Long-standing Vietnamese grocery store Duc Loi will be under new ownership starting Aug. 15, according to its current owner, Howard Ngo.
Howard has run the store at Mission and 18th since 1997, alongside his wife Amanda, who is known for cooking massive community Thanksgiving dinners for the neighborhood. He says they’ll miss the Mission.
“I’m here seven days a week,” he said. “This is my home.”
He says Duc Loi will be moving to a new, bigger home in Bayview, at 5900 Third St., where the husband and wife pair attempted to expand in 2016 before closing in 2019 and not reopening throughout the pandemic. Now, Ngo says, they’re ready to reopen there.
The Ngos own the building at 2200 Mission St. and will continue to do so. But in Duc Loi’s place will be International Produce Market, which is owned by Ismael Ahmed through a corporation, Ish’s Community Market.
Ahmed has also owned and operated Evergreen Market nearby, at Mission and 21st, since 2021. Evergreen has been in the neighborhood for around 30 years, its past owner Jeffery Lee told Mission local when he put it up for sale in 2019. The new ownership has put significant work revamping and stocking what is now a large and well-provisioned market.
Ahmed said that while Duc Loi will remain a spot for Asian products, customers can expect “more diverse” options. He said Duc Loi’s famous banh mi sandwich counter, currently operated by current owner Ngo herself, will remain open “with some modifications.”
“We’re open to requests and comments from customers,” he added.
One Duc Loi customer, a Mission lifer who’s been shopping there for 20 years, said he wants its new owners to keep it the same.
“They should keep serving banh mi,” he said. “That’s what people come for.”
Ahmed also said there are no present plans to revive the pre-pandemic tradition of Duc Loi’s Thanksgiving dinners, which attracted hundreds of people who had nowhere else to go for the holiday meal. Amanda Ngo paid for those meals out of her own pocket, saying in 2011 that she did this because “This is my family. This is my home.”
Howard Ngo, 64, said he was excited about Duc Loi’s future in Bayview. The store has been a celebrated neighborhood staple — a 2009 certificate of honor from then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson hangs in the cramped upstairs office — and Ngo hopes the community will continue to support them in their new location.
Nicole, who works at neighboring restaurant Prubechu, said she’s happy for the couple.
“Good for them,” she said. “I’m gonna miss her.”
Samir, whose family runs City Smoke Shop across the street, said the same: Co-owner Amanda Ngo will be missed.
“She’s been here forever,” he said.
This article contains a glaring error: The Bayview location didn’t close because of the pandemic, it closed BEFORE the pandemic. The article linked is dated 2019. I know because I lived in the neighborhood and used to shop there. I attended the grand opening, ate a lot of their awesome banh mi’s, and was saddened by the closure. Amanda worked so hard to make it a good grocery the neighborhood needed, but they were being robbed blind. I really wish them luck in the new (old) location, but nothing in Bayview has changed enough to make me think things will be different this time. Mission Local, check your facts.
Being an Asian living in the neighborhood, this place has been my go to supermarket for my many needs. Very nice people, with a very diverse staff over the years. Thank you for everything and you deserve the best for the coming future!
I have known Amanda, Howard and Richard since 1998. They would give me free and discounted food to serve at the women’s needle exchange. They have been amazing pillars in the Mission community and have been so generous to all. This is another blow for San Francisco. I wish them much luck and happiness and success with whatever lies ahead. Robbie&Carmen
They are moving within the city, not closing (that’s the goal anyway)
One of the few Asian markets in the Mission. Bummer.
As two others pointed out, Duc Loi already had their store in that bayview location, and had to close. This was due to 1- not enough customers and 2- they had many thefts*.
* their theft issues, if anything, will be worse now, given the present SF climate of lawlessness.
Something doesn’t add up here…are they getting massive subsidies from the city to open there again?
Bayview had high hopes of improving starting around 2012, and it did to a certain extent. BUT around 2017-18 it started to peter out, and then the pandemic really did it in. So many newer places on 3rd st failed. Also there was a lot of incompetence and the city just throwing money trying to solve deeply rooted systemic issues the neighborhood (still) faces. Duc Lou was one of the more glaring failures, as is the HP shipyards, with all the contamination issues. It’s basically isolated new housing with zero commerce/shopping, and no easy connection to bayview or 3rd st. Big failure.
So, unless Luc Doi is getting some incredible subsidy, this makes zero sense!
Duc Loi is a comfortably clean, well-lit store like a Safeway, which isn’t to disparage the funkier ones in the neighborhood because they’re good also.
I wish them success at Bayview.
I am so happy to hear that they are reopening in the Bayview! It was wonderful having them while they were there. I hope there is a plan to figure out how to attract more shoppers this time. I wonder if the Bayview Merchants Association might have some ideas.
Hamilton —
I’m not entirely sure why you felt the need to write this comment, and I’m definitely not sure how you think it reflects well on you.
Yes, Duc Loi is closing. The next market there will have a different name and stock different items. Yes, the Ngos hope to reopen the other store on Third Street which has been closed since 2019. And, yes, the Mission store will be under new management; we quoted the new owner.
Again, I’m not sure where there’s any confusion here or why you felt the need to write such a condescending comment about a rather straightforward matter.
JE
The Chronicle article (https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/duc-loi-market-mission-closing-18289785.php) suggests it will contain the same stock sans sandwiches:
“The replacement will serve the same items as Duc Loi, minus the famous bánh mì — which Amanda Ngo was busy making behind the deli counter when reached by the Chronicle.”
Oliver —
That’s a good article by a good writer, but the new owner told us that the fare would be “more diverse,” which is not surprising considering it is a new owner with a different background. And, for what it’s worth, he said he *will keep* the banh mi. The point here is: The name of the store is changing, the ownership is changing and the new owner will bring in new goods and get rid of other goods as he sees fit.
So: Duc Loi is closing and the new place with a new name is opening. There is a new owner and Duc Loi’s present owners will attempt to re-open elsewhere. All of these things are true and were clearly spelled out in the article.
Yours,
JE
Used to be a favorite produce stop on my Mission rambles – hop off the bus right in front and continue the Mission shopping adventure. Wishing them all the best. 🤗