There’s been a quiet but calculated effort underway to turn Hayes Valley into the next Abbot Kinney. If that reference doesn’t hit right away, let us explain.
Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach was once a quirky, eclectic strip filled with independent shops, creatives, and community culture. But over time thanks to a toxic mix of real estate speculation, political favoritism, and design-by-marketing — it became a sterile playground of luxury brands, overpriced “experiences,” and high-rent monoculture. Sound familiar? In Hayes Valley, the pattern is repeating. And one name keeps surfacing: Lloyd Silverstein, past president of the Hayes Valley Merchants Council (HVMC). Behind the scenes often in lockstep with the city’s most connected power brokers Lloyd has become a key enabler of this shift. He’s also been one of the main behind-the-scenes coordinators with Supervisor Bilal Mahmood to push the Hayes Valley Entertainment Zone. We’re here to attest that he’s not advocating for small business stability, nor is he a defender of affordability or neighborhood character. He is brokering deals to support chain retailers, real estate interests, and a quiet campaign to weaken or eliminate formula retail protections. There’s a lot on record about this and we’ve been sirening the alarm. Even more telling: Lloyd hasn’t been discreet about any of it. (See EZ is the New Formula Retail)
This change has been gradual and you won’t read about it in a press release. But you will feel it in your rent and your rapidly shrinking voice in neighborhood politics. Back in 2022, during a stakeholder meeting convened by then-Supervisor Dean Preston about the future of Parcel K, Silverstein revealed more than he intended. On the topic of affordability, he told the group: “If you can’t afford to eat here, maybe you shouldn’t live here.” Yes. He actually said that. That moment stunned many in the room. And yet today, this is the individual SFMTA and Supervisor Mahmood are treating as a trusted voice for neighborhood representation. In classic Silverstein style, he followed up with a polished late-night email presumably to clean up the optics: “What I hope I conveyed today is that having the diverse and inclusive community we all want is more than just providing high-density affordable housing… It is disheartening to hear from some residents that they can no longer afford to shop or eat in Hayes Valley…”
What to Watch For as Hayes Valley Becomes “Abbot-Kinnified”:
• Blandification of the block: high-end chains disguised as “unique experiences.” Think $15 coffee wrapped in swanky branding.
• Commercial vacancies: Long-term storefronts going dark, only to be replaced by out-of-town ventures that pay to play.
• Public spaces turned into a marketing venue: street closures and “activations” that serve brands/events under the guise of “community”,
• Policy coordinated behind closed doors: private planning meetings with handpicked stakeholders and a currated narrative of consensus.
Actually this isn’t accidental and it’s a strategy that is already in motion. If you’re wondering why Hayes Valley suddenly feels more curated than lived-in, it’s because that is the end goal – if you ask Mr. Silverstein and company.
reading references:
The Rise and Fall of Abbot Kinney, or, How Venice Is Dying
Abbot Kinney: The Face of Gentification
Venetian: Abbot Kinney Chain Stores Are Destroying Venice
Snapchat Is Pulling Out of Venice, and Gentrification Activists are Overjoyed
Break on Through, Abbot Kinney