Quiet neighbors When the Richmond (615 Balboa, SF. 415-379-8988) opened a month ago, it did no promotion. No ads in newspapers, no Web site, no listings in the Yellow Pages. "We wanted a soft opening," manager Josh Weeks explained. Nevertheless, the 11 tables at this New American cuisine restaurant – which features owner John Owyang behind the grill – have been full every night. So far, the customers typically live in the neighborhood. The Richmond is depending solely on the quality of its food and word of mouth. (Chellis Ying)

Storefront shuffle Worried by the sudden disappearance of Lisa Violetto (3932 24th St., SF. 415-341-8442) from Castro Street? Don't worry. The upscale housewares and gift shop hasn't gone belly-up – it's merely relocated to Noe Valley. Owner Lisa Violetto's fun-filled boutique is full of bags and scarves hand-made by California and San Francisco artisans. According to the staff, the move has brought them much more foot traffic than the old location did. (Velazquez)

Got a tip? E-mail biztips@sfbg.com.