Aldea Niños
A design-minded shop that caters to all of your baby needs, with stylish clothing, hand-picked toys, and unique, modern furnishings.
Alemany Farmers Market
Forget the farmers market at the Ferry Building, unless you just can't live without the high prices and the most fashionable vegetables. San Francisco's original 1943 farmer's market is where it's at. It was founded by the Victory Garden Council as a WWII ag-surplus depot! Rock-bottom cheap, we-picked-it-at-3AM fresh, it's where elderly Asian ladies swarm piles of fresh peanuts and carefully pick out the live chicken to bring home. It has flowers at unbelievable prices and a really stellar selection of basic fruits, nuts, tubers and vegetables, and exotic Asian produce. There aren't that many organic farmers, but there are some. Get there early for salad greens and Euro-American vegetables, as these go fast. The fish market is mixed but sometimes has good local catches.
Aquarius Records
An eclectic music store specializing in the best of many obscure genres, including drone, prog, psychedelic, indie rock, experimental, electronic, noise, black metal as well as many other international/cultural styles. While it has been a San Francisco icon since 1970 and has been located in different neighborhoods in the past, it is truly a Mission mainstay, and the staff is very knowledgeable and passionate about what they stock.
Aldea Home
A wide array of lifestyle accessories, bed and bath products and dining accouterments.
Good Life Grocery
People tend to have a love-hate relationship with this grocery store on the busy Cortland/Andover corner. On one hand, it's a fine, manageably-sized market with all the quality brands of pasta, meat, dairy, condiments, juices, vegetarian staples, etc. that you would hope for in a neighborhood with a significant upscale, foodie population. On the other hand, the prices are high, and it would be really nice to be able to purchase a razor blade or non-natural hair conditioner. Great wine selection and recommendations, though.