Source: SFgate.com.
USA – SAN FRANCISCO – Wicked Grounds, San Francisco’s first kink-and-fetish-friendly cafe, art gallery and boutique, shuttered its physical space near the corner of Eighth and Folsom streets in SoMa on Monday afternoon after 14 years in operation.
Owner Mir Bilodeau, who has been at the helm of Wicked Grounds for the past decade, cited declining revenue amid decreased foot traffic downtown over the past couple of years but was adamant the organization will live on through virtual community events and in-person workshops and classes at other venues throughout the city.
Opening just before Folsom Street Fair in September 2009, Wicked Grounds was known for its strong coffee drinks and housemade soups and paninis served alongside a selection of S&M literature, bondage rope and studded gags. In 2019, the business expanded upstairs into a flourishing event space focused on BDSM education — including classes on navigating the community, doing kinky dating safely, overcoming shame, learning about consent and respecting other players — with classes regularly selling out.
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