The quaint character of downtown Willow Glen stores and eateries is re-emerging, even though the COVID-19 pandemic hit businesses hard. Last week, tree-lined Lincoln Avenue, between Minnesota Avenue and Willow Street, saw foot traffic increase as customers wandered into retail boutiques like Bella James, to paint pottery at Petroglyph or shop for gifts and lunch...
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Different hiring experiences for San Jose coffee shops, eateries
The solution to the ongoing labor shortage might seem as simple as paying employees more, but “more” isn’t always available. In the restaurant industry, budgets are straining to cover the increased costs of ingredients due to widespread shortages. That doesn’t necessarily translate to passing costs onto customers. For some businesses the answer isn’t that simple. “You...
Commercial real estate investments soar in Silicon Valley
Commercial real estate sales boomed in Silicon Valley last quarter, but vacancies remain high throughout the region. A surge in investment activity between July and September brought year-to-date aggregate commercial real estate sales in the South Bay to $6.3 billion. That’s the highest sales volume for the region since 2015, according to a new report...
San Jose’s tourism arm reports zero dollars in revenue
Team San Jose, a nonprofit that manages the city’s arts and cultural centers and tourism, reported zero dollars in revenue this past year, demonstrating the COVID-19 pandemic’s tremendous impact on the local economy. “We were closed by county mandate for the majority of the year,” spokesperson Frances Wong told San José Spotlight. “With a closed convention center and closed...
San Jose’s The Alameda reawakens to sounds and tastes of Second Saturdays
A crowd sat at tables outside Hop & Vine on The Alameda enjoying tapas, craft beer and wine on a warm fall evening, while musician John Vicino played guitar and sang Prince’s “Raspberry Beret.” The Alameda, a historic three-mile stretch of road that links downtown San Jose to Santa Clara, is adding some flair and...
San Jose sidewalk construction causes pedestrian safety concerns
Prolonged construction on a busy Santana Row intersection has frustrated some locals who say it poses a threat to pedestrian safety. Resident Benjamin Reed told San José Spotlight he contacted the city months ago about construction on the corner of Winchester Boulevard and Olsen Street, as well as Santana Row and Stevens Creek Boulevard. He...
San Jose VTA backed off promise to hire diverse firms, activists say
Civil rights groups claim VTA backpedaled on a pledge to give substantial contract work to local minority-owned businesses on a major infrastructure project. The leader of the San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP sent a letter to VTA CEO Carolyn Gonot on Oct. 28 complaining the agency assured the NAACP, the Asian Law Alliance and La Raza...
Digital food hall could be economic boon for downtown San Jose
San Jose business leaders have high hopes for a digital food hall to spice up the heart of downtown. City Storage Systems, a real estate company owned by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, is constructing a new location for several delivery-oriented restaurants in downtown San Jose. The historic building at East Santa Clara and South Third...
San Jose entrepreneur pushes city to allow cannabis events
A San Jose entrepreneur wants the city to expand its horizons and allow special events at museums, concerts and comedy clubs where adults can smoke, drink or eat cannabis products. Fernando Alvarez, founder of VaporTent Lounges, said the city is missing out on an economic policy he’s helped other California cities craft. One that allows organizers...
Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna’s campaign to pay $16K to FEC
A San Jose congressman’s campaign will pay $16,000 to a federal watchdog for using software that divulged donor history for fundraising purposes. The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) reached a settlement with Rep. Ro Khanna‘s campaign to pay for using information from the commission’s database to send people emails during his 2014 and 2016 runs for...