City Encourages Residents to Shop on Telegraph Avenue

and the loss of and — both Berkeley staples — marks another blow for Telegraph Avenue. 

The shopping area adjacent to the UC Berkeley campus has already been struggling to compete with nearby retail outlets like Bay Street in Emeryville, as well as dealing with customers being lured away by online shopping.

The intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street represents many of the area's woes:  since 1982 without any sign of development in sight, and now .

"It's a huge blow," Michael Caplan, the city's economic development director, told the San Francisco Chronicle Monday. "It's a tough time right now for Telegraph."

Telegraph Avenue while the city determines if and when the building at 2442 Haste Street will have to be demolished. 

Meanwhile, the city is urging shoppers to spend their money on Telegraph Avenue and help bolster small businesses suffering from the fire, street closure and general economic malaise.

"I'm really hopeful people will take a moment to think about those merchants," Caplan said. "The shop owners will be hugely appreciative."

What's your favorite store or restaurant on Telegraph Avenue? Will you be doing your holiday shopping there? Let us know in the comments.