The Bold Italic’s 2020 Awards

This article is part of The Bold Italic’s 2020 Awards, which celebrate the Bay Area’s small businesses and local residents who have hustled and shown creativity throughout 2020. See all the award winners here.

This was the year we all came to appreciate San Francisco’s little corner stores and bodegas. They were the ones who had toilet paper (at least more often than the bigger shops). They were the ones who kept the aisles stocked, the lines slower, and the smiles on our faces. To all of the owners and workers at these bodegas, we see you and we appreciate you.

While many have closed over the years due to higher rents, San Francisco is still, luckily, home to many of these smaller grocery stores. The Good Life Grocery is one of those gems—and it’s the winner of The Bold Italic’s Best Bodega in San Francisco Award.

A cozy co-op tucked in the heights of Potrero Hill, Good Life’s flagship store has been a San Francisco staple since the 1970s. When rents in the ’80s fluctuated and then spiked dramatically (relatable), the staff and neighborhood banded together to not just keep the store in business for another year, but to buy their own property and stay there.

The Good Life’s long-standing rapport with the community has helped carry it through myriad tribulations in the past. Now in the unrelenting year of 2020, this tiny but mighty store stands as a beacon of support in the neighborhood. (Fun fact for the British expats: It’s also one of the only stores in SF to carry clotted cream!)

Other nominees for Best Bodega in San Francisco

1. Epicurean Trader

With locations in Cow Hollow, Bernal Heights, and Hayes Valley, this shop is dedicated entirely to craft products, from organic and sustainable wines to farmstead cheeses to charcuterie and small-batch treats. “Our goal is to be a brand ambassador for these smaller brands, sharing their unique stories, and bringing many of them to San Francisco for the first time,” their website reads.

2. Luke’s Local Cole Valley

This neighborhood market, owned by Luke Chappell, sits in the heart of Cole Valley and is a true gem. Here, you can get all of your regular grocery shopping needs met— from produce and meats to wine—and you can also choose from a selection of prepared foods and chef’s meals. The deli also offers sandwiches during the day, and the shop has a walk-up window for coffee.

3. Ashbury Market

This neighborhood corner store at Frederick and Ashbury streets changed hands last year and continues to be a great place for locals to stop in for what they need while sheltering in place. You probably can’t get all the groceries you need, but you can get snacks, drinks, and other essentials.

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