Chasing pavement
JOSH HARRIS • Bon Vivants Hospitality
WORK • Wednesday Routine
JOSH HARRIS • founder • Bon Vivants Hospitality (Trick Dog, Quik Dog, BVintage)
Neighborhood you live in: The Sunset
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I usually show up to the office around 10a, mostly so I don’t have to wait for the street sweeper to go by. I walk down the street to grab a bagel (plain cream cheese on a plain bagel) and, as of recently, a kombucha (for gut health!). Our office is a large bi-level warehouse space in the Mission district with great natural light. I like stuff, so the scene at the office is one full of stuff. For example, there’s a growing collection of colorful architectural pottery, lots of exotic animal statues from one of our previous bars, an abundance of sculptural items (many of which are ceramic, and made by children in the 70’s and 80’s), plus furniture and design samples for our upcoming restaurant Quik Dog (planned opening: Spring 2025).
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today I have a meeting with an investor, plus a call with our menu designer to brainstorm ideas for our next menu launch in January. I typically like to leave the office with enough time to get in a hard run on Mount Sutro before a yoga class at Haum with Jacqui (my yoga north star).
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Tonight I’m headed to Kitchen Istanbul with a couple friends after yoga. It’s a super cool neighborhood restaurant in the Richmond district, very close to where I grew up. The food is outstanding and has some shared flavors and dishes from my heritage. The wine list is widely regarded as one of the best in San Francisco. And if you go early enough, you can get ice cream after dinner at Toy Boat, a spot I grew up going to. I only go to about three restaurants in town and Kitchen Istanbul is one of them. (The other two are Original Joe’s and Han Il Kwan.)
How about a little leisure or culture?
I’m an ultra trail runner so pretty much the entirety of my life is dedicated to that activity. As luck would have it, I’m currently dealing with an injury and had to drop out of a race in the Marin Headlands. But I’m still planning to support one of my teammates who will be competing there. Usually on Sundays, I also hit a flea market in search of more stuff. This weekend I’ll be at the Alemany Flea Market, a true local gem.
Any weekend getaways?
Stinson Beach! I’m a big fan of West Marin; all the towns in that area are great. I particularly enjoy Stinson when it’s cold and rainy. Everything is super green, the smells are earthy and fresh – it’s the perfect place to get vert on the trails and then sit in front of a fireplace.
What was your last great vacation?
I spent this August in France. It was an incredible trip with three distinct chapters. I started in Paris with my wife to attend the Olympics and watch track and field. It was like peak joy for me! I never wanted it to end. But alas, I had to go to Corsica. Killer rock slab beaches, outstanding food, and good trails. Then I headed back to Paris for a couple days before meeting up with my running team to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime unsanctioned, unsupported, renegade endurance race. We traveled from Paris to Chamonix, where we started the race at 2a against 36 other teams. My team of six swapped legs every two miles or so for 35 hours and 27 minutes, ending 280 miles later in Marseilles. We stayed in Marseilles for a few more days (more killer beaches and great vintage shopping), before heading back to Paris and then home.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I recently bought what we’ve been calling The Quik Dog Adventure Wagon. It’s a former Swiss alpine fire rescue vehicle, 1990 Mercedes Benz 410 4x4, a big, red, stickshift vehicle with aluminum roll-up doors on both sides and the back. Huge wheels and tires. It’s completely one of a kind and is going to be great for trail adventures as well as Quik Dog events. In the meantime, I’ve been having a great time driving it around town.
What store or service do you always recommend?
My own side hustle, BVintage, where I sell vintage luxury watches. Watches tell stories of a bygone era and they’re instant heirlooms. If you’re looking for a gift with a sense of permanence, you can’t go wrong with a vintage Rolex.