With the establishment of many new homes in the Valley after the turn of the century came an equally increasing need for better local commerce.

Shops providing various goods and services opened along Leland Avenue and several blocks of San Bruno Avenue, later to be incorporated into Bayshore Boulevard, creating a permanent centralized business area for the bustling neighborhood.

Having arrived in the Valley in 1904, Charles A. Louis commenced a combined realty and insurance business, opening Leland Avenue shops which also sold dry goods.  Another realtor and insurance man, William R. Markt, also sold properties in the Valley.

Nearby was H.L. Diehl who operated his painting and paperhanging business on Alpha Street.
After their new houses were built, Valley residents could purchase home insurance from agent R.B. Hutchinson.

Advertising "crockery, paints, oils and glass" at his business was M. Anderson, whose hardware store was located at 34 Leland Ave.

Neighborhood residents had their choice of groceries, vegetables and fruits at the Bauman's Bay Shore Grocery on Leland Avenue, which also offered wood, coal, grain, gravel, rock, lime and cement, and operated a convenient drayage business.

Up the hill at their San Bruno Avenue store were the three Pantoleon Brothers who specialized in "fancy and staple groceries."

Handling the Valley's various pharmaceutical needs, Visitacion Valley Pharmacy competed with Bay Shore Pharmacy, which also served as U.S. Post Office Station 25 for the surrounding population.

Over on Campbell Avenue, local residents could purchase their baked goods at the Visitaicon Valley Bakery, or be fitted for a new suit by tailor L.J. Andersen.

Many motorists undoubtedly stopped at Bill Nutter's Service Station on Visitacion Avenue for expert crank case service, as well as deals on tires, oil and gasoline.

Those Valley residents not owning an automobile could catch either the 16 Third-Kearny streetcar northbound or the Visitacion Valley streetcar southwest to Mission Street from the Six Mile House.

For unparalleled entertainment, a family could go to the one and only Bay Shore Theatre which proudly proclaimed, "We show only the best pictures ... Come and see!"