K & T Market

For a convenience store they have odd hours, I think they’re open from 10 to 6 not really convenient if you ask me. The couple doesn’t say much when I go in. The décor is definitely ghetto for a convenience store. Oh well thank God there is a Walgreen’s a few blocks down and they are open til 10 for my necessities

For a small corner store that has the weirdest hours, you are pretty good K&T. This is not the gourmet market stop that has fresh produce and select wines, but for the simple, need in a pinch stuff, K&T probably has it and isn’t going to gouge you for it. Perfect for soy sauce, salt, Tapatio, and the sorts. They also have a pretty decent beer selection. Wouldn’t say too much about their wine though.
The old couple who own the place are certainly an entertaining pair. The husband isn’t much of a conversational type, but the wife is always willing to spark up some sort of chit chat. And remember that this place is cash only. If you need to use your card you need to walk up to State Market on Geary and 12^th Avenue.

I bought a bottle of liqueur here. I usually love coming to local neighborhood places and supporting them but the bottle looked old and I wasn’t sure if I should buy it. The old man said it’s ok.
I left but then came back to find an older lady who sold me the bottle. When I got home and opened it, it had solidified! Gross!
Stores should not be selling bad and spoiled items.

I’ve had my share of conversation starters, this for one:
«I’ve seen you before…,» he mentions, tapping on the edge of the wine glass. Cute. He’s tall, with dark brown hair. A surfer from Santa Cruz, it so seems.
«Doubtful,» I reply, turning to face this new enemy who did not approach with the usual generic salutation.
«No, I have. Wait a second, I’ve seen you on Match!»
(x_​x)
I’m sure we’ve all gone through such an experience and here in the Bay Area, who hasn’t been on a dating site. Mine, of course, came several years late and at a most unexpected time. Dinner parties are not where one wants to be recognized for virtual encounters labeled «Your matches for today.» Being remembered for an online profile from years ago is not too common. Coming across the exploits of the past because the man is too stupid to cover up his tracks in the virtual world is, apparently, way too common.
If I was an alcoholic, such would have been the time to hit this little corner market for a bottle of stone cold gin or vodka. Since I’m not, walking in and out with a very cold bottle of water was the very least I could do.
This little market is usually manned by an elderly Asian lady who smiles at me between bites of her lunch and speaking into her telephone. I don’t have much to shop for since my pantry is usually stockpiled, but when I’m on the verge of caffeine overdose and need some water for the walk back, this is the perfect spot. It lacks the dirty and sleazy feelings usually associated with corner liquor marts and when I walk out, no one is a judge. A small selection of alcohol as well as sundry items such as chips and candy. Prices? Inexpensive.
79 cents.
A cheap purchase.
That’s all the cost toward H2O inebriation. The degrees of separation are becoming a bit too awkward when one comes across the photo of his past and actually recognize the chick in it. A known floozy in the circles I run. Great.
SF is getting too small.

Ok, this is our neighborhood corner liquor store and it’s great that we have one BUT they open at like 1030 (so I’m already at work) and close at like 5pm (so Im still not home from work!) So i can’t ever really go there if I need anything. I walked over on Thursday at about 1130am, and they were still CLOSED! wtf? So I went back and tried to buy some very expensive ice-​cream and they take cash ONLY! grrrrr! I think next time I need anything, Imma just walk the few blocks down the street to Walgreens!

As you may know, I have a special fondness for the corner liquor store. The best corner stores are so much more than places to pick up a fifth of Seagram’s and a roll of paper towels; they’re little neighborhood anchors, little outposts of provisions and familiarity.
But, as you may also know, I have a refined aesthetic sense which is easily offended. And sometimes corner stores cross the line from «endearingly shabby» to «jail cell chic.» Because don’t get me wrong, I can get behind some shab and some outdated signage, and I’m not bothered by a little dust and dirt or some improvisational shelving. But I was nonplused by K&T. I mean, it looks like the back warehouse area of a grocery store. You do know the public can see you, right?
But they had two things going for them. (1) it was a cold day and they had bottles of water that were not refrigerated. Because on a cold day, nothing is more annoying than the freezing cold condensation of a refrigerated bottle on a bare hand. Score one for room-​temperature refreshment! And (2) there were two old neighborhood dudes socializing in the store when I walked in (or, you know, chatting over refreshing beverages in paper bags, whatev), and if a corner store can’t be a neighborhood meeting place, well, then it shouldn’t even be there.