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Commission recommends Brownies Hardware, Good Vibrations and Joe's Ice Cream for Legacy Business Registry
Summary
The commission recommended three businesses — Brownies Hardware, Good Vibrations and Joe's Ice Cream — for the Legacy Business Registry after staff found each met program criteria and owners and advocates described decades-long local contributions.
The commission voted unanimously on Dec. 7 to recommend three businesses for inclusion on San Francisco’s Legacy Business Registry: Brownies Hardware (Nob Hill), Good Vibrations (Mission District) and Joe’s Ice Cream (Richmond District).
Planning staff summarized each application: Brownies Hardware (over 110 years in operation with deep neighborhood ties); Good Vibrations (founded 1977; retail and educational programming serving sexual‑health and LGBTQ communities); and Joe’s Ice Cream (est. 1959; multigenerational ownership and neighborhood gathering place). Staff concluded the businesses met registry criteria and recommended forwarding resolutions for each.
Owners and advocates spoke in support: company historians and current owners described intergenerational ownership, community programming, educational offerings, and neighborhood roles. Commissioners praised the businesses’ neighborhood contributions and moved to recommend the three nominations; the motion passed 6 to 0.
Staff said the Office of Small Business will continue to forward applications and that the commission may consider program process improvements in future meetings.
