It wasn’t with a bang, but with a whimper.
Yesterday, the Mission Street buildings that once housed Cole Hardware and Playa Azul — structures that were hollowed-out by the devastating fire last June — were finally demolished.
Neighbor Valerie took the blue-sky photo above later in the day, when work was wrapping up. Yet earlier in the morning, Neighbor William shared these photos taken just as the demolition was getting underway:
It’s a sad (if inevitable) spectacle, and the void that’s left behind is a glaring symbol of the sadness many Bernalese feel at the loss of two esteemed neighborhood institutions.
PHOTOS: Top, Neighbor Valerie. Below, Neighbor William
Bernalwood 
Sad. And bummed to go to Lowes for the things I used to get at Cole’s. Come back soon, Cole Hardware!
I so agree with your statement greengirlSF!!! I pondered the same fate with much sadness and angst too. I loved shopping at Ace and always got a kick of Playa Azul.
Go to DBS instead!
*The tone of my last comment was supposed to convey enthusiasm for Discount Builder Supply as an alternative, not to say “you’re a dummy for going to Lowes.”
Thanks! I will check out DBS! Glad you explained what it stands for as that was going to be my next question. 🙂
Discount Builders is the best. Very knowledgeable staff.
Cole Hardware has 3 other locations in SF and 1 in Oakland.
That’s not the same. This one was in our own neihborhood.
+1