Holcombe Jewelers

This post is part of “Past Meets Possibility,” a newsletter series by SF Heritage.

On August 1, 2025 SF Heritage published a Request for Concept Proposals to transform the Doolan-Larson House and Storefronts into “a dynamic, community-centered cultural destination.”

The rich history of this building, at the iconic corner of Haight and Ashbury streets, mirrors how San Francisco has rebuilt, adapted, and reinvented itself over time. Between now and November, we’ll share monthly highlights about this landmark’s past and encourage you to reimagine the building’s future. You can expect content about its architecture and its links to the counterculture movement, its notable businesses, and how SF Heritage has activated the building thus far.

We’d love to hear your vision for the Doolan-Larson House! Visit haightandashbury.org to download the RFCP, fill out our community survey, and arrange a visit.

Ever since Richard Doolan converted his residence into a mixed-use property in 1907, a wide variety of businesses have occupied the six storefronts, from a saloon to barbershops to clothing boutiques. While some businesses only lasted a few years–like Mnasidika, Peggy Caserta’s hippie boutique–others remained for decades. The longest-standing business at the Doolan-Larson Storefronts was Holcombe Jewelers, a family-run jewelry store that lasted from the Great Depression through the hippie years.

View of the Haight-Ashbury intersection in the 1960s, with Holcombe Jewelers at the corner.

Located in the building’s corner spot at 1500 Haight Street, Holcombe Jewelers had two owners: Max D. Holcombe (from 1937-1957) and his son Alex (1961-1988). Notably, Alex Holcombe was a crew member on the decoy plane for the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima during World War II. The first business at 1500 Haight was a saloon; when Holcombe Jewelers opened, their storefront retained the original saloon windows.

Holcombe Jewelers had ups and downs during its 51 years: in 1946, the store was robbed by two bandits, who took $3000 worth of jewelry (over $50,000 today). With the rise of the counterculture movement in the mid-1960s, hippie businesses began to open at the Doolan-Larson Storefronts, leading to the closure of several traditional shops.

Hippies on corner of Haight and Ashbury, 1967 (Credit: Peter Larsen) — Hippies at the corner of Haight and Ashbury, 1967. Holcombe Jewelers is seen in the background. (photo courtesy Peter Larsen).

Immediately after the Summer of Love in 1967, crime rose sharply in the Haight-Ashbury. Several hippie businesses, such as Mnasidika, closed. While Alex Holcombe had no issue with hippies moving to the Haight, he had to install steel bars across the jewelry store’s windows to prevent robberies. Nevertheless, Holcombe Jewelers remained open until 1988, sustained by its loyal customer base.

A sign from Holcombe Jewelers preserved in the attic of the Doolan-Larson House. SF Heritage photo.

Holcombe Jewelers sign see on the Doolan Larson House during a Peace March in April 22, 1972. OpenSFHistory / wnp28.3235.

Although Holcombe Jewelers has closed, remnants of the store’s impact on the Haight-Ashbury intersection can be found today. The clock above 1500 Haight Street’s storefront, installed by Holcombe Jewelers, is permanently set to 4:20, a cheeky reference to marijuana consumption left by the building’s last owner, Norm Larson. (Larson bought the Doolan-Larson properties in 1980.) Today, this pays homage to the counterculture movement that continues to shape the spirit of the Haight-Ashbury.