A Bay Area casino magnate has won a whopping victory against his former attorney for allegedly spoiling his purchase of part of a San Jose card room. A Sonoma County Superior Court jury announced a $47.4 million verdict for businessman John Park on Feb. 3. The jury found the defendant, Park’s former lawyer Tracey Buck-Walsh,...
Cannabis could be coming to San Jose retail centers
San Jose cannabis enthusiasts may be starting the year off on a high. On Wednesday, the Planning Commission approved recommendations to change zoning laws for cannabis retailers that would allow up to 21 new dispensaries in commercial locations around the city. Sixteen dispensaries are allowed under current city regulations. Under the new policy, 37 total...
The Biz Beat: San Jose’s Cup and Saucer serves up comfort food
Before coffee shops became synonymous with overpriced beverages sold in foreign-sounding cup sizes, they were places where the neighborhood met for casual dining. The staff knew what every frequent customer liked and would send their regular order to the kitchen without asking. San Jose’s Cup and Saucer is that kind of place, where a great...
Santa Clara County wants to empower minority-owned businesses
Santa Clara County is launching a disparity study to level the playing field for minority-owned businesses. The county wants to be more inclusive by identifying underrepresented businesses facing language and cultural barriers that have been left out in the past. Dennis King, executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley, said organizations that get...
San Jose commission says city should not allow billboards at airport
A city commission is recommending San Jose not proceed with building two digital billboards at Mineta San Jose International Airport. The San Jose Airport Commission voted 5-1 Wednesday to reject the project for a myriad of reasons, including concerns over community pushback, light pollution, energy use and transparency throughout the process. But commissioners also voted to accept...
San Jose wants feedback on downtown transportation plan
Downtown San Jose could look very different in 30 years. There could be more two-way streets, bicycle lanes and faster light rail. The future is being planned right now, and residents are invited to join. The city is working on a transportation plan for downtown San Jose, and wants feedback. The city’s goal is to create...
The Biz Beat: Kyoto Palace in Campbell still reigns after more than 40 years
The clang of the chef’s utensils delight as he twirls and flips them in the air, sending bits of egg for his customers to catch in their mouths. On the steaming griddle, he draws a rooster out of egg yolk to children’s squeals. This is part of Kyoto Palace’s renowned dinner and a show, but...
Santa Clara quietly settles lawsuit with chamber of commerce
This time last year, Santa Clara publicly threatened to sue its chamber of commerce for nearly $600,000 it claimed the city was overcharged—but the two sides quietly settled the dispute for about half that amount last fall. The city and the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce reached a settlement that requires the business group to pay the...
Parking fees at Santa Clara County mall upset shop owners, employees
Retailers and restaurant owners at Westfield Valley Fair shopping mall are circulating a petition against a new paid parking policy. The shopping center’s parking program, scheduled to start Feb. 8, would charge people working at Valley Fair $40 per month or $3 per day, which adds up for those earning a minimum wage. A petition...
The Biz Beat: CamBinh Nguyen keeps Vovinam martial arts alive in San Jose
On a chilly January evening, a group of students stood in formation and practiced their routine in Master CamBinh Nguyen’s backyard. She looked out from a gazebo surrounded by medals and trophies and recalled the many years she’s spent teaching generations of San Jose students the principles of Vietnamese martial arts, Vovinam. “It’s not easy—this job requires your heart, your...