Electric car maker Rivian is planting its flag in Hayes Valley, opening up a space that functions as both a showroom and a place to “connect with your community” and “stay a while,” according to the company’s website.
This certainly isn’t the future we imagined, but it’s what we’ve got. It’s been a long time coming: We’ve been relying on tech companies to create online communities for over two decades, and in recent years, they’ve wormed their way into IRL spaces, too. The best example of this is Salesforce Park, a public park atop a Salesforce-branded bus station and adjacent to the towering behemoth that is Salesforce Tower.
On Saturday, the grand opening of Rivian’s new space, spread between the old Fell Street Auto Garage and two former auto body shops near Patricia’s Green, will feature live music, exhibits, lawn games, and goods for sale from local shops. On Sunday, the company plans to team up with LuxFit to host a workout at the outdoor gym, which has a location nearby.
“Each of our spaces is designed to become a part of the local community,” Tony Caravano, the community engagement head at Rivian, told Gazetteer SF via email. “In our Hayes Valley space, you'll find a library, a long table that doubles as a community gathering space, plenty of seating for people to stay awhile, and of course, our vehicles.”
Rivian has been working on this space since 2021. While it’s not clear who’s asking for a car-themed community center, if it’s going to exist, Hayes Valley is probably the right place for it. The neighborhood, dubbed Cerebral Valley by the tech workers who have been congregating there for the past few years, is also home to retail outposts for once-e-commerce-only brands like Warby Parker and Away.
“The Bay Area speaks to the heart of why we exist with tech innovation and sustainability at the forefront,” Caravano said. “Ultimately, we hope to be good neighbors and connect people to their communities and nature.”
Not every new innovative tech company has thrived in the neighborhood. Back in 2021, gadget store B8ta temporarily closed its Hayes Valley location after an armed robbery, and responded by hiring a $30,000-per-month private security guard equipped with a bulletproof vest. The location, and the entire company, shut down the following year.
Luckily for Rivian, it’s harder to steal a car than a gadget. And maybe their showroom windows will be spared because of the company’s commitment to community.
