Surfside Liquors, a cornerstone of the Bayview Hunters Point community, proudly marks its 50th anniversary.

San Francisco, CA (LXMPED)—It's been 50 years since a Browntown, Florida, wine salesman bought Surfside Liquors in 1974 in Bayview Hunters Point, located in the southeast sector of San Francisco.

That very purchase of a California state liquor store on December 12th, 1974, at 10 PM, a 1980 vintage photograph of Robert “Bob” Pinkard and his daughter attending a father and daughter dance still hangs next to a bottle of Cook's California Champagne Brut White Sparkling Wine sold for $9.99 March 30th, 2024. The owner of Surfside Liquors, Mr. Pinkard, has kept the receipt and his promise to serve the community safely cellared away for fifty years.

Notably, Family Equity Partners and the city of San Francisco are celebrating that moment on Saturday, April 13th, with a unique Bob's Buyout day in Bayview Hunters Point. Pinkard's family and friends will be on hand to mark the event, as will the actual Gallo of wine bottles he still sells.

The historical items on that day will be displayed at the San Francisco Liquor and Hot Link store on 950 Innes Ave. In conversation with Lxmped, Mr. Pinkard discusses being a part of the Bayview Hunters Point Community, the growth of adolescents, and why our love for people is the most critical component of sustainability.

Where are you from?  

I'm from Florida, between Alabama and Georgia, in a small town called Browntown, Florida, which is considered Jackson County, Florida. It should be noted I grew up on a farm; therefore, I'm a farm boy. Apart from this, the closest town with a Post Office was Graceville, Florida. 

Where did you get your inspiration from? 

My mother, father, grandfather, and family are, without a doubt, the most important people in my life. In particular, one of my grandfathers was a principal in Florida, and the other owned a lot of land. Along with a Gainer Cemetry, my mother is a Gainer. Unquestionably, I have roots on both sides: mother and father. Moreover, I'm named after my grandfather. Importantly, we always owned our land and worked for ourselves.

Nevertheless, I couldn't believe everybody worked for somebody else when I came to California. We didn't have much, but we were owners. That's instilled into your heart. I didn't believe in renting. The house might not be the most fabulous in the world, but it "belongs to us." Maybe you could see wild creatures through the floor, but it "belonged to us." I never had an inside bathroom once I came to California. All the bathrooms were on the outside. "But we had love".

As my uncle told me, don't let nobody take the "J" out of your Joy. Without the "J," you have "Oy," nobody! It takes thirteen muscles to smile and seventy-two to frown. It's so much easier to smile and turn your head when you do it. Now, turn your head and frown. Give the body what it wants and that happiness. It's hard for something to grow on a happy, healthy body. I stay happy, and how many people come by here to see me happy, man?   

How has San Francisco shaped you?  

I shaped the community, but the community didn't shape me. I brought class, understanding, and love for humankind with me, but it didn't shape me. I gave them love that they never had. No store has loved my customers the way that I have. And I know this, and that's what they mean to me.

They can go into other stores and use profane language and say ugly things, and I tell them, "No, no, you can't do that with Grandpa." Could you clean it up? And if somebody decides to keep saying these things, let them know all money isn't good. To take that money to 3rd, where they only want your dollar. You can't bring it in here my wife and kids might be here. I am here, and your parents might be here. So that ugliness they can take somewhere else. I will tell them I know those words didn't come out of that pretty mouth. Did it now? And they would look at me and say, 'I'm sorry, Bob." I would say, "God bless you," and keep it like that. The parents would tell them, "You can't go down there acting up with Bob like that."

Subsequently, some kids grew up, "Bob, I took something out of your store. You caught me and sent me home. My mother sent me back down to work for you for nothing, and I want to thank you because I don't steal anymore. That makes you feel good. You don't have to go to the prison to ask them about Bob. You can go anywhere. I'm not all that; I'm just a child of God trying to tell everybody about somebody. Hopefully, that can save us all. That's my story.

Surfside Liquors, a cornerstone of the Bayview Hunters Point community, proudly marks its 50th anniversary. 

How did you get started? 

I worked for the Post Office and left to work for Coca-Cola. I then left Coca-Cola to work for Gallo Winery. As a representative for Gallo, my brother-in-law bought a store at 1015 Ocean Ave. I was a liquor salesman. So I asked the guy here if he wanted to sell the store. And he said, "Yeah, Bob, I have a lot of offers, but I want to sell it to somebody who would take care of my customers the way I have." And I still pray to God and ask that I have done what he wanted me to because he loved the neighborhood so much. Therefore, I bought the store at ten o'clock that night, December 12th, 1974. I was twenty-eight.

One of my best friends owned a liquor store in Fillmore called "Virgos." he and I worked together at Gallo. And I asked him how did he purchase the store. He answered that whenever you want one, you will get one. Have you ever heard of Two Jacks? Steven and his partner were the youngest black-owned liquor store I had ever known. They came from 399 Haight. Street Two Jacks Steven, the light-skinned brother he's the owner. Have you ever heard of Rappin' 4-Tay? His grandfather owned Ford's Liquor, which is 499 Haight Street. 

Who are some of your influences? 

Undoubtedly, my mother, father, whole family, and uncle. When I arrived in California, I had already reached my growth because I came from a very well-balanced family in Florida. I surveyed land for the Department of Agriculture in Florida, where I was a peanut inspector. In addition, I was a student driver in college. Conversely, all these jobs were recommended by my teacher.

First and foremost, I am so blessed to have a strong family that means everything. If you talk to Italians, "they say you don't want to mess with the family." If you hold up one finger, you just have a finger. You have a mighty fist when you ball up all of your fingers. I have a good, strong background. I never had to reach out for love. I'm surrounded by love.