Owner Richard Hobbs said that when he purchased Peanuts Deluxe Cafe in early 2025, he had more in mind than simply renovating the popular but “fully dilapidated” restaurant across from San Jose State University by slapping on a coat of paint and installing new booths and tables. “I thought this would be a golden opportunity...
Fourth annual Lowrider Day returns to downtown San Jose
Lowriders will cruise into downtown San Jose this weekend, bringing a piece of East San Jose’s Chicano culture to City Hall for an afternoon of custom cars, music and celebration. San Jose Lowrider Day returns Sunday for its fourth year, marking the anniversary of the City Council’s decision to repeal a decades-old cruising ban. The celebration...
New fire station opens in downtown San Jose
One of San Jose’s busiest fire stations has a new, state-of-the-art facility in downtown that will better serve its firefighters and residents. The San Jose Fire Department, city leaders and neighborhood residents on Thursday celebrated the opening of Fire Station 8 at 601 E. Santa Clara St. The previous fire station, located a few blocks...
San Jose officials to weigh new name for downtown plaza
A name change for one of downtown San Jose’s most recognizable public gathering places is moving closer to a decision, after thousands of residents weighed in on what the plaza should be called. The Parks and Recreation Commission on Sept. 2 is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council on renaming Plaza de...
Downtown San Jose venue faces closure after permit denial
Representatives for a late night venue in downtown San Jose said their business may close for good, after the City Council declined to grant a permit to stay open after midnight. San Pedro Social, located on Santa Clara Street, closed its doors in June, citing financial troubles brought about by its inability to tap into...
San Jose’s Circle of Palms is losing its iconic trees
Ice skating in downtown San Jose won’t be the same this holiday season, after losing its iconic namesake. Crews began removing all 32 palm trees from the Circle of Palms on Thursday, after a city arborist found none of them were healthy enough to keep. Work is expected to continue for the next several days....
Second downtown San Jose venue shutters amid permit battle
Another late night venue in downtown San Jose has temporarily closed its doors amid bureaucratic wrangling over operating permits. San Pedro Social, a Santa Clara Street establishment that opened in 2022, announced the closure in late June, citing a need to cut expenses amid a protracted effort to obtain permits that would allow the venue...
Annual summer jazz fest returns to downtown San Jose
For years, thousands of music fans have packed the Latin Tropical Stage at San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, turning downtown into an open-air dance floor where salsa has long been one of the festival’s defining traditions. Christian Vela, associate artistic director with San Jose Jazz, the nonprofit group that hosts the annual festival, wants to keep...
Five finalists for renaming downtown San Jose plaza
San Jose residents suggested more than 600 new names for one of the city’s oldest public spaces. City officials have narrowed the final choices down to five. Officials are asking residents to fill out an online survey ranking the five potential new names for Plaza de César Chávez in downtown. The options are Plaza de...
Japanese grocery store opens in downtown San Jose
A new grocer has come to downtown San Jose, erasing its reputation as a food desert. Sakura Market, located on the ground floor below the San Jose State University dorms at 184 S. Market St. and next to the Signia hotel, opened its doors Friday. Part of the Osaka Marketplace brand, the specialty Japanese grocery...