Openings

La Boulange Readies in Noe Valley, Fights Pigeons on Polk

The La Boulange folks are moving quickly on 24th Street, but while the red tape of ABC protests and city inspections can’t stop them there, a bird has proven bewildering at another location. They’re currently hiring a manager for the former Noe Valley Pizza space and aiming for a late November opening after their liquor license protest got straightened out (turns out a neighbor was afraid they would have outdoor seating, but they don’t plan to). Over at the Polk Street store, however, things aren’t going so smoothly.

Last week, a pigeon moved into the alcove inside the top part of the front window, and refused to be shooed out. While the staff got a little mileage out of their uninvited guest by naming her Phyllis and offering pigeon-related deals on their twitter stream, they nonetheless had to evict her, capturing and releasing her in Golden Gate Park. Only she wasn’t their last tenant. Yesterday, manager Kate Lehman told Grub Street another bird (or possibly the same one) had moved in. “I don’t know what the draw is. They’re not eating anything. There’s a pastry case here but they don’t go for it.” Lehman said they’re considering putting spikes or some other pigeon repellent in the alcove. Poor Phyllis.

La Boulange Readies in Noe Valley, Fights Pigeons on Polk