Next Door Neighbors
by Bob Barnwell

Uniqueness is one of the traits we love in Hayes Valley. We are blessed with a number of unique stores and small businesses. Some have been here a long time, while others have had several locations before reaching our community. As you walk around the neighborhood, you will see two of the more unique shops next door to each other on Fell St. Isotope— The Comic Book Lounge and Urban Knitting Studio provide services that are known throughout the city, the Bay Area and the country.

Isotope—The Comic Book Lounge has been at 326 Fell St. for over 5 years. The owner, James Sime, was eyeing Hayes Valley for over four years while he was in another neighborhood. He was most happy when the Fell St. location opened up. When you walk in you see three large couches for people to lounge and read the comic books. James’ customers are readers and collectors.

He is host to events that include upcoming late February or early March readings at his store. There is a comic book convention in the city in April, and he will host readings by three of the top comic book creators in the country: Darwyn Cooke, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner. There are several areas to lounge in the store, and upstairs there is an artist installation where creators can design and draw their comics – sometimes with customers viewing the creations. 326 Fell St. is where to be and Isotopecomics.com is where to look for this well-known store in our neighborhood.

Besides being next door, Urban Knitting Studio shares a lot of customers with Isotope- The Comic Book Lounge. Helen Kim, the owner, has been at 320 Fell St. for 7 years. Her store is designed for people to share ideas, learn from what others are knitting, and develop friendships in the knitting community. There are hundreds of unique yarns for use in knitting and crocheting.

The store’s goal is to teach about the art of knitting. Helen’s background is in architecture – a similar approach, just with a different medium. At her store you design and construct with yarn. People from all over the city come to 320 Fell St. to learn and practice with the many types and colors of yarn. Stop by Fell St. between Octavia and Gough to see some long- term small businesses in our community.