New Homewood Suites by Hilton in North San Jose

Homewood Suites at 4315 N. First St. officially opened on October 13th. This is an extended-stay hotel ideal for business travelers and has 145 units that are more like mini-apartments. Every room has a full kitchen, separate living and sleeping spaces, and are at least 434 SQFT. They also have two-bedroom suites available. One of their unique features is a grocery shopping service that lets guests provide their shopping lists and employees will buy the groceries for them.

The new Hotel is located just north of Highway 237 and is just a few minutes away from Alviso, the @First shopping center anchored by Target, and Levi's Stadium.

Source: SVBJ (subscription required)

San Jose Chick-fil-A Awarded LEED Silver

The first Chick-fil-A in Silicon Valley has also become the first restaurant in San Jose to achieve a LEED Silver Certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design). Located at 53 Headquarters Dr. in the @First shopping center, the restaurant opened in 2012 to the longest lines I have ever seen for any restaurant opening.

This Chick-fil-A includes water and energy efficiency features as well as air quality control and waste diversion efforts. I'm sure it helped that they were able to build the restaurant from the ground up instead of having to convert an existing space for their needs. They also received LEED points for being easily accessible via VTA buses and Light Rail.

Congrats to this Chick-fil-A and hopefully we'll see many more LEED certified restaurants in San Jose in the near future.

Cisco Sells 57 Acres for New Office Complex

Cisco is parting with a 57 acre site that could house quite a large office development. In fact, it is already zoned for 650,000 SQFT of office or R&D space. Trammel Crow Co. is the purchaser and will either build this out as a speculative project or sell off pieces of the land to companies that are ready to build and have specific requirements in mind.

The parcel is right at the border of Alviso and is very near the @First retail and hotel project anchored by Target and Fresh & Easy. Thousands of new apartments are also under construction right now in the general area. Unfortunately this is one part of North First not serviced by Lightrail, so transit here is not going to be great. I think it would be pretty neat if they could run something like a street car from the nearest station to @First, the new office developments, and the Alviso marina area.

Source: SVBJ

Chick-fil-A Officially Coming to San Jose! PART 2

I have some additional updates from an event today regarding the Chick-fil-A coming to @First on July 26th. It's going to be the first restaurant in San Jose to be LEED certified (extremely energy efficient). They also are already planning another restaurant this year in Walnut Creek and are shooting for 3-5 new Bay Area restaurants a year.

Lastly, they have an interesting event tied to the launch where 100 people will get a year's supply of Chick-fil-A.  Details below:

Chick-fil-A will celebrate the grand opening of the new San Jose restaurant by giving away a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A meals (52 certificates) to the first 100 adults in line on opening day. The “First 100” celebration draws Chick-fil-A raving fans up to 24 hours in advance. They arrive with tents, air beds, TVs, lap top computers, gaming systems and other activities to pass the time while camping out overnight. Since the event began in October 2003, Chick-fil-A has given away more than $16 million in free food. 

The new restaurant is one of 92 locations the chain plans to open across the country in 2012, creating nearly 7,000 new jobs. Despite the challenging economy, Chick-fil-A continued to grow in 2011, reporting record-setting annual sales of more than $4 billion, representing a 13 percent increase over 2010 and the 44^th consecutive year of sales growth since the company began in 1967.

Chick-fil-A topped large chain category in Zagat’s 2011 National Fast Food Restaurant Survey that measured the opinions of 6,000 consumers covering 103 chains. With each chain being rated on its quality of food, service and facilities, the survey scored Chick-fil-A first in service and the chargrilled sandwich categories; and second in the areas of food, best drive-thru, most child friendly, and facilities. In 2011, Chick-fil-A also received Consumer Reports Top Chicken Chain for food and service.

Chick-fil-A Officially Coming to San Jose!

The most eagerly awaited restaurant at the @First development (North First and 237) would have to be Chick-fil-A. There have been many discussions back and forth on whether this restaurant was even going to make it to the South Bay, but today I'm happy to confirm that it's going to happen. I even have a launch date for everyone: July 26th. This will be the very first Chick-fil-A in the Bay Area Correction: This will be the first stand-alone Chick-fil-A (non-mall) within 60 miles of San Jose. There is one in Fairfield, which is technically part of the Bay Area.

Sweet Tomatoes Grand Opening and Charity Fundraiser

Sweet Tomatoes will be the 5th restaurant to open up at the new @First project bordering 237 and North First Street (Five Guys, Chipotle, Panda Express, and Panera are already open). On November 1st they will  have their official grand opening; however, they have a great concept for a "soft opening" this weekend. On Oct 28th, 29th, and 30th they will be charging only $5 for the buffet. The best part is 100% of that money will go to the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter. It's a promotion where everybody wins! Diners get a substantial discount, money goes to a great cause, and new employees get trained before the grand opening.

I have always been a fan of Sweet Tomatoes. There are on my very short list of favorite chain restaurants and the only buffet I'll eat at outside of Vegas. The @First location is the most upscale I've seen (like most other things in @First... I thought the Panera was going to be a high-end restaurant before the sign went up). Even if you are closer to the Coleman, South San Jose, or Sunnyvale locations, this one is worth checking out. Full details on the fundraiser below:

Sweet Tomatoes Offers Sweet Deal:  $5 All-You-Care-To-Eat at New

North San Jose Location on October 28 – 30

Pre-opening “fun-raiser” to benefit American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter

(SAN JOSE) October 21, 2011 – The newest Sweet Tomatoes, located at 4180 N. First St. in the @First Shopping Center is scheduled to open on Tuesday, November 1. To celebrate the grand opening, Sweet Tomatoes has partnered with American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter to host a preview fundraiser event on the following dates:

• Friday, October 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For only $5.00 (five dollars), guests can enjoy Sweet Tomatoes’ 45-foot salad bar full of fresh, seasonal vegetables and tossed salads, made-from-scratch soups and hand-crafted muffins, focaccia, breads and desserts. Sweet Tomatoes will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter, a non-profit, humanitarian organization that depends on the generous contributions of time and money from local Santa Clara County residents and companies to provide services and programs that help our community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Sweet Tomatoes seeks to be a vital and contributing part of each community in which it operates. To reach this goal, restaurants offer a “Fun-Raiser” program through which charities, churches, schools, athletic teams, scout troops and other non-profit organizations may raise funds by hosting in-store events. The restaurants assist in marketing the non-profit’s event by creating master flyers for distribution and promotion.

Sweet Tomatoes, named one of America’s “Best Chain Restaurants” byParents Magazine, offers a rotating menu of more than 100 original, made fresh dailyrecipes featuring signature salads, soups, bakery goods and hot pasta sauces, at an all-you-care-to-eat price.  All food is prepared without the use of artificial flavors, colors, additives or artificial trans fats. 

Sweet Tomatoes in North San Jose will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Sundays beginning on November 1.  For more information visitwww.sweettomatoes.com or call (408) 526-0200. For more information on American Red Cross visit www.siliconvalley-redcross.org.       

About Sweet Tomatoes

Sweet Tomatoes was founded in 1978 in San Diego and currently operates 121 salad buffet-style restaurants across the western, southern and eastern portions of the United States. Sweet Tomatoes cares about what comes out of guests’ wallets and into their bodies by creating an exceptional, all-you-care-to-eat dining experience with a daily selection of made-from-scratch soups and salads and hand-crafted muffins, focaccia, breads and tasty desserts. By combining high-quality, farm-fresh and scratch-made foods for a fixed price, the restaurants provide guests with the freedom to create their own wholesome meals. The restaurant concept is built around fresh prepared, great-tasting recipes with a salad bar full of seasonal vegetables and tossed salads prepared exhibition-style every 20 minutes. Sweet Tomatoes restaurants are open daily for lunch and dinner. For more information, visitwww.sweettomatoes.com.

About American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter :

Founded in January 2009 with the merger of the Palo Alto Area and Santa Clara Valley chapters, the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter is a non-profit, humanitarian organization that depends on the generous contributions of time and money from local Santa Clara County residents and companies to provide services and programs that help our community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by volunteers and supported by community donations, your American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter is part of a nationwide network of approximately 710 locally supported chapters dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

@First Restaurants are Open for Business!

At the corner of 237 and First Street in North San Jose 80,000 sqft of retail development in @First is well underway. The area is anchored by a Target, Hotel Sierra, and the Brocade Headquarters, which have been open for a while. In mid August, the restaurants finally started opening up. Three restaurants are already open:

• Five Guys Burgers and Fries (the only one in the immediate area, and they make fantastic burgers)
• Chipotle
• Panda Express

I have already been here three times, and the area is quite a bit nicer than I expected. Between Five Guys and Chipotle, there is an inviting covered patio with heat lamps. There are small palm trees throughout the retail space. Near the Union Bank is what looks like a more upscale restaurant with substantial outdoor seating, an outdoor fireplace, and artistic landscaping (it's not quite clear what this will become). 

For the people that thought this area would only be busy for lunchtime Monday through Friday, guess again. Each of the times I've been was at 8 or 9pm at night and the restaurants were packed. After the rest of the restaurants open, this will likely become another highly trafficked center like Rivermark.

Additional Retail Planned for the center is:

• Sweet Tomatoes (looks like the next to open, almost ready)
• Fresh & Easy (grocery anchor)
• Panera
• Premier Pizza
• Chick-fil-A (first in San Jose)
• The Coffee Bean (first in San Jose)
• Union Bank (looks just about ready to open)
• Courtyard by Marriott
• Dry Cleaner
• Hair Salon
• Dentist

@First Coming Along

It looks like several of the retail spaces in the @First development (First St. and 237) are just about done. There are signs up for Union Bank, Panda Express, Five Guys, and Chipotle. There are also 2 buildings going up fast right next to the Target.

@First Updates

The @First development at 237 and First St. has confirmed another tenant, a 5,000 sqft Chase bank. It is also rumored that Fresh & Easy will be their grocery anchor and they are on the lookout for a dry cleaner, hair salon, and dentist. The other leases they have confirmed are:

• Five Guys Burger and Fries
• Chick-fil-A
• Chipotle
• Sweet Tomatoes
• Panda Express
• Premier Pizza
• Panera

The development already includes a massive Target and a 160 room Hotel Sierra.

@First Reveals Planned Eateries!

The @First development at 237 and First St. in North San Jose is anchored by a high-end Target which (opened in October) and Brocade's new international headquarters. It is also getting 80,000 sqft of retail, mostly for restaurants! Unfortunately, many of the restaurants area already available in either the San Jose Market Center off Coleman, or nearby. Here is the list:

• Panda Express (also in SJ Market Center, tons in SJ)
• Sweet Tomatoes (also in SJ Market Center, but glad to have a second in SJ)
• Chipotle (already one on 1st St.)
• Panera (also in SJ Market Center)
• Premier Pizza (all 3 of their existing locations are within a couple miles)
• Five guys burgers and Fries (only one in the area and it's in South SJ, this is a welcome addition)
• Chick-fil-A (the only restaurant so far that is "New" to San Jose)

There is also a 160 room Hotel Sierra that will open next month, Union Bank will also likely sign a lease, and they are also looking for a grocery sub-anchor... potentially Fresh & Easy. In addition, they are looking for a dry cleaner, hair salon, and dentist. I hope they can make some space for a couple unique retailers that will add something new to the city.

A Peek at Brocade's New San Jose Headquarters

Below is a quick 6min video talking about the Brocade campus that now anchor's San Jose's @First development. It's always nice to see another world class HQ open up here. Brocade will join Cisco, eBay, Adobe, Cadence, and many others with flagship offices in San Jose.

Target @ First Now Open!

The anchor retail store in the 1.35 million square foot @First development is now open (at the intersection of 237 and First St). It happens to be one of the nicest Targets I've ever seen, and at almost 140,000sqft it's a sizable one as well. Up next for opening looks like one of the hotels and the rest of the Brocade Headquarters. In 2011 we should see some restaurants, small shops, a bank, and a second hotel pop up as well.

Target Coming Soon to N. 1st St

According to the San Jose Business Journal a massive 138,000sqft Target could be making it's grand opening later this year on 1st St. by Highway 237. This would be the 10th Target in San Jose and would anchor a new shopping center called @First. The finished development will also include 70,000sqft of restaurants and smaller shops, two 5,000sqft pads (one of which will go to a bank), an upscale 225-room hotel, a 168-room Sierra Suites hotel, and 1.35 million square feet of office space (850,000 of which will go to Brocade).