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Holy downturn,
Batman! In the wake of the recession, accelerated by the Sept. 11 attacks,
Uncle
Mame at 2241 Market Street ran out of business late in 2001. It's hard
to believe at a time when the country could use a little fun that such
an entertaining shop as Uncle Mame's, a pop culture memorabilia store,
would close. Why all the fuss? A person couldn't leave Uncle Mame's without
smiling, for owner David Sinkler kept the place stocked to the rafters
with kitsch like Pez dispensers, super hero figures, sock monkeys, TV lunch
boxes, coloring books, and more. Star Wars, the Bionic Woman, Brady Bunch,
Lucy, the Wizard of Oz, Wonder Woman, Bette Boop, and Pee Wee Herman were
all represented either in the merchandise or in a line of custom greeting
cards. Also available were candies such as Pop Rock, Razzles, and Sugar
Daddies. Browsing and lingering were always encouraged at this fixture
in the upper market shopping district between Church and Castro. How does
the neighborhood feel about Uncle Mame's demise? One passerby appropriately
put it in the words of Bart Simpson, "That sucks, man." |
