Our purpose & mission:

We are a coalition of independent, locally owned and operated businesses committed to protecting the integrity and future of doing business in Hayes Valley.

We exist to:

• Protect, promote, and advocate for Hayes Valley’s small businesses – especially those that are independently owned, locally operated by families, and deeply rooted in the neighborhood.
• Preserve and enhance the economic, cultural, and neighborhood fabric of a diverse, local-serving business community.
• Leverage our collective power to engage with City agencies, policymakers, and neighborhood entities on decisions that directly impact our ability to operate, compete, and thrive.
• Participate meaningfully in public policy—from land use and permitting to transportation, public space, and economic development—to ensure that policymaking reflects the lived realities of small business owners on the ground.
• Defend our independent roots, including strong opposition to efforts that favor chain retail, monoculture branding, or destination-driven models over community-based commerce.
• Uphold and enforce the neighborhood’s longstanding ban on Formula Retail, and challenge any attempt to erode it …whether through legal, administrative, or community-based action.

We believe small businesses are essential to the health, equity, and resilience of San Francisco’s neighborhoods. Our goal is to ensure Hayes Valley remains a place where independent businesses are not just welcomed but prioritized.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER

HVSBA is unique in that we do not collect funding; we are 100% a volunteer organization.