The closing of Whaley's Market in SoHo has me in a sad, blue funk. I live within short walking distance and eat/shop there regularly. The establishment's $5 sandwiches — "ham and swiss on rye, lettuce, tomato, a little deli mustard, please" — are an integral part of my diet. Same goes for the Best of the Bay-winning, FREE crackers and dip.
I never once went home from there with a poorly prepared meal or deficient ham on rye. Great produce, too. The Figi apples were my favorite. The BBQ. The pulled pork sandwich. Good stuff all around. And never once had bad service at Whaley's. That's saying a lot, folks. I'm not easy to please. I'm going to miss that place. I could count on it, y'know?
In honor of this fine family business that's been around for nearly 75 years, I'll shed a manly tear and offer a Top 10 list. I'm in a sentimental mood. Frustrated at the things I can't control. Yeah, well, like that sweet old song says, all I can do is write about it. Wish I could do more.
Top 10: Songs for Whaley's
1. "All I Can Do Is Write About It," Lynyrd Skynyrd
2. "No Surprises," Radiohead
3. "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye," Leonard Cohen
4. "Tears of Rage," Bob Dylan
5. "(I Know) I'm Losing You," The Temptations
6. "Are the Good Times Really Over (Wish a Buck Was Still Silver)," Merle Haggard
7. "Memory Motel," The Rolling Stones
8. "Hello Goodbye," The Beatles
9. "End of the Line," Traveling Wilburys
10. "A Lot of Days Are Gone," Hacienda Brothers
This article appears in Aug 6-12, 2008.