The Teal Reimagination Elevates SAP Center in Downtown San Jose

SAP Center will be completely renovated, shaped by the Teal Reimagination project. The San Jose Sharks launched this multi-year $425 million transformation to turn the arena into a more connected and immersive destination that anchors Downtown San Jose as a true civic landmark.

There will be dramatic upgrades that improve every moment of a visit. The team store triples in size with immersive displays, smoother circulation for easier shopping, and more Sharks pride. Distinct atmospheres unfold level by level, delivering vibrant energy on the main concourse and refined intimacy in premium areas (primarily underground). There will be a new outdoor concourse and additional entrance into the SAP Center to help reduce crowding.

Premium offerings will set a new standard. Private Cove Suites provide concierge-level retreats for hosting without missing the action. The Captain’s Lounge delivers direct sightlines into the player tunnel while the First Line Lounge brings high-energy ice views with all-inclusive elevated food and beverage. Three unique clubs on the Premier Level will add layered comfort and hospitality tailored to your preferences.

One of the most impressive proposed features is the exterior of the Shark Tank will actually look like a tank. The Teal Reimagination ensures SAP Center welcomes fans and visitors with experiences that match the passion of the Teal faithful and support the city’s long-term vision.

Sumi Sushi Brings Outstanding Fresh Sushi to Downtown San Jose

Sumi Sushi has quickly established itself as a favorite for quality Japanese cuisine at 119 Paseo de San Antonio in Downtown San Jose. It has a casual Japanese pop-culture vibe with anime on the walls and fun lighting. Food wise they specialize in classic rolls, creative specialties, and generous Chirashi bowls.

Service is super fast and efficient. You can order to-go from a kiosk or use a QR code to quickly pick food the moment you sit down. Prices are reasonable, which should appeal to San Jose State University students and really anyone casually walking by.

I got to try the Ladybug Roll (soft shell crab tempura, crab meat, torched salmon), White Dragon Roll (shrimp tempura, crab meat, cucumber), a nigiri sampling, and a green tea cheesecake. I'd recommend them all, but would likely go heavy on the nigiri next time since it was so good. The salmon and Hamachi especially were excellent.

Don't let it's humble entrance and location fool you. Downtown San Jose now has six different sushi spots, and this might just be the new benchmark.

Nokia Subsidiary Launches Photonic Semiconductor Facility in South San Jose

Infinera Corp., a Nokia subsidiary, purchased the 82,000-square-foot facility at 6373 San Ignacio Avenue for nearly $27 million. The team will convert this former headquarters in South San Jose into a dedicated photonic semiconductor fabrication plant.

Federal support accelerates the transformation. Nokia secured $40 million through the CHIPS and Science Act to fund advanced manufacturing capabilities for photonic chips that power high-speed data transmission and artificial intelligence systems.

The move follows Nokia’s $2.3 billion acquisition of Infinera and builds on construction progress at the Valley Oak Technology Center. San Jose will gain a powerful new asset that brings high-value production jobs and reinforces the city’s role in critical global innovation.

Source: SVBJ

Black Family Day SV Brings Culture and Joy to Downtown San Jose Today

Experience a heartwarming celebration when you make your way to Black Family Day SV. This free public event runs today from 11am to 4pm at Parque de los Pobladores on 510 S 1st Street in Downtown San Jose.

You can gather with your family amid lively performances, interactive activities, and wellness resources that honor African and African ancestry heritage. The gathering marks the vibrant close to African and African Ancestry Month in Silicon Valley and fills the park with laughter, music, and genuine connections.

Presented by the Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet and produced by the Silicon Valley African Film Festival, the day empowers every attendee through shared pride and community strength. You will discover moments that uplift and remind you why diversity fuels San Jose’s growth.

For more info, head over here.

PayPal Park Expands Its Role with Regular Concert Nights in San Jose

You'll soon discover more opportunities to catch major live performances at PayPal Park. The San Jose City Council gave unanimous approval for the stadium to host up to 15 concerts each year. This decision locks in the venue’s future as an essential part of the city’s entertainment lineup.

Careful planning went into the approval. City officials established volume limits and reporting requirements that respond to neighborhood feedback. You can expect concerts to run between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. while maintaining respect for those living nearby.

The stadium delivered impressive results for the local economy. In 2024 events there produced $111 million in total economic impact and backed nearly 1,000 jobs. Concerts will amplify these benefits and bring more crowds to support Downtown San Jose businesses.

You also have big matches to look forward to at the park soon. The U.S. Women’s National Team will face Japan in a friendly. Fans will also see Cruz Azul take on Atlético Nacional. PayPal Park will additionally serve as a venue for early-round action in the 2028 Olympic soccer tournaments.

Source: SVBJ

Strata Layers New Dining Experiences in Downtown San Jose

You will soon discover a captivating new restaurant transforming the prominent space across from City Hall. The former Rollati location at the base of the Miro towers will become Strata. The extremely talented team behind Eos & Nyx, Paper Plane, Miniboss, Alter Ego and Still OG will step in with their proven touch.

They will channel their previous successes into the nearly 7,000-square-foot flagship venue. The result promises to be a concept designed to grow and delight over time through seasonal shifts. Already Eos & Nyx and Alter Ego are well known for their exceptional menus.

At Strata, the multicultural menu will evolve continuously and creatively explore new techniques. Rare for San Jose, it will also feature a prix-fixe or tasting menu. A strong cocktail program is a given with a thoughtful wine list rounding out the offerings. If you have been to any of their other venues, you'd expect nothing less when it comes to drinks.

Positioned at Fourth and Santa Clara streets in the base of the Miro towers, you'll have a nice view of the City Hall rotunda and tower alongside the Sonic Runway art installation.

I've missed Rollati, and can think of no better restaurant group to take its place. They are conducting staff interviews from March 3-5, so an official launch should be here before summertime.

Source: The Mercury News

Championship Pizzas Land at Downtown San Jose's Marketcenter

You will find your next favorite slice waiting at the Marketcenter on Coleman Avenue in Downtown San Jose. Slice House steps in to replace the old Blaze Pizza setup at 685 Coleman Ave., and the "Coming Soon" signs are already up.

Fremont native Tony Gemignani brings his 13 world pizza titles and deep Bay Area roots to this venture. He started things nearly 16 years ago in San Francisco's North Beach, then scaled this fast-casual concept to over 135 sites in eight states.

You'll gain easy access to these pies while handling errands at anchors including Target, Marshalls, and Trader Joe's. Slice House fits right in with quick-service neighbors like El Pollo Loco, Carl's Jr., and Starbucks. The new eatery keeps things approachable yet elevated, perfect for grabbing lunch or dinner on the fly.

Now the real question is... will it be as good as Slice of Homage in the Downtown core. That is currently the king of benchmarks for San Jose pizza.

Source: SVBJ

Veev Homes Deliver Smart Sustainable Living in Prime San Jose Locations

Veev is one of the most unique and innovative homebuilders I have ever come across. For decades I have felt that homebuilding was ripe for disruption, and I'm honestly surprised it has taken this long to see someone try and shake up the market. I have recently enjoyed both an in-depth tour of a Veev home in my neighborhood as well as a visit to the factory where the homes are built (yes, I said factory).

This builder, which was purchased by Lennar in 2023, relies on advanced panelized construction that assembles homes with remarkable efficiency using durable frames and high-performance materials. The walls are the real product as they house plumbing and electrical wiring straight from the factory and then are assembled like Legos at the homesite. These elements reduce waste significantly during building and at high volumes have the potential to greatly reduce both costs and construction timelines.

Looking at the exterior and interior, a Veev home looks completely normal. You would never guess that this was mostly built inside of a 500,000 SQFT Tesla-like factory and assembled in about 60 days. Most new builds require anywhere from 1-2 years of permits and construction at the homesite.

Veev currently has two different models of homes and both are generously-sized around 3,000 SQFT. Their first mass-production solution is called the Model E. It's ultra-modern, especially the interior with LED edge-lighting everywhere and slick finishes which you can see above.

You can find a Veev Model E in San Jose at 5973 Tandera Avenue in the Blossom Hill area by Oakridge. The price is $847/SQFT, which is lower than most new construction homes in the area. Other locations include 2820 Cardinal Lane (Willow Glen), 2652 Orinda Drive (Evergreen), and 304 Curie Drive (Blossom Hill).

I personally love this interior style, but they have decided to go a bit more traditional with the sequel, called the Model X. The exact interiors for the Model X are still being worked on, but I had a chance to see the model in the factory and would honestly move into either the Model E or X tomorrow. The Model X also features a grand entrance with a soaring ceiling height and an attached ADU, perfect multi-generational living or generating rental income on the side.

In addition to Veev selling homes directly, if you already own the land you can also have them build on your site. Including the teardown of the existing home, it's possible to get a brand new ~3,000 SQFT home for under $1 million. The hard part is finding low-cost land in San Jose that is large enough to accommodate the footprint. Long term, Veev also plans to offer smaller homes which will help cut costs further and open up more possibilities for potential homesites. 

The way single-family homes are built today is crazy. It's essentially like building a custom home every single time. By moving most of the construction to a factory, economies of scale and improved efficiency will help open up more affordable and higher quality housing options. Veev is an early mover and obviously at the higher-end of the market, but I truly hope other homebuilders will adopt this model and disrupt housing at all price points. 

As Veev comes out with new products, I will definitely be featuring them here. For more details and to schedule a viewing to check out one of their homes for yourself, visit https://www.veevsanjose.com.

San Jose City College Career Education Complex

The new 90,000 SQFT Career Education Complex at San Jose City College is now open. Steinberg Hart and Flint Builders did an amazing job with the design of the building. I love the atrium that maximizes natural light. Here are some of the first photos of the interior from homebucket on Skyscraper City.

West Coast Community Bank Sets Up New Silicon Valley Headquarters in Downtown San Jose

You will soon see West Coast Community Bank operating its Silicon Valley headquarters from a prime spot in Downtown San Jose. The bank chose the first floor of 10 South Almaden Boulevard for its new location where 30 to 40 employees will make the transition at the end of June ahead of a July opening.

The relocation puts the bank right in the middle of the city’s historic financial district alongside Citibank U.S. Bank and Poppy Bank. West Coast Community Bank came together through the merger of Santa Cruz County Bank and 1st Capital Bank and quickly established itself as one of Silicon Valley’s fastest-growing financial institutions. By committing to Downtown San Jose the bank signals strong confidence in the city’s future as a central business destination.

Meanwhile the previous Cupertino site on Stevens Creek Boulevard will convert into a 363-unit apartment complex developed by The Hanover Company. This development adds valuable housing stock while allowing the bank to embrace a more transit-oriented and vibrant setting.

Source: SVBJ