Sunset District native Carmen Lee wasn't into bars or clubs, but still wanted a place to hang out and relax with friends and strangers.
“Wouldn’t it be cool if there was an evening hangout spot where people could do arts and crafts together?” she remembers thinking—and she had a feeling she wasn’t the only one in San Francisco who felt the same way.
So she created it herself, a place to bring your crochet needles, your watercolors, a quilt you’re working on, or anything DIY. No matter the project, Sunset Commons is the place.
Sunset Commons(Courtesy of Kevin C. on Yelp.com)
”We are the neighborhood’s community-focused arts and crafts center and cafe,” she explains. “It’s a place where people can come to unwind, relax, and do something with their hands. We’re all scrolling through our phones or on our computers all the time, so having a dedicated space to give you permission to do art and make something is what we’re here for.”
Lee, who co-owns Sunset Commons with her husband Steven, has loved creating handmade things since she was a kindergartener, when she would work on art projects with her mom. But it wasn’t until she started crocheting a lot during the pandemic that something clicked.
”I was interested in business and I knew at some point in my life I would want to start my own,” she explains. “I realized the two loves of my life could come together: business and crafting.”
Despite Lee’s passion, starting Sunset Commons wasn’t easy. To cut down on costs, the couple did many of the renovations themselves with the help of friends, family, and a lot of YouTube video tutorials. “Starting your own small business is not for the faint of heart,” she says. “We don’t have kids yet and this business is our baby right now. But I really believe I can do whatever I put my mind to. Even if I fail, it’s a lesson learned.”
Carmen and husband Steven show off crafts made at Sunset Commons on Live in the Bay TV(Courtesy of @liveinthebaytv/@sunsetcommons)
The store itself offers a variety of art projects for purchase, from miniature diorama sets to crochet and wooden flower kits, so you can come in with no experience or specific craft in mind. Lee also offers plenty of crafting sessions, events, and workshops ranging from mahjong gatherings to watercolor classes, and even a BTS makers party. She encourages guests to relax, create, or just linger and grab a snack or a matcha from their small cafe counter.
”This is a place for exploration,” says Lee. “We have some of everything for everyone. There’s no pressure. Once you do one craft it can really ignite your creativity. You’ll realize how much fun it is to do and want to do another.”
Lee teaches some of the workshops offered at Sunset Commons and collaborates with local artists for others. “It’s been great to meet other local creatives who want to teach people their craft,” she says. “There was no space for them to do that before; now I have artists coming to me and reaching out. It’s been great meeting people who are just as open and driven to creating a magical, artistic experience and bringing it to life.”
Creating a place like Sunset Commons isn’t just about creating community through art for Lee, it’s also about remembering her roots, which are represented in the large, vibrant mural her sister-in-law painted on the wall at the shop/cafe entrance.
Grab a crafting kit and some herbal tea for the perfect screen-free night. (Courtesy of Sunset Commons)
“The most rewarding part of doing this is being able to give back to the community I grew up in,” she says earnestly. “I know Irving Street and this whole neighborhood like the back of my hand. I walked it growing up.” Sunset Commons was designed to be a legacy small business that invests in the neighborhood for the long haul.
”I needed this place. I wanted it for myself, so I figured there must be others who wanted this, too,” she says. “A lot of people come in and say they haven’t done any arts and crafts since they were kids. People really just want to reconnect with their creative side. Getting to see what people create is something I’m really proud of.”
// Open Monday 12:30pm-6pm, Wednesday and Thursday 12:30pm-9pm, Friday 12:30pm-10pm, Saturday 10am-5:30pm and 6:30pm-10pm, and Sunday 10am-6pm, closed Tuesdays; 1600 Irving St. (Inner Sunset), sunsetcommons.store
Arts and crafters can do anything from paint-by-numbers to crochet with a side of matcha at Sunset Commons.(Courtesy of @sunsetcommons)
