Anticipation has been building in Western Cortlandia as neighbors look forward to the grand opening of Pinhole Coffee at 231 Cortland, on the corner of Bonview. Bernalwood first told you about Pinhole last November, but opening a business in this town is famously non-easy, so things take time.
Lately, however, we’ve seen lots of construction underway in the Pinhole space, and when we poked our head in last weekend we saw lots of great stuff, including a handsome new coffee bar, a cool new mural (which features Sutro Tower for bonus cool credit), and colorful wood strips on the walls. It’s going to be a beautiful space.
Pinhole founder JoEllen Depakakibo was onsite too, so Bernalwood posed the question everyone’s been asking: When is the opening date?!?!
Miss JoEllen smiled, laughed nervously, and said, “in a few weeks!”
So, end of August?
She scrunched up her face. “More like September,” she said.
Fair enough. Septemberish! Can’t wait. And in the meantime, you’ll find lots of construction photos on the Pinhole Coffee Facebookplatz.
PHOTO: via JoEllen Depakakibo
Bernalwood 
Do we really need another coffee shop on Cortland?
If they turn a profit, the answer is yes, if they don’t make money, then no.
And the market shall decide!
But seriously, how can one complain about choice and competing for our custom. Change cafes like handbags why not.
It will be located on the far west side of Cortland, near the meat market, so it may pick up business from folks on that side.
Why shouldn’t we have one? I’m happy they’re coming. And with the closure of the Deli Pub and (hopefully temporarily) Chuck’s, it’ll be especially nice to see another non-empty storefront in that vicinity.
Welcome Pinhole! I’m excited to check out your new digs!
Very excited! It looks like a great space.
Welcome to the neighborhood! Can’t wait to try your coffee.
George, please don’t tell people that their ambitions are worthless. Its not nice.
I agree. She is obviously pouring her heart and soul into this and I wish her nothing but success, and I can’t wait to become a regular.
I was slightly disgusted, yet not at all surprised, to see an ugly, unwelcoming comment right up top. Way to go, George! But I’m so glad to see that the support, comment-wise, far outweighs the nastiness. To Pinhole: welcome, and best of luck!
I guess everyone is just now cool with the immense gentrification of Bernal Heights. Can’t possibly complain about the 5 millionth coffee shop in San Francisco. Remember when this area was really weird in the 60’s? Jesus I’m old
Wait a minute! Do you mean Bernal in general, or the specific area in which this business is planning to open? Born in ’62, was raised in Bernal and lived here until college. Bernal and Cortland weren’t weird to me at all! Many of my classmates parents had businesses on Cortland – Jennie Lou’s Gifts, Jake’s Barber, Acme Cleaners, Arrow Pharmacy, Brown Bear Realty…to name a few. Returned to Bernal 9 years ago, and felt like I was home again. Some of my old neighbors are still here! Much as it was back then, I patronize the local businesses, and get to know the proprietors and employees – one of the benefits of our intimate neighborhood. Wish the owners of Pinhole much luck!
Bernal, in the mid to late 60s. When you were 3 to 6 years old, affectionately known as ‘red hill.’
Bernal, in the mid to late 60s, when Frank was 20 to 30 years old, affectionately known as ‘red hill’. :-0
Frank, please don’t insinuate that the opening of a local business is a sign of immense gentrification. It is not. It is a sign of economic development. Would you prefer for the storefronts to remain vacant? Would you prefer something else to open up there? If so, please open something. The neighborhood would welcome you with open arms.
“I guess everyone is just now cool with the immense gentrification of Bernal Heights.”
Yes, since I too was a gentrifier when I bought 14 years ago. I didn’t expect it to stop when I bought my house.
Hi Guys 👋 thanks for the support. My intentions behind Pinhole is beyond coffee or any other consumables. The intention is to manifest a space of community w/ delicious things to compliment. If anyone has any questions please stop by the space, I’m usually there because it’s become home.
Picture above: my brother Joey D http://www.joey-d.com. Flew in from Chicago to draw his mural this week. In addition, my friend in the picture is Magnolia. She’s been there the last 4 years in Pinhole’s manifestation, witnessing all the spaces (5) that fell through for me throughout the years 😉
Excited to serve the neighborhood!
we are SO excited to have you here and support another local businessperson. And yes, we do need another coffee shop – especially for us westerners! thank for for deciding to call bernal home to your business, you are in for a treat in this very special neighborhood (i think you’re getting a taste of the diversity that makes bernal bernal here in the comments section alone!). welcome!
Hi Guys 👋 thanks for the support. My intentions behind Pinhole is beyond coffee or any other consumables. The intention is to manifest a space of community w/ delicious things to compliment. If anyone has any questions please stop by the space, I’m usually there because it’s become home.
Pictured above: my brother Joey D http://www.joey-d.com. Flew in from Chicago to draw his mural this week. In addition, my friend in the picture is Magnolia. She’s been there the last 4 years during Pinhole’s manifestation, witnessing all the spaces (5) that fell through last minute for me throughout the years (stepping stones to 231 Cortland).
Excited to serve the neighborhood!
Congratulations on your new business Jo Ellen. Welcome to Bernal 🙂
I think George asked a perfectly reasonable question. I wish Pinhole every success, and at the same time I’m happy to discuss whether yet another coffee house on Cortland is good, bad, or neither for the neighborhood. There’s no need to stifle discussion or name-call.
In this particular case, the property owner specifically wanted to convert the space into a coffee shop.
http://sprudge.com/build-outs-summer-pinhole-coffee-bernal-heights-san-francisco.html
@frank – complaining about gentrification is so boring and trite. If you’d like a more authentically un-gentrified neighborhood, there are plenty of places in Oakland or Antioch that fit the bill. And my guess is that if you’ve lived so long in Bernal, you’ve built up a lot of equity (in large part due to gentrification), so you should be able to move.
Why don’t all you commenters that don’t want another coffee shop on Cortland step right up and open your own damn business with your own damn money. What would you rather see open? I sure as shit never see any actual suggestions of what SHOULD be on cortland, only the tired, anonymous efforts of the Bernalwood commentariat to tear someone own who dares cross the precious coffeeshop-or-restaurant-or-bakery-density sensibilities of the denizens of Bernal (and SF in general).
As for Bernal reaching its zenith back in the 60s? get bent, you’re not the only ones who need a place to live.
I’m happy to see Pinhole … but I’d love a hardware store and a pharmacy.
I’d like a brew pub and a marijuana dispensary.
Welcome Pinhole. I think there is more then enough room for all. Things come and go and things change which is natural. I have been visiting Bernal for over 35 years and still find it charming and unique. Having new energy in the area will only make it more pleasant. It’s not a WalMart after all it’s being opened by an indivitual who has a stake in the hood. I am in the Hayes Valley which is like gentrification central. Some is good and some is not. I am sure Bernal will experienc the same kind of thing. I am also growing old and thinking of selling and moving to Berkeley. I would hate to become a demanding old stick in the mud who halts progress.
I had the pleasure of enjoying this new coffee shop with some friends over the weekend — it’s a super super cute space, and the coffee is great. The decor is very fun. i love this new addition to our neighborhood! Thank you, Pinhole!!