Sunday, July 12, 2009

FYI: Sketch is not going out of business...

As many of you well know, were expecting our first baby in about 4 weeks. Its a very exciting time in our lives and it brings us bittersweet news to let you know that Sunday, July 26th will be our last day on Fourth Street as a retail location. Its been a great 5 years getting to know many of you (many by name, some by facial recognition, some by their consistent ordering patterns,etc. ) and seeing many of your children grow from the womb on up to being able to see over the counter :P

Sketch was our "first baby" and all the heart, love, soul and energy we put into that we'd like to re-focus and give to our child. Family always comes first with us! Sketch isn't disappearing...it's just taking a lil break from the retail aspect. We look forward to serving you our goodies (candies, pastries, sauces/fixins, ice cream cakes and other custom orders) via online!!

From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank you for your patronage and support!

Eric & Ruthie

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh no! And here I am up in Canada still. Wondering whether it's worth coming back now.

How late will you be open on the 26th? I may try to drive back before you close...

Anonymous said...

Can we have our last Earl Grey Icecream on 4th Street,we will miss you very very much, thank you for bringing us so many beautiful memory.

Jack B. said...

I'm sorry to hear about your closing. Because I live in the South Bay, I've only been to your wonderful shop about 6 times since 2006...but I've always raved about you to my friends in SF and the East Bay!

I work in the Biotech industry by day, but I just recently closed a gift shop in SF that I've co-owned with a business partner since 2001. Times are tough, but you two are talented and will most likely succeed in your future plans.

Congratulations on your upcoming family addition though, and please keep fans (like me) in-the-loop regarding your next offerings!

Take care,
Jack

Anonymous said...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!



but congrats!

a-bird-called-raven said...

I second that: Noooooooooooooooooooooo! We will miss you guys! Peter & Peter

Seri L said...

I guess that means I'll have to order earl grey ice cream cakes when I need a sketch fix. :)

I'll be stopping by as much as I can before the closing date. Be warned: if earl grey is available, I will probably buy 5 pints. Or more.

We will miss you guys!!! Best wishes and keep us posted on your baby!! :)

renn208 said...

Will you two still be available for the occasional "commission"? I'm going to be very :sadface: if you go into hiding for too long.

Congrats though on the baby! You both deserve all the best!

AJ & Steph

Anonymous said...

Hi guys -- Owen, Willem and I are at the beach in North Carolina throwing away our ice cream half eaten, having been ruined by YOU only to discover you're taking a break!? We'll be there eating everything in sight in your last week & will miss you terribly. But very excited about the baby! xo

Anonymous said...

I can't tell you how sad this makes me. Your ice cream is the best I've ever had by an enormous margin. I'll miss it very much. Best of luck to both of you, and congratulations on your transition to parenthood!

Tea said...

Very best to you in this new adventure, and many thanks for all the sweet memories. We'll be here waiting, if you'd ever like to pick up the ice cream scoop again.

Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, earl grey ice cream today.^^

Anonymous said...

Will go eat my favorite ✿ earl grey tea ice cream today with my best friend.^^

Marty said...

Earl Grey seems to have a following but my favorite is Lavender. Congrats on the baby. I'll miss you and your great ice cream flavors.

Anonymous said...

Love the blackberry,too.The comination of blackberry & vanilla is so good, the color is pretty,too.^^

Sketch said...

Its been great to see many of you coming in (for early grey :P)....adam, we don't really know what to expect on Sunday, but coming early might be better than coming later. If we don't get to see...thank you!

Thanks to all of you!

The Weekender said...

To Eric and Ruthie!

It was great seeing you on 4th Street. I know we know each other only by face. But we're the couple that got married the same year as you..and now we're both having babies around the same time as well. We wish you the very best and most of all a healthy and smooth delivery of your baby to come. Hopefully one of these days, we'll bump into each other again with our babies grown and playin together at a park or something. Goodluck!

Michael & Carolyn Sacramento

RachelB said...

Gentle and congratulatory hugs to you both, and I wish you an easy delivery! We'll miss your bricks-and-mortar store.

Unknown said...

Congrats Ruthie & Eric:)! I haven't been back for years since I moved to southern california for school :T. I'm still here in so cal & am wishing I was back in alameda so I could stop by for one last frozen treat & yummy baked goods:(.

congrats again:)!!

-quan:)

Donald Lobo said...

hey eric and ruthie:

congrats on your baby. its definitely a life changing event :) We'll miss you and also the wonderful treats.

good luck. I'll be driving back from seattle that days (mari and the girls will still be in seattle). i'll try to get in before 5:00 pm to get one last scoop

we are so so so sad :(

lobo

Unknown said...

I'm so sorry to hear your store front is closing. Good luck with the next stage of your venture and the coming baby.

Anonymous said...

As a longtime fan, I'm sorry to see you go from 4th St.

Wish you the best on your online venture and more importantly, your new addition!

Unknown said...

I will sooooo miss you! After learning what spectacular ice cream you have from Michelle, I will never be the same. Will you be offering your tasty lace cookies online?
(ihsoyika@gmail.com)
joyce

Juanita said...

Eric and Ruthie!!! I am so excited and happy for you. I'm still working in Korea, but I'm sure you were able to see Chris before you closed. I was looking over your blog to congratulate you on being mentioned in the New York Times Magazine just to find out you're closing! I wish you both the best of luck :)

Please tell me that your granita will be available to order when I get back next year! I don't know what I'll do without it!

<3 Juanita

Anonymous said...

Don't be sad people! Ici isn't that far and their ice cream is much better and they also have creative, fresh yummy flavors.

RookieMom Heather said...

I've been living under a rock (or actually working in SF) and just realized you're gone from 4th street. I hope that we'll see each other soon. Best of luck for a safe and healthy labor and baby.

xo

Natasha said...

Ruthie and Eric,

We returned from a long summer vacation, made a bee-line for Sketch, only to find you gone! Our eldest daughter was truly heartbroken, sure that the closure was a sign that the world was coming to an end. I tried to reassure her, saying maybe it was for a good reason, like starting another business, or maybe Ruthie and Eric were having their baby. So we checked out your blog when we got home, and lo and behold, I was right! Yay! (I mean, not just yay about being right, yay about your baby!) By now your baby must have been born, and we hope all is going well for you three. I'm sure you were lobbied to name a son "Earl Gray" or a daughter "Jasmine Granita"...what did you decide?

Indeed, you saw our girls grow, from ages 8 and 11 when they first met you, to well over the counter height now at 13 and 16! We came to Sketch to celebrate end of school, first day of school, victories at lacrosse, birthdays, weekends, and to buy stocking stuffers and Christmas presents. How will we manage without you?

Actually, today Julia (the elder daughter) is making blackberry ice cream with berries we picked at Point Reyes, and last week she made Pavlovas (meringue topped with peaches and blueberries), so she's carrying the torch in your absence...and is ready to apply for a job with you when you start up somewhere again! :-)

With all due respect to the previous poster who prefers another place, you two are irreplaceable - both the quality of your sweets, and the sweetness of your smiles. We love you!

Helen & Freddie said...

Well, here I bring my best friend from L.A. only to find you were gone!!! My heart sank when I saw a foreign awning. Can not be!!!

Many congratulations on the new baby, and here's to a bright and yummy future.

Devoted fans,
Helen and Freddie Lee

Anonymous said...

The BEST handmade ice cream in Berkeley. Attention to details in so many aspects...we love coming in there and are new to the area !!! Please let us know when you will be up and open again. Congrats on your baby !

Unknown said...

Eric and Ruthie—
I don't know if you'll remember us by name or not, but we have cherished your store—and seeing you—since my daughter Lucie and I chanced upon you the day you opened. You might recall that my wife Diana and I were particular fans of your plain yogurt ice cream, and I loved your candied meyer lemon peel. Your ice cream and desserts have graced many family occasions, and I'm happy to learn you're still selling online. By now your baby is no doubt here, so congratulations and all best now and in the future. Eric La Brecque