San Francisco’s beloved patisserie Miette is bidding farewell to its iconic Hayes Valley location after 19 years, marking another significant shift in the city’s dynamic small business landscape. Owner Meg Ray has decided to relocate her charming sweet shop from Octavia Street to a new flagship store on Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights, citing challenging neighborhood conditions.

The decision comes after Ray experienced a dramatic decline in business, with sales dropping below 50% of previous years. “Every morning I had to clean human bodies and waste off my steps,” Ray shared, highlighting the mounting challenges facing small business owners in the area. Persistent issues like increased shoplifting and visible drug use ultimately influenced her difficult choice to move.

Miette’s original store, known for its pastel-painted, dollhouse-like aesthetic and delectable French macarons and cupcakes, will close on September 14. The new location at 2252 Fillmore Street promises to maintain the shop’s signature charm, featuring glass apothecary jars filled with cookies, macarons, and over 100 bins of Swedish Pick-n-Mix.

The move coincides with broader transformations in Hayes Valley, where reports of crime and homelessness have been increasing. Neighborhood dynamics have shifted, with drug users migrating from areas like Sixth Street and the Tenderloin, creating ongoing challenges for local businesses and residents.

Interestingly, Miette’s new location sits within a revitalization project led by local billionaire Neil Mehta, who has been purchasing properties along the Upper Fillmore corridor. While Mehta’s tactics have drawn some criticism, his plans to develop the area include creating an arthouse cinema and restaurant.

For Ray, the move represents both an ending and a new beginning. “I love Hayes Valley and will miss it and all my fellow merchants,” she reflected, encapsulating the emotional complexity of small business survival in San Francisco’s ever-changing urban landscape.

The shop will continue to operate its other locations, including spots in the Ferry Building, Oakland, San Ramon, and Larkspur, ensuring that Miette’s sweet legacy continues to sweeten Bay Area lives.