Kevin Truong

One of the first things you notice when you walk into Duncan Channon&#8217;s 10th-floor office is the smashed Muni bus mural with the “Doom Spiral” logo in the transit agency’s iconic “Worm” font prominently displayed on its side.&nbsp;

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One of the first things you notice when you walk into Duncan Channon's 10th-floor office is the smashed Muni bus mural with the “Doom Spiral” logo in the transit agency’s iconic “Worm” font prominently displayed on its side.&nbsp;

One of the first things you notice when you walk into Duncan Channon&#8217;s 10th-floor office is the smashed Muni bus mural with the “Doom Spiral” logo in the transit agency’s iconic “Worm” font prominently displayed on its side.&nbsp;

Doom is everywhere you look. There&#8217;s the circular Doom Spiral Bar in the center of the space at 22 Battery St. There’s the Doom Spiral bus prop in the corner. Even the walls are painted a specific shade called Doom Blue developed with the help of Pantone.

Doom is everywhere you look. There's the circular Doom Spiral Bar in the center of the space at 22 Battery St. There’s the Doom Spiral bus prop in the corner. Even the walls are painted a specific shade called Doom Blue developed with the help of Pantone.

Doom is everywhere you look. There&#8217;s the circular Doom Spiral Bar in the center of the space at 22 Battery St. There’s the Doom Spiral bus prop in the corner. Even the walls are painted a specific shade called Doom Blue developed with the help of Pantone.

If Parker Channon is a little obsessed with the word, it&#8217;s because, as an ad guy, he knows great branding when he sees it. And, unfortunately, in his eyes, the “Doom Loop” moniker that has attached itself to San Francisco is the stickiest kind of great branding. Unable to fight it, he&#8217;s determined to do the next best thing: subvert it.

If Parker Channon is a little obsessed with the word, it's because, as an ad guy, he knows great branding when he sees it. And, unfortunately, in his eyes, the “Doom Loop” moniker that has attached itself to San Francisco is the stickiest kind of great branding. Unable to fight it, he's determined to do the next best thing: subvert it.

If Parker Channon is a little obsessed with the word, it&#8217;s because, as an ad guy, he knows great branding when he sees it. And, unfortunately, in his eyes, the “Doom Loop” moniker that has attached itself to San Francisco is the stickiest kind of great branding. Unable to fight it, he&#8217;s determined to do the next best thing: subvert it.

“I remember the dot-com crash and the Great Recession, but there was never a thought that it wasn’t going to come back,” said Channon, the firm’s co-founder. “This time, the myth seemed to be ‘Oh this is it, it’s done. It’s finished. Run.’ That was what was so irritating.”

“I remember the dot-com crash and the Great Recession, but there was never a thought that it wasn’t going to come back,” said Channon, the firm’s co-founder. “This time, the myth seemed to be ‘Oh this is it, it’s done. It’s finished. Run.’ That was what was so irritating.”

A mural of a “Dom Spiral” bus, based on the Beastie Boys album “Licensed to Ill”, is painted on a wall at the office of advertising firm Duncan Channon in San Francisco on Wednesday, May. 15, 2024. Duncan Channon, an advertising firm based in San Francisco, made a bold and innovative move by incorporating a spiral bar as the centerpiece of their new office located at 22 Battery.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined01_20240514-doomspiralbar.jpg?w=1667" alt="A wall mural depicting a detailed, rusted orange and gray bus, vertically positioned, with the words &quot;DOOM SPIRAL&quot; on its side, intricately painted over a door." class="wp-image-278231"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A huge “Doom Spiral” bus mural based on the cover art of the Beastie Boys album “Licensed to Ill”, is painted on a wall at the office of the advertising firm.</figcaption></figure>

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined01_20240514-doomspiralbar.jpg?w=1667" alt="A wall mural depicting a detailed, rusted orange and gray bus, vertically positioned, with the words &quot;DOOM SPIRAL&quot; on its side, intricately painted over a door." class="wp-image-278231"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A huge “Doom Spiral” bus mural based on the cover art of the Beastie Boys album “Licensed to Ill”, is painted on a wall at the office of the advertising firm.</figcaption></figure>

Parker Channon, CMO and partner, leans on the “Doom Spiral” bar at the office of advertising firm Duncan Channon in San Francisco on Wednesday, May. 15, 2024. Duncan Channon, an advertising firm based in San Francisco, made a bold and innovative move by incorporating a spiral bar as the centerpiece of their new office located at 22 Battery.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined02_20240514-doomspiralbar.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a white shirt leans on a counter in an industrial-style office with brick walls and arched windows. Several people work in the background." class="wp-image-278234"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Parker Channon, the firm’s co-founder, leans on the Doom Spiral Bar in Duncan Channon&#8217;s 10th-floor office at 22 Battery St.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined02_20240514-doomspiralbar.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a white shirt leans on a counter in an industrial-style office with brick walls and arched windows. Several people work in the background." class="wp-image-278234"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Parker Channon, the firm’s co-founder, leans on the Doom Spiral Bar in Duncan Channon's 10th-floor office at 22 Battery St.</figcaption></figure>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined02_20240514-doomspiralbar.jpg?w=2500" alt="A man in a white shirt leans on a counter in an industrial-style office with brick walls and arched windows. Several people work in the background." class="wp-image-278234"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Parker Channon, the firm’s co-founder, leans on the Doom Spiral Bar in Duncan Channon&#8217;s 10th-floor office at 22 Battery St.</figcaption></figure>

When the idea for an ironic spin on the Doom Spiral was presented to the rest of the firm, there were a few skeptics, but Channon reassured employees that it wasn’t a negative take, but rather a sendup of the city’s critics.&nbsp;

When the idea for an ironic spin on the Doom Spiral was presented to the rest of the firm, there were a few skeptics, but Channon reassured employees that it wasn’t a negative take, but rather a sendup of the city’s critics.&nbsp;

“It was never about making light of the situation, but it was making fun of those people who called San Francisco’s death too early again for the umpteenth time,” Channon said. “The logo for the city is a phoenix rising from the ashes.”

“It was never about making light of the situation, but it was making fun of those people who called San Francisco’s death too early again for the umpteenth time,” Channon said. “The logo for the city is a phoenix rising from the ashes.”

So why Doom Spiral versus the more oft-cited Doom Loop? The reason is relatively prosaic. The two words look better stacked in the typography that the firm’s chief creative officer reverse-engineered from Muni’s design.&nbsp;

So why Doom Spiral versus the more oft-cited Doom Loop? The reason is relatively prosaic. The two words look better stacked in the typography that the firm’s chief creative officer reverse-engineered from Muni’s design.&nbsp;

Whatever it’s called, Channon fully admits that from the perspective of an advertising exec, the narrative around San Francisco has been viral to a degree that makes it hard to combat. He recounted stories of work trips to New York or a recent vacation to Italy, where the overarching response from people was pity about San Francisco’s decline and destruction.

Whatever it’s called, Channon fully admits that from the perspective of an advertising exec, the narrative around San Francisco has been viral to a degree that makes it hard to combat. He recounted stories of work trips to New York or a recent vacation to Italy, where the overarching response from people was pity about San Francisco’s decline and destruction.

“People believed in New York and across the country that San Francisco was done,” Channon said, adding that the tidy Doom Loop branding created a self-perpetuating cycle. “It’s become a pervasive myth. The story almost came in advance of reality.”

“People believed in New York and across the country that San Francisco was done,” Channon said, adding that the tidy Doom Loop branding created a self-perpetuating cycle. “It’s become a pervasive myth. The story almost came in advance of reality.”

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mounting-a-comeback">Mounting a comeback</h2>

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mounting-a-comeback">Mounting a comeback</h2>

The Financial District’s current status still lags behind its pre-pandemic heights amid a broad reset of the city’s commercial real estate market. But the transition has proven lucrative for some tenants, like Duncan Channon, who are committed to staying in San Francisco.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Financial District’s current status still lags behind its pre-pandemic heights amid a broad reset of the city’s commercial real estate market. But the transition has proven lucrative for some tenants, like Duncan Channon, who are committed to staying in San Francisco.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The firm decided to downsize and move offices from its previous location nearby at 114 Sansome St., where landlords refused to make concessions on rent. The company signed a five-year lease in their new building at around a quarter of the cost of their old space.

The firm decided to downsize and move offices from its previous location nearby at 114 Sansome St., where landlords refused to make concessions on rent. The company signed a five-year lease in their new building at around a quarter of the cost of their old space.

A Cucumber Gimlet sits on the “Doom Spiral” bar top at the office of advertising firm Duncan Channon in San Francisco on Wednesday, May. 15, 2024. Duncan Channon, an advertising firm based in San Francisco, made a bold and innovative move by incorporating a spiral bar as the centerpiece of their new office located at 22 Battery.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined03_20240514-doomspiralbar.jpg?w=2500" alt="A creamy-looking cocktail with a cucumber slice garnish sits on a dark coaster next to a napkin that reads &quot;DOOM SPIRAL&quot; in red text." class="wp-image-278236"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The central Doom Spiral Bar has its own branded cocktail napkins and coasters to really drive the point home. </figcaption></figure>

People work at the office of advertising firm Duncan Channon in San Francisco on Wednesday, May. 15, 2024. Duncan Channon, an advertising firm based in San Francisco, made a bold and innovative move by incorporating a spiral bar as the centerpiece of their new office located at 22 Battery.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined04_20240514-doomspiralbar.jpg?w=2500" alt="An open-plan office with exposed brick walls and large arched windows; several people are working at desks with computers, and one person is standing and talking." class="wp-image-278237"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Duncan Channon’s Financial District office features an open floor plan and exposed brick walls, a major selling point for the creative agency.</figcaption></figure>

“There’s now great opportunities for creative companies to come back,” Channon said. “By and large we generally have less money than financial companies or private equity firms or the tech guys who jacked prices up.”

“There’s now great opportunities for creative companies to come back,” Channon said. “By and large we generally have less money than financial companies or private equity firms or the tech guys who jacked prices up.”

Hans Hansson, the listing broker for the property, said the building’s owner is focused on competing on price to attract tenants, and occupancy has gone from around 45% near the end of the pandemic to 85% today.&nbsp;

Hans Hansson, the listing broker for the property, said the building’s owner is focused on competing on price to attract tenants, and occupancy has gone from around 45% near the end of the pandemic to 85% today.&nbsp;

The increase in leasing activity has attracted new ground-floor retail tenants to the building, like Flywheel Coffee and the first San Francisco outpost of East Bay cult bagelry Boichik Bagels, slated to open later this summer.&nbsp;

The increase in leasing activity has attracted new ground-floor retail tenants to the building, like Flywheel Coffee and the first San Francisco outpost of East Bay cult bagelry Boichik Bagels, slated to open later this summer.&nbsp;

“There’s a large amount of activity going on, but it’s mostly from smaller local groups,” Hansson said. “There’s more people on the street, and that’s making retailers more confident in coming in.”

“There’s a large amount of activity going on, but it’s mostly from smaller local groups,” Hansson said. “There’s more people on the street, and that’s making retailers more confident in coming in.”

Michael Lemme , Chief Creative Officer and partner, shows details of the design explorations for the “Doom Spiral” bar logo — based on the MUNI logo — at the office of advertising firm Duncan Channon in San Francisco on Wednesday, May. 15, 2024. Duncan Channon, an advertising firm based in San Francisco, made a bold and innovative move by incorporating a spiral bar as the centerpiece of their new office located at 22 Battery.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined05_20240514-doomspiralbar.jpg?w=2341" alt="A person with glasses is working on a laptop displaying graphic design. A coffee cup, cap, soda can, and tape measure are on the desk near a window." class="wp-image-278235"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Michael Lemme, chief creative officer and partner at Duncan Channon, shows his design prototypes for the Doom Spiral logo.</figcaption></figure>

Tamu Boylen, Office Manager and Events Coordinator, makes a drink at the “Doom Spiral” bar at the office of advertising firm Duncan Channon in San Francisco on Wednesday, May. 15, 2024. Duncan Channon, an advertising firm based in San Francisco, made a bold and innovative move by incorporating a spiral bar as the centerpiece of their new office located at 22 Battery.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/inlined06_20240514-doomspiralbar.jpg?w=2377" alt="A woman in a yellow shirt makes a drink with a shaker in an office kitchen, while several people work at desks in the background." class="wp-image-278233"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tamu Boylen, the office manager and events coordinator, makes a cucumber gimlet at the Doom Spiral Bar in the center of advertising firm Duncan Channon San Francisco’s office.</figcaption></figure>

Channon took pains to say he was not downplaying the challenges faced by San Francisco, in particular, the paired crises of fentanyl and homelessness that have loomed large in the public’s conception of the city. Coincidentally, the firm is the agency of record for the California Department of Public Health’s anti-opioid campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Channon took pains to say he was not downplaying the challenges faced by San Francisco, in particular, the paired crises of fentanyl and homelessness that have loomed large in the public’s conception of the city. Coincidentally, the firm is the agency of record for the California Department of Public Health’s anti-opioid campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I’m not unaware there’s an issue, but the answer to us didn’t seem to run away, but instead to come back,” Channon said.&nbsp;

“I’m not unaware there’s an issue, but the answer to us didn’t seem to run away, but instead to come back,” Channon said.&nbsp;

The central bar has its own Doom Spiral-labeled cocktail napkins and coasters. Flipping over the cardboard reveals a quote from The Last Black Man in San Francisco.

The central bar has its own Doom Spiral-labeled cocktail napkins and coasters. Flipping over the cardboard reveals a quote from The Last Black Man in San Francisco.

In the 2019 film, the protagonist Jimmie Fails rides a Muni bus while listening to two people bash his hometown.&nbsp;

In the 2019 film, the protagonist Jimmie Fails rides a Muni bus while listening to two people bash his hometown.&nbsp;

“You don’t get to hate it unless you love it,” he replies.&nbsp;

“You don’t get to hate it unless you love it,” he replies.&nbsp;

This advertising firm’s Doom Spiral Bar is a cheeky message to San Francisco haters

Joel Umanzor

Eddie Sun

That was the question on everyone’s mind as a crowd of spectators and media gathered in front of City Hall for what was advertised as a walking tour of Downtown San Francisco’s blight and squalor.

That was the question on everyone’s mind as a crowd of spectators and media gathered in front of City Hall for what was advertised as a walking tour of Downtown San Francisco’s blight and squalor.

Curiosity about who put on the infamous $30-a-head walking tour of one of the most downtrodden pockets of the city drew dozens of people to the meetup. But after about 45 minutes of waiting past the expected 11 a.m. start time, attendees had no choice but to resign themselves to uncertainty.

Curiosity about who put on the infamous $30-a-head walking tour of one of the most downtrodden pockets of the city drew dozens of people to the meetup. But after about 45 minutes of waiting past the expected 11 a.m. start time, attendees had no choice but to resign themselves to uncertainty.

READ MORE: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/08/san-francisco-doom-loop-tour-set-for-later-this-month/">San Francisco Doom Loop Tour Charges $30 To See City’s ‘Squalor’</a>

San Francisco doom loop tour charges $30 to see city&#8217;s &#8216;squalor&#8217;

READ MORE: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/08/san-francisco-doom-loop-tour-set-for-later-this-month/">San Francisco Doom Loop Tour Charges $30 To See City’s ‘Squalor’</a>

Some debated who could’ve masterminded the event. Was it a grift? A stunt? A right-wing ploy to court controversy? A left-wing trolling operation?

Some debated who could’ve masterminded the event. Was it a grift? A stunt? A right-wing ploy to court controversy? A left-wing trolling operation?

The crowd dwindled until just a handful of people lingered, then just two. Eventually, a woman took matters into her own hands by offering to lead stragglers on a tour of her own—one that was ultimately much smaller than a counter-tour that offered to show people the best and brightest of the storied Tenderloin.

The crowd dwindled until just a handful of people lingered, then just two. Eventually, a woman took matters into her own hands by offering to lead stragglers on a tour of her own—one that was ultimately much smaller than a counter-tour that offered to show people the best and brightest of the storied Tenderloin.

So, the mystery remains about who masterminded the much-ballyhooed doom-and-gloom tour.

So, the mystery remains about who masterminded the much-ballyhooed doom-and-gloom tour.

But the self-appointed guide, who referred to herself as a journalist named Dr. Mia Morgan White and insisted she had nothing to do with organizing the Doom Loop tour, seemed eager to take the reins. A LinkedIn user under that name describes themselves as a Mensa member, broadcaster at Belle Media, “Master Mindset Coach” and alumnus of San Francisco State University who hails from Los Gatos and said she grew up on the San Leandro-Oakland border.

But the self-appointed guide, who referred to herself as a journalist named Dr. Mia Morgan White and insisted she had nothing to do with organizing the Doom Loop tour, seemed eager to take the reins. A LinkedIn user under that name describes themselves as a Mensa member, broadcaster at Belle Media, “Master Mindset Coach” and alumnus of San Francisco State University who hails from Los Gatos and said she grew up on the San Leandro-Oakland border.

READ MORE: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/10/san-francisco-doom-loop-tour-competing-walk-to-show-tenderloins-best/">Tenderloin Leader Organizes Walk To Counter San Francisco ‘Squalor’ Tour</a>

Tenderloin leader organizes walk to counter San Francisco &#8216;squalor&#8217; tour

READ MORE: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/10/san-francisco-doom-loop-tour-competing-walk-to-show-tenderloins-best/">Tenderloin Leader Organizes Walk To Counter San Francisco ‘Squalor’ Tour</a>

Earlier in August, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/08/san-francisco-doom-loop-tour-set-for-later-this-month/">news</a> of the tour set the internet ablaze. It started on Eventbrite, where a San Francisco Anonymous Insider offered to take attendees from City Hall to SoMa to view open-air drug markets and abandoned tech offices and hear the tour guides&#8217; opinions on how the nonprofit industrial complex factors into these issues.

Earlier in August, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/08/san-francisco-doom-loop-tour-set-for-later-this-month/">news</a> of the tour set the internet ablaze. It started on Eventbrite, where a San Francisco Anonymous Insider offered to take attendees from City Hall to SoMa to view open-air drug markets and abandoned tech offices and hear the tour guides' opinions on how the nonprofit industrial complex factors into these issues.

Earlier in August, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/08/08/san-francisco-doom-loop-tour-set-for-later-this-month/">news</a> of the tour set the internet ablaze. It started on Eventbrite, where a San Francisco Anonymous Insider offered to take attendees from City Hall to SoMa to view open-air drug markets and abandoned tech offices and hear the tour guides&#8217; opinions on how the nonprofit industrial complex factors into these issues.

The guides were described as an “urban policy professional, card-carrying City Commissioner overseeing a municipal department with an annual budget over $500m, and cofounder of San Francisco&#8217;s largest neighborhood associations,” according to the Eventbrite page where attendees could buy tickets.

The guides were described as an “urban policy professional, card-carrying City Commissioner overseeing a municipal department with an annual budget over $500m, and cofounder of San Francisco's largest neighborhood associations,” according to the Eventbrite page where attendees could buy tickets.

The guides were described as an “urban policy professional, card-carrying City Commissioner overseeing a municipal department with an annual budget over $500m, and cofounder of San Francisco&#8217;s largest neighborhood associations,” according to the Eventbrite page where attendees could buy tickets.

In the absence of those advertised impresarios, however, White led one other woman and a San Francisco Standard reporter on a 45-minute walk through SoMa, where the Los Gatos-based guide espoused partisan bents about the city while deriding people with addictions and without homes.

In the absence of those advertised impresarios, however, White led one other woman and a San Francisco Standard reporter on a 45-minute walk through SoMa, where the Los Gatos-based guide espoused partisan bents about the city while deriding people with addictions and without homes.

The women walked down Polk Street and onto 10th Street before heading down Mission Street to the area of Sixth Street before turning up Taylor Street.

The women walked down Polk Street and onto 10th Street before heading down Mission Street to the area of Sixth Street before turning up Taylor Street.

White—dressed in flowy dress pants and a sweater over a blouse—fielded questions and repeatedly referred to homeless people as “drug addicts” who are given narcotics by the city and are then refused care by a system meant to keep them on the street for financial gain.

White—dressed in flowy dress pants and a sweater over a blouse—fielded questions and repeatedly referred to homeless people as “drug addicts” who are given narcotics by the city and are then refused care by a system meant to keep them on the street for financial gain.

White, who said she was a journalist, broadcaster and TV producer, didn’t want to be recorded or filmed. But she wasn’t shy about sharing her opinions, telling The Standard she believed a network of felons has conspired to make millions of dollars by pretending to be nonprofit workers with Urban Alchemy and other community groups while ignoring those they claim to serve. She even went so far as to say that the workers themselves sell drugs on the streets.

White, who said she was a journalist, broadcaster and TV producer, didn’t want to be recorded or filmed. But she wasn’t shy about sharing her opinions, telling The Standard she believed a network of felons has conspired to make millions of dollars by pretending to be nonprofit workers with Urban Alchemy and other community groups while ignoring those they claim to serve. She even went so far as to say that the workers themselves sell drugs on the streets.

“It’s the new game,” she said, alleging that when formerly incarcerated people get out of prison or jail, they create their own nonprofits in order to get millions in city funds. “Now, we have a city with a $16 billion budget giving money where they want—the money always goes to criminals.”

“It’s the new game,” she said, alleging that when formerly incarcerated people get out of prison or jail, they create their own nonprofits in order to get millions in city funds. “Now, we have a city with a $16 billion budget giving money where they want—the money always goes to criminals.”

What prompted White to go to the event was to support the organizer—called SF Anonymous Insider on Eventbrite—and to offer her services as a tour host should the need arise, which it apparently did.

What prompted White to go to the event was to support the organizer—called SF Anonymous Insider on Eventbrite—and to offer her services as a tour host should the need arise, which it apparently did.

“I was proud of Anonymous,” White said. “I sent them a message online telling them I support their tour. While I was meditating, I thought to myself, ‘I’ll do a tour at the exact same time that says this is how they created this Doom Loop,&#8217; in case anyone thinks that Anonymous is some kind of disgruntled city employee lying. I have the pieces to the puzzle, and I can support them.”

“I was proud of Anonymous,” White said. “I sent them a message online telling them I support their tour. While I was meditating, I thought to myself, ‘I’ll do a tour at the exact same time that says this is how they created this Doom Loop,' in case anyone thinks that Anonymous is some kind of disgruntled city employee lying. I have the pieces to the puzzle, and I can support them.”

“I was proud of Anonymous,” White said. “I sent them a message online telling them I support their tour. While I was meditating, I thought to myself, ‘I’ll do a tour at the exact same time that says this is how they created this Doom Loop,&#8217; in case anyone thinks that Anonymous is some kind of disgruntled city employee lying. I have the pieces to the puzzle, and I can support them.”

When asked flat-out if she was the SF Anonymous Insider, she said she was not.

When asked flat-out if she was the SF Anonymous Insider, she said she was not.

While White regaled this reporter and the one other attendee about the ills plaguing Downtown, a counter-tour organized by nonprofit Code Tenderloin’s Del Seymour took off around the same time and drew about 80 people.

While White regaled this reporter and the one other attendee about the ills plaguing Downtown, a counter-tour organized by nonprofit Code Tenderloin’s Del Seymour took off around the same time and drew about 80 people.

Seymour—who has hosted walking tours in the Tenderloin for the past 17 years—aimed to emphasize, and even celebrate, the history and diversity of the neighborhood.

Seymour—who has hosted walking tours in the Tenderloin for the past 17 years—aimed to emphasize, and even celebrate, the history and diversity of the neighborhood.

He said turnout for this peripatetic protest of “Doom Loop” gawking was greater than his usual weekend tours and said the attention brought from SF Anonymous Insider&#8217;s Event contributed to the popularity.

He said turnout for this peripatetic protest of “Doom Loop” gawking was greater than his usual weekend tours and said the attention brought from SF Anonymous Insider's Event contributed to the popularity.

He said turnout for this peripatetic protest of “Doom Loop” gawking was greater than his usual weekend tours and said the attention brought from SF Anonymous Insider&#8217;s Event contributed to the popularity.

Dozens of people joined the counter tour celebrating the Tenderloin's history hosted by Del Seymour of Code Tenderloin on Aug. 26, 2023.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_2305.jpg?w=2500" alt="" class="wp-image-195410"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dozens of people join the counter-tour celebrating Tenderloin history.</figcaption></figure>

Some of the counter-tour attendees included organizers who are also involved in the Tenderloin community.

Some of the counter-tour attendees included organizers who are also involved in the Tenderloin community.

Mel Reyes, a Tenderloin outreach librarian, said the San Francisco Public Library system encouraged staff to participate in the celebratory tour to take the air out of the precipitating “Doom Loop” version.

Mel Reyes, a Tenderloin outreach librarian, said the San Francisco Public Library system encouraged staff to participate in the celebratory tour to take the air out of the precipitating “Doom Loop” version.

The counter-tour was still forthcoming about the issues affecting the Tenderloin, including homelessness and drug addiction. But Seymour also highlighted the community’s small businesses and diverse makeup while pointing out city programs such as subsidized housing units in the neighborhood.

The counter-tour was still forthcoming about the issues affecting the Tenderloin, including homelessness and drug addiction. But Seymour also highlighted the community’s small businesses and diverse makeup while pointing out city programs such as subsidized housing units in the neighborhood.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_2317.jpg?w=2500" alt="" class="wp-image-195412"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Del Seymour of Code Tenderloin hosted the counter-tour.</figcaption></figure>

Shavonne Allen, who walked with the counter-tour and organizes her own guided walks with the Tenderloin Museum, called the “Doom Loop Tour” marketing heartless.

Shavonne Allen, who walked with the counter-tour and organizes her own guided walks with the Tenderloin Museum, called the “Doom Loop Tour” marketing heartless.

But, Allen added, she felt reassured to see community groups and the public come together for the “Best of the Tenderloin” tour to dispel the “negative narrative” pushed by the rivaling tour organizers.

But, Allen added, she felt reassured to see community groups and the public come together for the “Best of the Tenderloin” tour to dispel the “negative narrative” pushed by the rivaling tour organizers.

Eventbrite and AllEvents—the websites where tickets for the Doom Loop Tour were sold—did not respond to requests for comment by publication time on what their policies are for when tickets are sold to an event that doesn’t happen.

Eventbrite and AllEvents—the websites where tickets for the Doom Loop Tour were sold—did not respond to requests for comment by publication time on what their policies are for when tickets are sold to an event that doesn’t happen.

Doom loop tour: With host a no-show, organizers remain a mystery

Julie Zigoris

At a time when leaseholders are pulling out of San Francisco buildings faster than Karl the Fog rolls into town, one could question the sanity of a massive investment in the Downtown-adjacent neighborhood of Jackson Square—a <a href="https://noehill.com/sf/landmarks/sf_jackson_square.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roughly six-block</a> area north of Union Square that has Jackson Street running through its middle and the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/how-a-once-hated-corporate-emblem-became-a-beloved-san-francisco-landmark/">Transamerica Pyramid</a> at its edge.&nbsp;

At a time when leaseholders are pulling out of San Francisco buildings faster than Karl the Fog rolls into town, one could question the sanity of a massive investment in the Downtown-adjacent neighborhood of Jackson Square—a <a href="https://noehill.com/sf/landmarks/sf_jackson_square.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">roughly six-block</a> area north of Union Square that has Jackson Street running through its middle and the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/how-a-once-hated-corporate-emblem-became-a-beloved-san-francisco-landmark/">Transamerica Pyramid</a> at its edge.&nbsp;

Why, then, is Michael Shvo betting <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/transamerica-pyramid-at-50-san-francisco-icon-enters-a-new-era-with-400m-redevelopment/">$400 million</a> on the future of the area?&nbsp;

Why, then, is Michael Shvo betting <a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/transamerica-pyramid-at-50-san-francisco-icon-enters-a-new-era-with-400m-redevelopment/">$400 million</a> on the future of the area?&nbsp;

Perhaps it’s because Shvo foresees a future for a thriving neighborhood built upon the kind of understated wealth that permeates the area in the form of pricey members-only clubs and high-earning employees who spend their salaries on inconspicuously bespoke garments.&nbsp;

Perhaps it’s because Shvo foresees a future for a thriving neighborhood built upon the kind of understated wealth that permeates the area in the form of pricey members-only clubs and high-earning employees who spend their salaries on inconspicuously bespoke garments.&nbsp;

Elegance, simplicity and timelessness are the hallmarks of “quiet luxury,” a fashion world term that has spilled out into popular culture—thanks in large part to the hit show Succession.&nbsp;

Elegance, simplicity and timelessness are the hallmarks of “quiet luxury,” a fashion world term that has spilled out into popular culture—thanks in large part to the hit show Succession.&nbsp;

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/westfield-gives-up-downtown-san-francisco-mall/">Westfield Gives Up Downtown San Francisco Mall</a>

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://sfstandard.com/business/westfield-gives-up-downtown-san-francisco-mall/">Westfield Gives Up Downtown San Francisco Mall</a>

The keyword is nearing <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/discover/quiet-luxury" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">40 billion views on TikTok</a>, and think pieces about the look are proliferating faster than scandals within the Roy family.&nbsp;

The keyword is nearing <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/discover/quiet-luxury" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">40 billion views on TikTok</a>, and think pieces about the look are proliferating faster than scandals within the Roy family.&nbsp;

Quiet luxury connotes the oxymoronic idea of minimalist wealth. The idea is that you invest in a small number of high-quality pieces that are unique and have enduring appeal.&nbsp;

Quiet luxury connotes the oxymoronic idea of minimalist wealth. The idea is that you invest in a small number of high-quality pieces that are unique and have enduring appeal.&nbsp;

Catherine Conway works from her desk at 11th State Custom Clothiers in San Francisco, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/INLINED01_PositiveDowntown05192023_0841-2500x1668.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-168726"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Catherine Conway works from her desk at 11th State Custom Clothiers in San Francisco. | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard</figcaption></figure>

It’s the term that Catherine Conway, founder of the 11th State custom clothing company, uses to describe not only her Jackson Square business but also the neighborhood itself.&nbsp;

It’s the term that Catherine Conway, founder of the 11th State custom clothing company, uses to describe not only her Jackson Square business but also the neighborhood itself.&nbsp;

“Quiet luxury 100% describes the area,” Conway said. “You just feel it.”&nbsp;

“Quiet luxury 100% describes the area,” Conway said. “You just feel it.”&nbsp;

Eschewing the banality of big-box department stores for customized, catered experiences might be the answer for retail and office space’s survival—and not just a solution, but the solution.&nbsp;

Eschewing the banality of big-box department stores for customized, catered experiences might be the answer for retail and office space’s survival—and not just a solution, but the solution.&nbsp;

Evan Krow—CEO of Wingtip, the social club that also used to operate the ground-floor shops at the eight-floor former Bank of Italy building on 550 Montgomery St. in the Jackson Square Historic District—believes high-end, unique clothing is the sole reason customers seek out brick-and-mortar stores.&nbsp;

Evan Krow—CEO of Wingtip, the social club that also used to operate the ground-floor shops at the eight-floor former Bank of Italy building on 550 Montgomery St. in the Jackson Square Historic District—believes high-end, unique clothing is the sole reason customers seek out brick-and-mortar stores.&nbsp;

“It’s the reason why people are leaving their house,” Krow said. “Otherwise, they’ll just buy&nbsp; online.”&nbsp;

“It’s the reason why people are leaving their house,” Krow said. “Otherwise, they’ll just buy&nbsp; online.”&nbsp;

The idea of quiet luxury—what the Jackson Square neighborhood exemplifies with its charming brick buildings and tidy storefronts—is not new.&nbsp;

The idea of quiet luxury—what the Jackson Square neighborhood exemplifies with its charming brick buildings and tidy storefronts—is not new.&nbsp;

Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2023/05/11382578/quiet-luxury-fashion-trend-succession-tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">have worn hundred-dollar T-shirts for decades</a>, and the neutral colors and simple silhouettes of “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/biancasalonga/2023/04/12/the-rise-of-quiet-luxury-and-why-it-is-here-to-stay/?sh=122abb5627ed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stealth wealth</a>” have been around for years.&nbsp;

Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2023/05/11382578/quiet-luxury-fashion-trend-succession-tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">have worn hundred-dollar T-shirts for decades</a>, and the neutral colors and simple silhouettes of “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/biancasalonga/2023/04/12/the-rise-of-quiet-luxury-and-why-it-is-here-to-stay/?sh=122abb5627ed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stealth wealth</a>” have been around for years.&nbsp;

Yet the idea is having a particular revival, specifically in the tech world, where engineers tend to value high craftsmanship and simplicity—and have the disposable income to pay for it.&nbsp;

Yet the idea is having a particular revival, specifically in the tech world, where engineers tend to value high craftsmanship and simplicity—and have the disposable income to pay for it.&nbsp;

The ultra-minimalist <a href="https://www.mrporter.com/en-us/mens/product/common-projects/shoes/low-top-sneakers/original-achilles-leather-sneakers/3024088872901549?cm_mmc=Google-ProductSearch-US--c-_-GOO:MRP:AM:US:CA:ENG:SEAU:PLA:-_-GOO:MRP:AM:US:CA:ENG:SEAU:PLA:SLR:MXO:NEW:MN:COMMON-PROJECTS:LV0:LV1:LV2:XXX:17:EMPTY:--GOO:MRP:AM:US:CA:ENG:SEAU:PLA:SLR:MXO:NEW:MN:COMMON-PROJECTS:SHOES:SNEAKERS:LUXURY_SNEAKERS:XXX:17:EMPTY:_AM&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;&amp;vtp00=GOOGLE&amp;vtp01=SEAU&amp;vtp02=19822006445&amp;vtp03=147730210715&amp;vtp04=&amp;vtp05=&amp;vtp06=pla-938526824304&amp;vtp07=&amp;vtp08=1014221&amp;vtp09=&amp;vtp10=g&amp;vtp11=c&amp;vtp12=651250149241&amp;vtp13=&amp;vtp14=pla&amp;vtp15=689070555&amp;vtp16=3074457345616696258&amp;vtp17=US&amp;vtp18=en&amp;vtp19=938526824304&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwsvujBhAXEiwA_UXnAG7FAxuRoSCUhaJ91GH5qh7naBJiRXQH7jbe8b2gSFtrKxkSbt25_hoCs74QAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Common Projects sneakers on Mr Porter</a>, for example, have achieved cult status with techies, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/tech-bros-are-so-over-sf-they-wont-even-wear-this-shoe-anymore/">taking the place of more affordable, pedestrian footwear</a>. The brand name doesn’t appear on the sneaker; instead, there’s a gold-stamped serial number. The cheapest pair runs $400.

The ultra-minimalist <a href="https://www.mrporter.com/en-us/mens/product/common-projects/shoes/low-top-sneakers/original-achilles-leather-sneakers/3024088872901549?cm_mmc=Google-ProductSearch-US--c-_-GOO:MRP:AM:US:CA:ENG:SEAU:PLA:-_-GOO:MRP:AM:US:CA:ENG:SEAU:PLA:SLR:MXO:NEW:MN:COMMON-PROJECTS:LV0:LV1:LV2:XXX:17:EMPTY:--GOO:MRP:AM:US:CA:ENG:SEAU:PLA:SLR:MXO:NEW:MN:COMMON-PROJECTS:SHOES:SNEAKERS:LUXURY_SNEAKERS:XXX:17:EMPTY:_AM&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;&amp;vtp00=GOOGLE&amp;vtp01=SEAU&amp;vtp02=19822006445&amp;vtp03=147730210715&amp;vtp04=&amp;vtp05=&amp;vtp06=pla-938526824304&amp;vtp07=&amp;vtp08=1014221&amp;vtp09=&amp;vtp10=g&amp;vtp11=c&amp;vtp12=651250149241&amp;vtp13=&amp;vtp14=pla&amp;vtp15=689070555&amp;vtp16=3074457345616696258&amp;vtp17=US&amp;vtp18=en&amp;vtp19=938526824304&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwsvujBhAXEiwA_UXnAG7FAxuRoSCUhaJ91GH5qh7naBJiRXQH7jbe8b2gSFtrKxkSbt25_hoCs74QAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Common Projects sneakers on Mr Porter</a>, for example, have achieved cult status with techies, <a href="https://sfstandard.com/arts-culture/tech-bros-are-so-over-sf-they-wont-even-wear-this-shoe-anymore/">taking the place of more affordable, pedestrian footwear</a>. The brand name doesn’t appear on the sneaker; instead, there’s a gold-stamped serial number. The cheapest pair runs $400.

Niche fashion line Isabel Marant—a French designer known for luxe, high-quality pieces—opened a 2,300-square-foot boutique in Jackson Square in 2015, what was then only the brand’s third U.S. location.&nbsp;

Niche fashion line Isabel Marant—a French designer known for luxe, high-quality pieces—opened a 2,300-square-foot boutique in Jackson Square in 2015, what was then only the brand’s third U.S. location.&nbsp;

Karl Theobald works on an item for a customer at his Little Prince Customs shop in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/INLINED02_PositiveDowntown05192023_0841-2500x1668.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-168729"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Karl Theobald works on an item for a customer at his Little Prince Customs shop. | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard</figcaption></figure>

The <a href="http://store.wingtip.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shops at Wingtip</a>, which became a separate entity from the social club six years ago, stand across the street from the Transamerica Pyramid and embody the kind of customized and unique look that goes hand-in-hand with quiet luxury. There’s the handmade head covers of <a href="https://littleprincecustoms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Prince Customs</a> that start around $100, the high-end <a href="https://bbmenswear.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">menswear shop B&amp;B</a> selling shirts in the $150-$300 range and the <a href="https://www.eleventhstate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">all-custom clothier 11th State</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The <a href="http://store.wingtip.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shops at Wingtip</a>, which became a separate entity from the social club six years ago, stand across the street from the Transamerica Pyramid and embody the kind of customized and unique look that goes hand-in-hand with quiet luxury. There’s the handmade head covers of <a href="https://littleprincecustoms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Prince Customs</a> that start around $100, the high-end <a href="https://bbmenswear.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">menswear shop B&amp;B</a> selling shirts in the $150-$300 range and the <a href="https://www.eleventhstate.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">all-custom clothier 11th State</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The setting of the Wingtip is anything but understated—the bank building opened in 1908 with Amadeo Peter Giannini at the helm, the financier who’s responsible for the predecessor to Bank of America—but its decadence makes it a destination. Positively dripping with marble and gilt, there are cabochon stones set into the walls and ornate molding. It’s a space that makes one feel elevated.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The setting of the Wingtip is anything but understated—the bank building opened in 1908 with Amadeo Peter Giannini at the helm, the financier who’s responsible for the predecessor to Bank of America—but its decadence makes it a destination. Positively dripping with marble and gilt, there are cabochon stones set into the walls and ornate molding. It’s a space that makes one feel elevated.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Business is uniformly good, according to the shopkeepers inside. Conway has officially turned the corner on the pandemic-caused downslope, Little Prince Customs is filling big orders thanks to Instagram fame and B&amp;B is relying on its loyal clientele to keep sales humming.&nbsp;

Business is uniformly good, according to the shopkeepers inside. Conway has officially turned the corner on the pandemic-caused downslope, Little Prince Customs is filling big orders thanks to Instagram fame and B&amp;B is relying on its loyal clientele to keep sales humming.&nbsp;

“Millennials don’t want to shop at big-box stores,” Krow said. “They want something unique.”&nbsp;

“Millennials don’t want to shop at big-box stores,” Krow said. “They want something unique.”&nbsp;

The cluster of niche, high-end businesses together in one space also has the advantage of cross-pollination. Gone may be the era of the department store, but there’s something else much more special to replace it—individual lines with individual personalities that can work alongside one another, offering what customers want without a one-size-fits-all approach.&nbsp;

The cluster of niche, high-end businesses together in one space also has the advantage of cross-pollination. Gone may be the era of the department store, but there’s something else much more special to replace it—individual lines with individual personalities that can work alongside one another, offering what customers want without a one-size-fits-all approach.&nbsp;

This may be the blueprint for retail’s survival, and even ongoing layoffs and bank failures could be good for the kind of shopping experience quiet luxury provides.&nbsp;

This may be the blueprint for retail’s survival, and even ongoing layoffs and bank failures could be good for the kind of shopping experience quiet luxury provides.&nbsp;

“When times are hard, people dress up,” Conway said. “They’ve got to show up when they go to work.”&nbsp;

“When times are hard, people dress up,” Conway said. “They’ve got to show up when they go to work.”&nbsp;

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-connective-tissue-of-social-clubs">The Connective Tissue of Social Clubs</h2>

<h2 id="h-the-connective-tissue-of-social-clubs">The Connective Tissue of Social Clubs</h2>

The bespoke nature of the businesses around Jackson Square echoes the proliferation of private social clubs in the area, all of which cater to a distinctive clientele looking for unique and personalized experiences.&nbsp;

The bespoke nature of the businesses around Jackson Square echoes the proliferation of private social clubs in the area, all of which cater to a distinctive clientele looking for unique and personalized experiences.&nbsp;

While Union Square retail anchors might be shuttering, the <a href="https://wingtip.club/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wingtip social club</a>, which has a $250 per month membership fee, is expanding. It currently occupies the top two floors of 550 Montgomery and plans to open a members-only bar on the first floor within a year (the move will push out the existing businesses, but most hope to move to a second-floor retail space in the same building).&nbsp;

While Union Square retail anchors might be shuttering, the <a href="https://wingtip.club/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wingtip social club</a>, which has a $250 per month membership fee, is expanding. It currently occupies the top two floors of 550 Montgomery and plans to open a members-only bar on the first floor within a year (the move will push out the existing businesses, but most hope to move to a second-floor retail space in the same building).&nbsp;

Pedestrians pass below The Shops at Wingtip at 550 Montgomery Street in San Francisco’s Jackson Square neighborhood. | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/INLINED03_PositiveDowntown05192023_0841-2500x1668.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-168732"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pedestrians pass below the shops at Wingtip at 550 Montgomery St. in San Francisco’s Jackson Square neighborhood. | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard</figcaption></figure>

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Search Results for: doom loop

This advertising firm’s Doom Spiral Bar is a cheeky message to San Francisco haters

Doom loop tour: With host a no-show, organizers remain a mystery

Next door to San Francisco’s flailing downtown, this neighborhood thrives on ‘quiet luxury’

The city’s ‘doom loop’ inspires Bay Area Banksy’s new art installation

SF’s most notorious neighborhood wants you to know how great it really is