Laurel Village Shopping Center

I love Laurel Village. Yes, it has changed over the years and I miss Miz Brown’s Feed Bag and some of the stores that had a bit more character. Yet this is a great neighborhood place where families feel at home.
I’m always at the Five and Dime getting things for the house or baseball cards for my son. There’s no better meat market than you’ll find at Antonelli’s. And how many book stores are left, but you can find Books Inc at Laurel Village.

If you’re looking for an expensive, chain store, SoCal-​esque shopping experience in a particularly uninteresting and boring looking neighborhood that happens to be in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, then Laurel Village is the place for you!
How this little area came to be is beyond me. It’s like 300 people moved up from the Valley and started their own little community. It’s like walking into the Twilight Zone.

3.5 Stars.
Been coming here my whole life… it has changed alot and stayed the same in some regards.
Parking is free in the back but can be a real beatch if it is busy and people are stupid and/​or cranky… tight spaces.
Love the ace five and dime (find everything there), love antonelli’s meat market, good starbucks, pretty good Walgrens, and a nice Books’s Inc (they have the best and most knowledgeable sales staff)

I hate Laurel Village. Here is a perfect example of its pretentiousness. Double park, block driveways, pull up on the curbs, just don’t use the «free» parking lot in the back. It isn’t worth the trouble.
Most of the businesses are franchises. You can find them elsewhere.
I received a ticket for parking in the Laurel Village free parking lot, notice no.
XXXXXX, on 12/​18/​2012. I will not be paying this ticket.
I visited several of the businesses along California St on the opposite side of the parking area. I think your system is flawed if you are really depending on a ‘watcher’ to see which direction people are walking in. Is this really the best use of your money? Post several errands, I walked back to my car with my son with a scone and coffee from Peet’s in hand. I asked an attendant if he could verify that I clearly had gone to one of the businesses connected to the parking area, to which he replied, «No, we are not allowed to». Clearly you are disempowering your employees and have created a system to take advantage of people who support the Laurel Village businesses.
Possibly you should bring back the parking validation or pay for use systems you’ve had in the past. These were very clear ways to ensure that people were visiting the adjacent businesses. Your current system is flawed and assumes dishonesty.
Laurel Village is not so unique that I need to frequent this area, especially if parking is difficult and I need to write letters to ensure that I’m not unfairly charged for parking.
Consider it. Please.

The parking lot in the back is worth the price-​of-​admission. It’s definitely better than the angled street parking on California, where you risk a rear-​collision as you back back back it up. Good selection of shops and eateries, all vying for the contents of your wallet.

Laurel Village is one of the best places loaded with restaurants, grocery stores, supermarkets, clothing stores, etc. With Asqew Grill, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Bryan’s Grocery, Noah’s Bagel’s, Cal-​Mart Supermarket and Starbucks Coffee all lined up along this stretch of California St, what more can we ask for? Nothing!
I love coming here especially since the Starbucks Coffee on California & Spruce is open 24 hours. Laurel Village Shopping Center is the best place to shop and eat when you are around this area. There is a Bank of America, First Republic Bank and a Wells Fargo Bank right on site. You can also take care of banking needs while you’re here.
I’ll be coming here for lunch a lot if I worked at California Pacific Medical Center — California Campus or in a nearby office building.
Parking: Street Metered Spaces & Private Lot (in back)
Public Transportation: MUNI Routes 1 California & 2 Clement

i live across the street. 6 stars for me not having to drive to buy groceries, which totally sucks balls.
2 more stars for good grocery selection. bryan’s is the only place that has better meat than i do hahahaha. everything is expensive, but they just added red bull for 2 bucks each — you have to go to clement street to get it cheaper.
walgreens right next to it — 1 more star.
watch your ass or you’ll get killed by an suv-​driving mommy taking the corner at 45mph: minus 2 stars
restaurants there generally suck — they are good for exhausted parents plopping their kids down, but minus 2 for meh eating places
minus 1 more for total pain in the ass pollsters stalking you in front of noah’s bagels — i gave at the f**cking office

My husband and I come here everyday.
I usually walk there, lucky enough to live close by in the Presidio.
It really has it all, coffee, banks, hardware, pharmacy, restaurants, and a couple of the best markets in the city.
Calmart and Bryan’s are great. Theres something to be said about the smaller markets and the fresh produce that they constantly have. Better than Whole foods even. I go here specifically for the fresh fruit and veggies.
Not to mention that when its Girl Scout cookie time there are always multiple tables set up. My husband calls them demons. You really cant help but buy more than one box :)
The only thing I wish Laurel Village didn’t have you may ask? People accosting me to either buy memberships, donations, sign petitions, etc. I love to donate but Id really like to go for a cup of coffee and not be asked for just a minute of my time. It really is not just a minute now is it?

Who ever did the urban planning for Laurel Village deserves a huge WOO HOO! With metered parking in the front it can be easy to pull up right to your storefront or you can choose free parking in the back and walk in the back entrance of most of the shops. It’s awesome!
There is a plethora of grocery stores, retail shops, restaurants and cafes in this shopping center, all conveniently located within two blocks. Two grocery stores, a Starbucks, a Pete’s, Asqew, Beautiful, Papyrus… the list goes on and on.
They have started a ticket system in the back parking lot that can be validated, but as of now it’s not always running. Also, Bank of America recently closed their back parking lot entrance due to security. Just walk through Cal Mart to the front and BofA is right next door.

Stroller neighborhood with expensive places. There are a few gems, but mostly I just like it because it’s close to work :)

This is a cozy, conveniently-​located, friendly place. Free parking is a plus.

I wouldn’t necessarily consider this area a shopping center, but to me it’s a part of my neighborhood and kind of like what Clement is, an area filled with nice little cafes, mini markets, and some private stores as well as your usual chains. I enjoy taking walks here in the morning (if ever I’m up) and grab a Noah’s bagel and jamba juice to jump start my day, or even go to Walgreen’s when I’m too lazy to walk up to the 8Th ave one. It’s a nice little area and a place you can definitely void the tourists as mostly only locals knows about it.

Laurel Village is the shit. I’ve been coming here all my life. My grandmother used to buy me shoes at The Junior Boot Shop (which is sadly now some other chain children’s shoe store), and she even bought my dad and uncle’s clothes at Young Man’s Fancy like 50 years ago before it turned into First Republic Bank in the late 90’s (maybe early 00’s)…or whatever it is now. This whole neighborhood is full of memories for me.
Here’s a rundown of all the shops.
Bryan’s: overpriced, yet quality products (really good sonoma chicken salad)
Cal Mart: slightly cheaper, yet still pricy. bigger selection.
Walgreens: this is the best one in the city in my opinion
Starbucks: 24 hrs… are you freakin kidding me? AWESOME!
Peets: better coffee than starbucks but not 24hr.
Pure Beauty: a great addition… i need me some Biolage!
Noahs: those bagles come in clutch on a hungover morning
AG Ferrari: overpriced sandwiches
Jamba Juice: who doesnt love it
Books Inc: a nice local alternative to Borders
Lo Cubano: eh.
Asqew: so excited about this addition
Rigolo: one of my favorite spots in the city
Wells Fargo: my neighborhood friendly branch
And, there’s also a few more stores whose names escape me at the moment, including a specialty liquor store.
However, expect to face a serious parking gauntlet hell if you come here during the week. Curiously, the parking is less severe on a weekend. Peculiar, I know. Also, watch out for Laurel St. between California and Mayfair between 4 – 6 on a weekday… its a towaway zone. I had to learn that the hard way, my friends.