The video below is a collage of footage from Downtown San Jose taken in March of this year. It highlights many of the key areas Downtown and includes some nice construction shots.
Source: "jawz" from SkyscraperCity
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Saturday Stats: Silicon Valley has More Billionaires than SF
There are a whopping 56 billionaires that are living in the Bay Area. What surprised me is that there are more living in Silicon Valley as opposed to San Francisco. Most of the 34 billionaires in Silicon Valley live in Woodside, Palo Alto, and Atherton.
Other interesting tidbits. Seven new billionaires were minted last year in the Bay Area (two from Facebook), Larry Ellison is the richest person in Silicon Valley and fifth in the world with a new worth of $48 billion, and just about all of the Bay Area's billionaires made their money in tech.
Combined, Silicon Valley's billionaires are worth $301 billion, which makes up 62% of the net worth of all the billionaires in California. Another way to say that is of all the extreme wealth in the state, 62% of it is in Silicon Valley. Now let's hope some of these billionaires share their wealth in the local area and help improve our communities!
Source: SVBJ
Other interesting tidbits. Seven new billionaires were minted last year in the Bay Area (two from Facebook), Larry Ellison is the richest person in Silicon Valley and fifth in the world with a new worth of $48 billion, and just about all of the Bay Area's billionaires made their money in tech.
Combined, Silicon Valley's billionaires are worth $301 billion, which makes up 62% of the net worth of all the billionaires in California. Another way to say that is of all the extreme wealth in the state, 62% of it is in Silicon Valley. Now let's hope some of these billionaires share their wealth in the local area and help improve our communities!
Source: SVBJ
Friday, May 16, 2014
Asian Fusion Restaurant Replacing P.F. Chang's Location Downtown
There is so much restaurant news Downtown that I'm having a hard time keeping up! Perhaps the biggest news in the past month is that the flagship 7,100 SQFT space at the corner of San Fernando and Second Street that was occupied by PF Chang's has already been leased. The turnaround time here was dramatically faster than replacing E&O Trading Company... another key restaurant that disappeared years ago whose space is now filled by Nemea (a big improvement in my opinion).
M Lounge Bar and Restaurant is the name of the upscale Asian fusion restaurant going into 98 S. Second Street and filling a key corner in Downtown San Jose. Ashwini Kumar is the restaurateur and is already known for Madhuban Indian, which is located in San Jose (50 Skyport Drive) and Sunnyvale (544 Lawrence Expressway). M Lounge will be a mix of Malaysian, Singaporean, Thai, and Indian cuisine. Clocking in a 260 seats, it will also be one of the largest restaurants Downtown.
M Lounge has signed a 5-year lease, so expect them to be around for quite a while. The target opening date is August, but that might be a little optimistic. I can't wait to try this place out!
Source: SVBJ
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Blach Moving HQ to San Jose
Blach Construction is a 44-year-old general contractor that has built offices for Stanford, Kaiser, and Silver Lake Partners. They have been renting in Santa Clara (about 26,000 SQFT) but have decided to take a big step up and purchase an 88,000 SQFT R&D building in North San Jose. Of that space, they will occupy 54,000 SQFT--still giving the company plenty of room to grow--and leasing the rest to Laird Technologies.
Blach plans on putting $7 million in improvements to their new San Jose headquarters at 2040 Fortune Drive. They are hoping to stay there for generations to come.
Source: SVBJ
Blach plans on putting $7 million in improvements to their new San Jose headquarters at 2040 Fortune Drive. They are hoping to stay there for generations to come.
Source: SVBJ
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Hermitage Brewing Company to Tap Very Limited Barrel-Aged Beers
On Thurs., May 15 at 4pm, Hermitage Brewing Company is set to tap four very limited amounts of barrel-aged beers in their San Jose brewery and tap room at 1627 South 7th Street. The aged beers will be a brown, vanilla porter, Maltopia Scotch Ale and Maltopia Scotch Ale made with apricots. The tap room will be the only place offering these beers, and I can't wait to try them.
Hermitage Brewing, established in 2009, provides contract brewing services for other brewing companies, but they've been making impressive beers of late, such as their Single Hop IPA series and their seasonal Ryetopia Barrel-Aged Rye Barley Wine.
The unique beers that Hermitage is making, along with the tapping parties, certainly go a long way to enhancing San Jose's beer scene.
If you haven't visited the Hermitage tap room yet, it's a bit tricky to get to as I indicated earlier today in my SanJose.com article (which also has more info. on the barrel-aged beers). Basically head south on 7th towards Phelan Ave. and look for signage at the last driveway on the right before hitting Phelan Ave. Proceed towards the back of the large industrial buildings.
If you do make it, please let me know what you think of the beers via comments.
Prost! Gun bae! Cheers!
Hermitage Brewing, established in 2009, provides contract brewing services for other brewing companies, but they've been making impressive beers of late, such as their Single Hop IPA series and their seasonal Ryetopia Barrel-Aged Rye Barley Wine.
The unique beers that Hermitage is making, along with the tapping parties, certainly go a long way to enhancing San Jose's beer scene.
If you haven't visited the Hermitage tap room yet, it's a bit tricky to get to as I indicated earlier today in my SanJose.com article (which also has more info. on the barrel-aged beers). Basically head south on 7th towards Phelan Ave. and look for signage at the last driveway on the right before hitting Phelan Ave. Proceed towards the back of the large industrial buildings.
If you do make it, please let me know what you think of the beers via comments.
Prost! Gun bae! Cheers!
 |
| Hermitage Brewing Company tasting room, Credits: Hermitage |
New Urgent Care Clinic in Evergreen
Does anyone remember the Hollywood Video at the corner of Capital Expressway and Silver Creek in San Jose's Evergreen district? It was last used as a Spirit store last Halloween. This 8,480 SQFT space is being converted into an urgent care facility run by San Jose-based Action Urgent Care. The company just signed a ten-year lease so I think they will be there for quite a while.
Action Urgent Care has another location (pictured below I believe) at 1375 Blossom Hill Road. There is also a rumor that they will open another location in San Jose's Westgate Shopping Center.
The company provides walk-in services for emergencies that are not life threatening. This should be a big benefit to the community since the nearest major hospitals are 10-15 minutes away. Action Urgent Care is hoping to be ready for patients in June or July.
Source: SVBJ
Action Urgent Care has another location (pictured below I believe) at 1375 Blossom Hill Road. There is also a rumor that they will open another location in San Jose's Westgate Shopping Center.
The company provides walk-in services for emergencies that are not life threatening. This should be a big benefit to the community since the nearest major hospitals are 10-15 minutes away. Action Urgent Care is hoping to be ready for patients in June or July.
Source: SVBJ
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
VTA News - BRT Artwork and Real-time Bus/Light Rail Info
There were a couple nice tidbits of information related to VTA improvements in Sam Liccardo's latest newsletter. The first is a partnership between VTA and the City of San Jose to add localized artwork to 20 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations when they go online. Read the excerpt below for a listing of some of the stations:
"Several of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bus Rapid Transit stations will be getting enhancements with public art thanks to a collaboration between VTA and the City of San Jose. 20 stations in all (most including an east/west bound) which will feature vibrant color and unique designs. The artists and each local community collaborated to capture each individual community's spirit. The designs range from informative to whimsical. The art project is in its 'design/development' stage and the stations receiving the art enhancements will include: The Arena (SAP Center), Santa Clara, City Hall, 17th, 24th, King, Jackson, Alum Rock, Story Road, Ocala, Eastridge."
The second bit of news is that VTA now provides their riders with real-time information on where buses and light rail trains are, so you'll never have to guess whether you missed a train or when the next one is arriving. Again, more details below:
"VTA has created a series of four videos to help our customers use their real-time information app for bus and light rail. These real-time information tools tell you when the next bus or train will arrive, which means you don’t have to carry a paper schedule, can anticipate bus arrivals in between published stop times, and can estimate when you’ll arrive at your destination.
Each describes how to access real-time information using a different tool: by calling 511 on your landline or cell phone; visiting m.511.org or 511.org on the Internet; or downloading the TransLoc mobile app for real time light rail information. The TransLoc app for real-time light rail information is also very popular. For more information visit VTA Realtime."
"Several of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bus Rapid Transit stations will be getting enhancements with public art thanks to a collaboration between VTA and the City of San Jose. 20 stations in all (most including an east/west bound) which will feature vibrant color and unique designs. The artists and each local community collaborated to capture each individual community's spirit. The designs range from informative to whimsical. The art project is in its 'design/development' stage and the stations receiving the art enhancements will include: The Arena (SAP Center), Santa Clara, City Hall, 17th, 24th, King, Jackson, Alum Rock, Story Road, Ocala, Eastridge."
The second bit of news is that VTA now provides their riders with real-time information on where buses and light rail trains are, so you'll never have to guess whether you missed a train or when the next one is arriving. Again, more details below:
"VTA has created a series of four videos to help our customers use their real-time information app for bus and light rail. These real-time information tools tell you when the next bus or train will arrive, which means you don’t have to carry a paper schedule, can anticipate bus arrivals in between published stop times, and can estimate when you’ll arrive at your destination.
Each describes how to access real-time information using a different tool: by calling 511 on your landline or cell phone; visiting m.511.org or 511.org on the Internet; or downloading the TransLoc mobile app for real time light rail information. The TransLoc app for real-time light rail information is also very popular. For more information visit VTA Realtime."
Monday, May 12, 2014
Erik's DeliCafe Moving HQ to San Jose!
Erik's has always been one of my favorite chain deli's. I don't know if its the sprouts or the mason jars, but there is something about this place that seems to have more character than you typical sandwich shop (especially in their Downtown San Jose location with historic photos plastered all over the walls). The company was founded in 1973 in Scotts Valley and now has over 30 locations. Wanting to get closer to where the action is and scale up, they have decided to move over the hill to The Alameda right outside Downtown San Jose.
By moving their HQ to San Jose, they believe it will be easier to attract potential franchisees. They are also looking for corporate locations, very similar to what Specialties has been doing. Also in the plans is to remodel many of their stores with more modern interiors, support in the kitchen for panini sandwiches, and at the front of the house online ordering.
I think Erik's DeliCafe is a welcome addition to San Jose and I hope they find all of the success they are looking for.
Source: SVBJ
By moving their HQ to San Jose, they believe it will be easier to attract potential franchisees. They are also looking for corporate locations, very similar to what Specialties has been doing. Also in the plans is to remodel many of their stores with more modern interiors, support in the kitchen for panini sandwiches, and at the front of the house online ordering.
I think Erik's DeliCafe is a welcome addition to San Jose and I hope they find all of the success they are looking for.
Source: SVBJ
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