Reader report: Truck scare in The Junction

Just out of the inbox from Doug (thank you!):

I just witnessed the strangest thing up at the Junction (at 11 am). A commercial truck totally cut the corner too sharp turning right off Calfornia onto Alaska, and the top of the truck banged into the neon Easy Street overhang.. leaving a big dent.

The truck then proceeded to back up– scraping it again. People caught in the middle of the “walk all ways” scramble had to dodge this guy– one lady was so scared she totally stopped in the middle of the intersection and stood there.

The guy drove off.. and parked about a block away. Several people (including me) walked over and got his license tag. Don’t know if he plans on going back over to Easy Street … but I’ve already called and given them my information.

We subsequently went down and got the photo you see above. Not major damage – a gash underneath the overhang. And it did appear the truck driver went back. 12:50 PM ADDITION: 2 more photos, these from WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, one with a different view of the dent, the second showing glass on the nearby crosswalk approach (which he mentions in the comments below):

cjboffoli January 10, 2008 (12:23 pm)

Seems no one bothered to clean up the broken glass all over the sidewalk. As I was just standing up there waiting for the light to change I pointed it out to a lady who had her leashed dog standing in it.

Bobo January 10, 2008 (12:41 pm)

Oh how horrible!!

coffee geek January 10, 2008 (1:24 pm)

LOL Bobo. ;) Could this ‘drive-by smashing’ be payback for window sticker vandalism? Conspiracy theorists unite!

credmond January 10, 2008 (2:57 pm)

Just came back from the Junction and there was a City Light truck working on the wires connected to the pole which is in front of Easy Street – wonder if the truck also brought down or shook down some wires. Glad to see that William’s business (BN) is about the same as pre-holidays – jammed as usual, more chocolates – as usual, more new pastries – as usual, still the best croissants and baguettes in the city. Saw the owner of Le Panier in there over Christmas, she was enjoying what looked like to be a Monsieur Croq… sandwich (croqueleque? what the devil does that come from – it’s the ham and cheese on baguette sandwich). Testing the competition?

OP January 10, 2008 (4:30 pm)

Shades of the Pergola.

Seems no one bothered to clean up the broken glass all over the sidewalk.

You expect too much of record store clerks to clean up anything outside, let alone inside the store, Christoper. ;-) (And that partly explains why I’ve only eaten there once.)

Aidan Hadley January 10, 2008 (5:02 pm)

Credmond: I’m also delighted with Bakery Nouveau’s success. But they really need to improve their transaction time because the lines are ridiculous. Having expediters come down the line assembling orders is great. But a lack of communication between them and the person ringing the stuff up slows the line down when you have to repeat everything in your order. Space is tight with all of those cases but it seems to me that they could fit two point of sale systems on that counter if they were motivated.

JumboJim January 10, 2008 (5:06 pm)

Sorry, Bakery No-go doesn’t have the best croissants in the city – at least not their almond ones. They’re soggy-bottomed. The ones at Le Panier (Pike Place Market) are better. In the end though, I don’t think either owner has anything to worry about.

Jan January 10, 2008 (5:48 pm)

credmond and others…looks like Met. Market is going to start having offerings from Bakery Nouveau…per their events calendar…about half way down in the green section…

http://metropolitan-market.com/happenings/index.php?chooseStore=admiral&Submit=go

flipjack January 10, 2008 (7:11 pm)

Yeah, I heard Starbucks is opening drive thru stand in BN’s bathroom.

add January 10, 2008 (7:28 pm)

flipjack – lol – good one!

Bobo January 10, 2008 (9:07 pm)

How horrible!!

Mags January 11, 2008 (8:58 am)

I agree that BN is the greatest, but they suck at line control. I never get helped in the order that I came in. Finally, last time I was there, they actually asked who was next. I think they should have numbers to take just to make it easier on themselves (and me when I crab at them that I was next because they have no clue). Plus, if you are the guy that isn’t next, why don’t you do the honorable thing and say,”Oh, I believe that person was next.” You know it wasn’t your turn.

m January 11, 2008 (3:24 pm)

They have been selling BN items in the bakery section of Metropolitan Market for at least a week now. I was there last Friday night grabbing dinner and there were a lot of pastries in the case from BN. Maybe people aren’t noticing they are for sale there or else they don’t look as appealing as they do at BN? I’ve never had their pastries so I don’t understand the fuss. One of these days I’ll buy one of their overpriced chocolate croissants to try it out though (croissants are cheaper in Paris than they are in WS- go figure).

Sorry, comment time is over.