SAN FRANCISCO – A traditional family business in San Francisco’s Parkside District was severely damaged in a fire on Sunday morning.
Albert Chow, owner of Great Wall Hardware on Taraval Street between 28th and 29th Avenues, said the fire broke out around 4 a.m. He learned of the fire through an alarm system at his store when firefighters were busy battling the flames.
“Damn, this is the first time I’ve wished it was a break-in,” Chow said. “We want to keep going. We want to come back. We want to keep being involved in the community and helping this community.”
Great Wall Hardware has been in business in San Francisco for 41 years. It was previously owned by Chow’s parents. The store is recognized by the city as a “traditional business,” meaning it has been open for more than 30 years and is considered a contributor to San Francisco culture.
Chow is also the chairman of People of Parkside, Sunset (POPS), a neighborhood organization dedicated to promoting quality of life and businesses in the Parkside District. He has also been a community voice opposing the closure of the Great Highway and participating in demonstrations to keep it open to automobile traffic.
“(Chow) was with us. We need to be with him,” said Josephine Zhao, who lives near the hardware store. “It’s very devastating. We’ve been shopping at this neighborhood hardware store for a long time. Since we moved in. It’s been here for decades and it’s a staple in our neighborhood. It just burns a hole in our hearts.”
According to the San Francisco Fire Department, the fire on Sunday morning left one person hospitalized and two residents who lived above the store homeless.
According to Chow, the person admitted to the hospital was Chow’s mother.
“She inhaled smoke. The firefighters were cautious enough to take her to UCSF to make sure she was OK. She’s OK. She’s at home with me, my wife and her grandchildren. I think she’s going to be happy,” he said. “I love this city. Yes, we have our crises. We have our highs. This is not a one-trick city. This is a city with many advantages, many gems, many opportunities. I’ve been all over the world and I keep coming back here. So a fire isn’t going to stop that.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the reconstruction of Great Wall Hardware.
