of a purposeful lunch crowd, we were all very important.

 (All photos are from the San Francisco Public Library Archive.)

  • Historic photo of the James Flood Building at Market and Powell Streets, a large, multi-story structure with ornate details, surrounded by bustling city life and streetcars.
  • Black and white photo of a Woolworth's store on a busy city street corner with people walking and crossing.

But best of all, I loved my walk to work from North Beach, up and down Powell Street along the cable car line, ending at the cable car turnaround and the James Flood building. I could have walked through the Broadway tunnel, but what fun is that?

I have been lucky enough to walk to work for 40 years in this city, so now as I parade through streets and avenues, my mind sees what was. 

A carousel of baristas, streetcleaners, salesclerks and waiters; of flower vendors and homeless folk, of street performers and cops. All are there as I pass by. 

Ghosts. 

On Kearny Street I cross out the Starbucks and conjure the Jewish Deli run by an ancient couple who presided over a “bubbling, bubbling” matzoh ball soup cauldron. Their cramped, narrow 10-seat diner was always full.  The steamy chicken-y fragrance floated out the door like a cartoon bubble.

Before Door Dash and Uber Eats, people lined Kearny Street sidewalk to pick up their own lunch: egg salad on rye and egg cremes. 



Source: missionlocal.org

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