Newly Opened Le Marche Cezanne Is Dedicated To Sustainability, Freshness, And Its Locals

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Genuine personalized care, an artisanal assortment of handcrafted deli offerings, and an abundance of fresh seasonal produce precisely curated with utmost reverence- these are all what you'll expect and more at the sunny new Le Marché Cezanne in Potrero Hill.

Brilliantly owned and operated by devoted visionary Mario Rimet, this delightful addition at 1426 18th Street along the elevated neighborhood's brunch hotspot has become an instantly trusted landmark for locally-sourced, artisanal, and organic groceries and meals, all within a charming ambience that's bright and cozy.

See also: Feel Like "Emily In Paris" With Our French-Inspired SF Day Guide

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Taking inspiration from both his French heritage, and San Francisco's trailblazing culture of sustainability and conscientious local partnerships, Mario's Cezanne is undeniably authentic and modernly resourceful.

For over a year, Mario has been overseeing every detailed aspect of construction and planning for his store, which was all tremendously sparked by a simple initial visit to San Francisco. "I fell in love in the city after seeing the judgment-free culture here," Mario reflects, "I just canceled all of my plans to go back to France and decided to stay."

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After working at La Fromagerie, Mario decided to actualize his longtime interest in becoming a local food provider, elucidating, "I would always go to smaller grocery stores, and I love the food environment here. I knew I wanted to have a retail space." After plenty of location scouting and Zoom meetings, he came across one particularly unassuming venue up in Potrero Hill, which to Mario's masterful eye, was absolutely perfect.

"We visited this location at 2pm in the summer, and it was just so sunny and bright. Seeing the way the light perfectly hit the store, I fell in love." Fueled by the architecture's ideal setting and natural serenity, what followed was a year of persistent remodeling and hands-on construction.

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"We remodeled everything. My father came here for three weeks and we installed the floor together, tiled the floors, and made our "Local Market" sign, which was so fun."

His finished effort is a lovely nod to pastoral 1800's Provence aesthetics as captured by French painter Cezanne, all culminating in a November 2022 grand opening that has since only further amassed a beloved community following. And that's only the beginning.

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Mario's clear vision for Cezanne is to "recreate a French environment and the way we shop and consume in France." This means leisurely stopping in often for small items and a quick bite in a comfortable setting that, most importantly, emphasizes freshness and seasonality. By working closely with local farmers, small businesses, and other food providers, Cezanne ensures that everything in their stock is healthy, of the highest grade, and thoroughly gives back to their community.

Cezanne aims to encourage healthier lifestyles both nutritiously and for the environment, offering generous discounts for those who bring their own bags and cups, and for a section of items that are nearing their expiration date. Sustainability is also a prime priority, utilizing unpopular produce with cosmetic blemishes into their freshmade juices and other kitchen offerings.

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"Cooking is something that is so fun for me," Mario proudly shares as he explains the concept behind his shop's handmade cuisine. A variety of homemade breakfast treats, sandwiches, hummus, Gravlax, and more are all from Mario's culinary creativity, which as he supplements is, "the fun part- trying to create and think of new things every day." An engaging idea is also Cezanne's weekly recipe basket, which features flyers of different meals to make with their thoughtfully provided set of curated ingredients.

His joy for cooking and providing is consistently fueled by his returning customers, many of whom are drawn to the vibrant shop while waiting in line for nearby brunch. Cezanne's cute cafe window with Ritual Coffee and pastries from Neighbor Bakehouse now offers a more streamlined breakfast option where you can also shop while you wait. Such understanding of his neighborhood's demands and interests are what have blossomed Mario's fanbase."I'm very close to my customers," he gleams, "we have a solid customer base and it's increasing every day."

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Mario's future plans include developing catering, lunchboxes for schoolchildren, and even an open-air parklet that further captures the sunlight and their relaxed vibe.

Everything is truly hands-on with Mario's Cezanne, from every aspect for construction, to Cezanne's meals, and getting introduced to local businesses through grassroots networking and diligent research."It doesn't hurt to try," Mario affirms, and his wholehearted efforts have all definitely proven to be brilliant successes.

For all things fresh, friendly, and fast, a trip up to Potrero Hill's Le Marche Cezanne is worth every sunny step.

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Bonne vitesse, Mario!

See also: The Ultimate Guide To The Potrero Hill Neighborhood

This interview has been edited and condensed.