Author: Mark Ritchie (Mark Ritchie)

San Jose and Santa Cruz have had a symbiotic relationship in commerce and leisure since the non-Indigenous modern founding of both regions in the 19th century. From mass clear cutting redwood logging to the tourism boom of early days to the tech boom of today, if you still believe that is going on. It is....

I have a quip that I have used on occasion when found stuck on a vexing matter or facing a difficult client: “I can guide the raft down the river, but I cannot straighten out the canyon.” Obviously, this refers to the fact that certain matters of business physics are not changeable and eventually we...

No, this is not about the cholesterol, but a metaphor. Although I do hope my cardiologist does not subscribe to this column. I spend each week drifting between San Jose, San Francisco and Santa Cruz for my business life, as well as community, political and social events. It’s also a great cover for a surfing...

The best bet ever made with public money in the glory days of the San Jose Redevelopment Agency (RDA) was the $35 million subsidy used to lure Adobe Systems headquarters from Mountain View to downtown San Jose in 1994. Maybe the best bet in any city in America. As we lick our wounds from the...

I am honored to make my first contribution to San José Spotlight. My name is Mark Ritchie, I am the second-generation owner of regional commercial real estate brokerage firm Ritchie Commercial. We are the last privately owned regional commercial real estate service company in the Bay Area. I live and work in both San Jose...