Mission Merchants Have Another Chance to Keep Jack Spade Out

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The Valencia Corridor Merchants Association has one more chance to try to keep Jack Spade, a New York City-based men's clothing chain, out of the former Adobe Bookstore location on 16th Street. The group's goal is to keep the Mission local, and members say Jack Spade should be considered a "formula retail" operation, which is not allowed in the neighborhood.

While Jack Spade is owned by the retail conglomerate formerly known as Liz Claiborne, it has just 10 outposts—the limit for formula retail is 11. The city has already sided with Jack Spade, but the Merchants Association has won one last chance to argue its case at a hearing on October 9.

The neighborhood feud made the pages of the New Yorker last week which pointed out that while certain merchants may not want Jack Spade, there are many people who do. The magazine spoke to Jefferson McCarley, who has been spearheading the campaign against Jack Spade, and who was key in keeping American Apparel out of the 'hood back in 2009. McCarley is now general manager at Mission Bicycle Company, where bikes cost between $800 and $2,000, which brings a painful irony to light.

McCarley said he's surprised Jack Spade isn't giving up, given all the opposition. "I thought they'd see that and say, 'So sorry, we'll find another neighborhood.' What self-respecting person wouldn't come to that conclusion?" Apparently, the sort who sees all the money riding down Valencia on designer bicycles.