Vasilios Kiniris (Photography by Guru Khalsa)
Meet Vasilios Kiniris, the Unofficial Mayor of Fillmore Street
19 September 2016
Oh, and he's also executive director of the Fillmore Merchants Association, overseeing its marketing efforts among other things.
Since 2014, Kiniris, who actually lives in Oakland's Rockridge, has been curating his midcentury and contemporary finds in the 4,000-square-foot space situated on Fillmore Street between Post and Geary, luring teensy-apartment dwellers, money-is-no-object techies, and everyone in between with "an egalitarian approach to everyday designs," says Kiniris, who opened Zinc Details with his wife, Wendy Nishimura, "to attract people who want to express their individuality through their furniture."
Bay Area aesthetes know the mainstay shop well—Zinc Details is rather a darling of the local design-minded press. Of course, all the accolades belong to Kiniris: He is Zinc Details.
But before the UC Berkeley architecture grad became one of our city's leading gurus, Kiniris was a kid hanging around his father's Mission grocery. "It's where I learned the value of customer service, the value of customers," he says. And while he never set out to become a store owner, "it just sort of happened."
Kiniris is a charming extrovert with impeccable taste, a love of good food, and a thing for hats, and he compares his mantra for dressing with his approach to interior design: "I start with quality basics and then add unique accessories for a personal touch." His typical look might include a great pair of jeans from Paige; shirts from Asmbly Hall, Brooklyn Circus, and Crossroads Trading; a blazer, scarf, and signature chapeau.
In case you didn't catch it, all those brands have shops on Fillmore Street. We told you he's devoted.
Design Philosophy
"Start with timeless pieces, and then switch things up with new accessories—throws, artwork. I don't think one's house should ever be finished."
Save From a Burning House
"I love my vintage pieces. I would grab this well-worn, cozy Danish leather chair—it's beautiful, with hand-sanded teak and so much soul."
Fillmore Eats
"Fillmore Bakeshop is family owned and everything is delicious; they're always reinventing things. Every Saturday, they have the most awesome bread—I don't even get it home because I've already eaten the whole thing."
Coffee Fix
"Espresso at Jane. I also like the vibe at Social Study, especially if I want to work on my laptop."
The Out-of-Towners Tour
"Lunch or coffee in North Beach, a stroll along upper Grant, and then the Filbert Steps, Coit Tower, and the Ferry Building. I time everything to land at Embarcadero Center at 5pm when the famous parrots gather to be fed."
On Fillmore Street
"At the end of the day, it's like a village. From Jackson Street to Eddy Street, there are 200 stores and 50 percent of them are small businesses. In the past, there has been the perception that there are two separate Fillmore Streets, and I want everyone to come to embrace the fact that there is one. The borders are artificial…we need to embrace all the flavors."
Great Escape
"Every year, we like to take a big trip—we may go to Italy, Japan or Scandinavia. Wherever I go, I am always shopping."