On the lighter side today, today is the “soft opening” for the Alameda Landing Safeway. The official grand opening is tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. but this afternoon at around 1:30 pm-ish the Alameda Landing Safeway will open and start serving the first new West End customers.
Oh, there will also be some kind of unveiling ceremony for the baseball sculpture at the corner of 5th and Stargell. If you haven’t been around the Alameda Landing area lately — like in the past day or two lately — you wouldn’t have noticed that the landscaping in the Stargell Plaza has been installed and the metal art panels have been erected on Stargell itself behind the Safeway building. By the way the art panels help to break up the bit of “endless wall” feel of the actual building itself.
Photos:
The panels, four of them, honor Willie Stargell, the Hornet, the Alaska Packers, and a generic family which is supposed to signify the start of a new neighborhood. The big ass baseball, which will be unveiled, is supposed to honor Willie Stargell himself.
Personally when I saw the rendering of these art panels the first time around I thought they were going to be super cheesy, but they turned out pretty neat and the metal is a nice industrial touch.
In case anyone was wondering, the fuel station won’t be opening until the end of the month.
I know a lot of Alamedans are totally down on Alameda Landing and dislike everything about it from the whole idea of it to the brick selected for the building. Me, I love it. I feel incredibly dorky to be so pleased about a development project, but it’s been really great. Some people like to make fun TriPointe’s marketing of the site as being a walkable urban something or the other, but I know we’ve found the area to be fairly accessible by foot (even without the functioning sidewalk on the East side of 5th street.
So here’s an updated map of Alameda Landing:
So, if you notice at the Stargell Plaza near Safeway, it appears that there is a “Fitness” business of some sort that is in negotiations with Alameda Landing. This is rather interesting because Mariner Square Athletic Club is one crossfit lap away. I’m not sure what sort of fitness business can fit into 3300 sq ft of space and look to compete with a full scale athletic club just yards away, but…
Another interesting “in negotiation” business is the space labeled G1 which is 6400 sq ft of space for a restaurant. This would end up being bigger than the Famous Dave’s BBQ which is only 6000 sq ft so it might prove to be an interesting addition, whatever it ends up being.
Also, I thought that the sandwich store was coming back next to Habit, but it appears that we’re getting a Yogurtland instead. It’s no Tuckers or even Cookiebar, but my kids can get there by foot and the proximity can’t be beat.
In other Landing news, Sleep Train has a “Now Open” sign up and it looks like the show room is already complete, I mean, it’s a pretty simple floor display. The Habit has its real signage up, I haven’t peeked inside to see the progress of the work, but if the Sleep Train sign up to store opening is a trend then probably another three weeks or so.
Blogging Bayport Alameda 
I go through this area on a daily basis and over the last few months I know there was a lot of teeth gnashing among some that the installation of a gas station at the entrance to town would make us look trashy, and over the last few months as I drive through I look at it from that perspective, and I gotta say, I like what I see. Prior to construction of the gas station, the first building that would catch your eye is a maintenance facility on college of alameda. Now you have a structure that has some interesting design work that mimics the tunnel you just came through, and brick work and a sign that is shaping up to look pretty nice. I really like the sign calling out the Webster Street Business District. I don’t recall such a sign for Park Street, and it is great to identify Webster Street as a destination.
Comment by Doug Biggs — January 15, 2015 @ 9:14 am
I’m with Doug on this one. I really think they’ve put lipstick on the pig that was the Webster St. entrance to Alameda. The mimicked tube entrance at the gas station is really eye candy.
If only they would have included a Trader Joe’s at the Landing, I’d never cross Grand Street again…well maybe once to check out the Alameda Island Brewing Co….if it ever opens.
Comment by jack — January 15, 2015 @ 10:22 am
Class act from the planning dept , when they were all looking at what kind of banner to welcome Visitors in Alameda at one side trashy gas station from a falling supermarket gasping for air and about to be taken over by Kroger …..
On the other side shredding /garbage truck parked to welcome you , Now that’s class How much do we pay them .
Comment by mijoka — January 15, 2015 @ 10:34 am
Yogurtland and The Habit together? YESssssss….!
Comment by Dave S. — January 15, 2015 @ 11:31 am
I’m at the Landing once a week feeding my Target addiction and agree with the above – a fine looking center it is. HIGH FIVE to the planning department! And as for Sleeptrain? I’m counting the minutes -I need me a bed! Poor Lucky’s at Marina Village – her days are numbered.
Comment by Sideline — January 15, 2015 @ 12:03 pm
I’m with Doug, and Jack. I think this entrance to Alameda sure looks better than the Park St. entrance.
I’d go to the Island Brewing Co. once, then I’m staying with Faction Brewing at Alameda Point, otherwise known as the “Base”.
Comment by John P. — January 15, 2015 @ 12:12 pm
Lauren I’m dorky excited like you about Safeway today. I already did a drive by and will be stopping by with the kids later because they’ll be jealous if I go without them. I agree its looking like a nice walk-able layout. We already walk to Target quite a bit and I’m really liking the plaza entrance and artwork now that its all coming together. After the view of abandoned warehouses for the first several years living here, this makes the entrance to our neighborhood much more appealing.
Comment by BayGirl — January 15, 2015 @ 3:37 pm
went to the unavailing of the Stargell plaza this afternoon, that big steel ball looks pretty cool, and the plaza will be a nice place to hang out. our “Old Jets” breakfast club will be having our meeting there at some point. These are guys that played in the parks and went to high school with Willie Stargell. We are a very happy bunch of very old men.
Comment by John P. — January 15, 2015 @ 4:13 pm
#8, Since we are almost the same age, please remove the “very old” from your remark, John P. I am, yes, old, and also very happy, but “very old” sounds like droolers in nursing homes and we ain’t there, yet! I don’t like “active seniors” either. “Happy older folk” will do thank you very much.
Comment by Kate Quick — January 15, 2015 @ 4:51 pm
The feedback I received from a carful of 6 – 8 year olds was: “ooh, that’s so nice. It’s so pretty” and “the big ball is so pretty” and “we should go and sit out there.”
Comment by Lauren Do — January 15, 2015 @ 5:17 pm
We checked the new SW out this afternoon and decided it’s just about the perfect size. Impressive butcher shop and I like the two different sizes of grocery carts.
Comment by jack — January 15, 2015 @ 5:23 pm
post#9, Kate I meant the other guys not me. Lauren, this area is going to have tables chairs and some game tables for people to play at and enjoy. Jack, does this mean you will give up on Luckys?? that is if you actually shopped there. I did for years and they have done everything but close the doors to get me to quit shopping there.
Comment by John P. — January 15, 2015 @ 5:42 pm
No John, I love the sloping floors in the MV Lucky’s store. I just give the cart a mild shove and shazam I’m following my usual trail and finding my usual stuff. Plus I like Lucky’s because none of snooty Piedmont wannabs shop there. It’s kinda like the old Commissary was…it’s a military nostalgic thing with me, you know…common folk.
Comment by jack — January 15, 2015 @ 5:58 pm
I went by the steel ball this evening on my run. I’m older than 8 and also thought it was nice. The mall is looking good…for a mall.
Comment by BC — January 15, 2015 @ 6:10 pm
I notice there’s an “unleashed” parcel next to Michael’s. Dog park?
Comment by linda — January 15, 2015 @ 7:44 pm
Unleashed is Petco’s smaller format store. So essentially just a smaller version of traditional Petcos
Comment by Lauren Do — January 15, 2015 @ 9:02 pm
I checked it out on the way home tonight. There was a decent band playing (little kids were rocking out – cute), enough samples of sufficient variety to comprise a well-balanced dinner. The prepared kale salad at the deli is killer! The “dinner to go” set-up at the front of the store is handy. The usual roasted chicken, but also soups, sides, main dishes – some hot, others need to be heated. It’s definitely going to take me awhile to figure out the parking lot, tho. Took a nice unintended tour of 5th Street.
Comment by Alison — January 15, 2015 @ 8:44 pm
Oh – I noticed the flooring is typical “industrial concrete,” right down to the cracks & chips. It’s either a style-statement or an eco-friendly, sealed & polished foundation-slab-turned-finished-flooring. Any insight?
Comment by Alison — January 15, 2015 @ 8:48 pm
Alison 16/17, that was what they call Super Food Kale Salad and though I don’t normally participate in eating snacks I did accept the nice young lady’s A cup of goodies and it was so darned good I ordered a pound of it from the deli for $7.99. I guess the deli person wasn’t properly trained because all she gave me was a pint container for $1.99 and then she was reprimanded by the deli captain because she put the sticky receipt on the top of the container instead of the bottom. So what’s the difference I silently thought…well she said loudly so all the staff could hear…Stick the receipt on the bottom of the container so the cash register person doesn’t have to turn the container upside down to scan the bar code and risk spilling the contents all over the check out counter. Damn, you learn something every day.
First thing when we walked in the door (side issue…we tried to enter the front center door but were halted by a security guard master at arms citing rules that the front entrance is ‘exit’ only and kindly use the entrance doors on the sides for entrance…but he let us enter that one time through the exit door) first thing my wife said, “Look at these floors, they look like bare concrete look at all the cracks.”, well, I said after giving her points for observation,”that’s the new style to save money” ..my guess, but she bought it.
Comment by jack — January 15, 2015 @ 10:21 pm
Willie Stargell is indeed worthy of such a public memorial, but it would also be proper to return Clarence Tinker’s name in some way. Perhaps a new street, or even a plaque in the plaza, something. Memorials shouldn’t be temporary, should they?
I never knew Stargell but he was widely reputed to be a decent, affable & thoughtful person. I bet he’d be OK with a little something for Tinker.
Comment by dave — January 16, 2015 @ 5:48 am
Good point, Tinker did get a bit shoved aside in the Stargell renaming. The City could opt to rename Mitchell Mosley in the Alameda Landing area since the City allowed Catellus/Warmington to name one of the Bayport streets Mosely as well.
Comment by Lauren Do — January 16, 2015 @ 5:58 am
They need to replace Luckys with a Trader Joe’s and put some other shops that will help that center out.
Comment by Scott — January 16, 2015 @ 6:54 am
I though that one of the push points for Del Monte project was that the residents could walk to Lucky’s and thus reduce traffic?
Comment by frank m — January 16, 2015 @ 7:31 am
Are there cracks in the Nob Hill concrete polished floor? Or Costco’s?
Comment by Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonAUSD) — January 16, 2015 @ 7:35 am
Fairly sure that Lucky’s is no one’s selling point for anything or anyone, except Jack, who may be the only Alamedan who appreciates the sloped floor.
Comment by Lauren Do — January 16, 2015 @ 7:39 am
#23, I’m sure the Del Monte residents would be quite pleased to walk over to Trader Joes if it was there.
Comment by John P. — January 16, 2015 @ 8:02 am
We need to launch the campaign to bring Ranch 99 to the lucky’s space.
Comment by Notadave — January 16, 2015 @ 8:15 am
#23 & #26: “Walk to Lucky’s” was one of the earlier “all unbundled parking” justifications. When it was pointed out a time or three that, walking or biking *to* Lucky’s was probably OK for many people, walking back with groceries was likely to be problematic. And that would be even in perfect weather, health, etc. The tension between the neighborhood, developers and City started to ease when everyone agreed that most DM residents would be likely to have at least one car, for things like shopping, weekend get-aways, etc. Even if they kept it parked and commuted via public transport.
As for TJ’s moving there, not likely to happen, unless the one at SS closed down. Folks in my last town lobbied TJ for years to get one in the area. They have criteria for square footage and parking, which the town didn’t have at the time. When the local Whole Foods built a new store a mile away (largest in the country at the time; not sure if the one in Oakland now holds that title), TJs moved into that old space. It was great.
I think that Lucky’s space is big enough, but too close to the other to meet the geography/demographics requirement.
Comment by Alison — January 16, 2015 @ 8:25 am
#29. “Walk to Lucky’s” was a toss away comment in response to a question at the first meeting about where a household who chose to be carfree could shop for groceries. The question was asked under the misunderstanding that Del Monte was being built under the idea that everyone living there would have no cars. It continued to be a thing until people came to realize that the plan for the Del Monte always included hundreds of parking spaces for resident-owned autos and that nobody was suggesting that everyone who lives there will be car-free.
A better answer to the original question would have been “I would imagine that a household that chose to live carfree would probably shop in the same locations the 9+% of households already living carfree in the surrounding neighborhood would shop.”
Comment by jkw — January 16, 2015 @ 12:39 pm
#27: First we’ll have to create the “Shutdown Lucky” campaign, which shouldn’t be too difficult because honestly who chooses to shop there over Safeway?
Comment by Doug H — January 16, 2015 @ 12:45 pm
Lucky’s was ready to shut down before Safeway got there. Now it is officially dead. Time to start marketing the space and bringing the center back to life. Not sure how CVS is supposed to survive either with Walgreens, Target and Safeway having pharmacies. Nothing wrong with the location just need fresh life to the stores.
Comment by Scott — January 16, 2015 @ 1:00 pm
#28 and #29 I do appreciate the clarification. I just remember it being repeated it several discussions perhaps even after the fact.
Comment by frank m — January 16, 2015 @ 1:01 pm
Alison, we too lobbied for quite awhile to get T.J.s here in Alameda. They wanted to come to Park St. many years ago but some people fought that move so they dropped it. Then we kept after them and they finally came to S.S. just a little history. Maybe someone else can elaborate.
Comment by John P. — January 16, 2015 @ 1:52 pm
I think Safeway had them blocked out at Southshore for quite awhile. Then when Safeway moved from the old store to the Superstore they allowed Trader Joe’s.
Comment by frank m — January 16, 2015 @ 1:59 pm
Since my doctor put me on a no processed food diet…I would love Whole Foods to take over the Lucky’s store. I think it would be sort of a destination store for Alameda population…Lucky’s really isn’t…it was a lot nicer when it was Albertsons. I just joined the Mariners Square Gym, so I can walk to the gym and pick up some food at Safeway for dinner. We have walked to Target a few times, but there isn’t much there that I need or want.
Comment by Jake — January 16, 2015 @ 2:43 pm
Safeway actually sucks. I thought about whether to use “sucks” because it is SUCH a meme of dismissive negativism, like a disgruntled teenager, but after consideration, “it sucks”. Their prices are really bad, except specials on alcohol. I shop there when I have no choice, but if we miss our weekly pilgrimage to Berkeley Bowl ( where have have seen Alamedans of all stripes, and I mean ALL), I would hit Encinal Market or TJ’s first. Pine nuts are a prime example. never cheap, but they must have had a bad season because the price has skyrocketed, At Safeway, loose pine nuts were $27/lb, while at B.B. they are $22/lb. In general there is no comparing quality.
Has anybody shopped at the Wallgreen’s on Park? Glancing in the window as I drive by it never seems crowded.
Comment by MI — January 16, 2015 @ 2:49 pm
I forgot to say something…I hate the parking. Angled parking makes so much more since and the have changed it at Southshore and it is straight in at the Landing. It is so much harder to pull in or pull out when you have to look both ways and behind you all at the same time. You did have to look both ways and behind you previously, but it was just easier.
Comment by Jake — January 16, 2015 @ 2:56 pm
#36 Most of the pine nuts these days are from China.
Comment by frank m — January 16, 2015 @ 2:59 pm
#30 “Honestly”, you’d be surprised at who does choose to shop at Lucky’s over Safeway. I agree with Mark: Safeway prices have never been competitive-just went there today for salted dried peas, which, strangely they hide in the produce dept, instead of next to the chips where they belong. Lucky’s may be somewhat decrepit, but it has better lighting, the aisles are wider, they have the slant parking that Jake likes…and Lucky’s is always cheaper than Safeway. At Lucky’s, you can park in a disabled spot and enter the store without taking your life in your hands crossing a street. Oh, and I couldn’t find any Filipino Thai Tea ice milk bars at Safeway; Lucky’s has, six flavors. Where is the ethnic food section at Safeway? As soon as I walk into Lucky’s, I am greeted by jackfruit.
Uh, tell me again…why do I want to shop at Safeway over Lucky’s? It’s not for selection, prices, or parking. Well, i will check out the new Sw and see if it is any different.
Comment by vigi — January 16, 2015 @ 4:15 pm
Virgi, I actually like the set up at Lucky’s is better, but I believe Safeway has better sales and they actually put money back in their stores. They both charge to much for produce. I would love to see a produce store on the west end…they have the farmers market but the hours are not great if you get home late. I just learned that if you go to Oakland China town that their produce is expensive in the mornings but they cut the prices in the afternoons as they bring it in fresh everyday so they have to get rid of it.
Comment by Jake — January 16, 2015 @ 5:13 pm
Safeway is also an annoying, unpleasant place to shop. I prefer more frequent, smaller food shopping trips (it’s a quirk) and Safeway’s crowds & noise make my head spin. Nob Hill & Encinal offer tremendously nicer atmosphere.
Comment by dave — January 16, 2015 @ 5:14 pm
A friend on the West End say she gets incredible deals with incredible quality on meat and seafood at Lucky’s butcher counter.
Comment by Linda on Otis St. — January 16, 2015 @ 5:15 pm
Jake, (I think it was you) the old Pasta Pelican discussion group has shifted to Rock Wall on Friday at happy hour time.
Frankly there may be some incredible meat there as well…Otis L.
Comment by jack — January 16, 2015 @ 6:48 pm
I just went to Safeway, and I actually like the floors but beside that I bought some milk and won a $25 gift card. I don’t know if they always do that or if it was special for the opening. I wonder with all the tables if it will replace Starbucks as the West End for older people to hang out. It is sort of nice to walk to the store, because Bayport doesn’t really have any little stores close by as much of Alameda has.
Jack I do like Pasta Pelican, but I only met you there a couple of times while we were waiting for a table…we went there a couple of weeks ago and the price has really gone up a lot and the service was not great. I don’t normally go to bars…although I did meet friends once at Crazy 8’s, and Forbidden Island…other than that if they don’t have food I haven’t been there, so does the Rock Wall have food?
Comment by Jake — January 17, 2015 @ 9:21 am
Jake, to answer your question of Jack. Rock Wall has Scolaries which is good pub food. Hamburgers, pulled pork, fries and that sort of thing.
Comment by John P. — January 17, 2015 @ 10:01 am
Well I went to this new Safeway last night. Chock full of Midwestern White People Food. It makes all of Nob Hill look like a deli. Barrels of bagels, dozens of artery-clogging donuts painted with icing in primary colors, but no bear claws? No Filipino milk bars. Ethnic food sections are way too small for my taste.
Finally bought a Clover kefir… Safeway only has 2-3 flavors of Lifeway kefir…Lucky’s has 7-8.
Don’t know what it is like in the daytime, but at night, there were more security guards inside than customers.
I like the little carts, but my quad cane kept falling out of it, especially when rolling over the yellow bumps in the parking lot. I know they are there for blind people, but it feels like they overdid it with the yellow bumps.
Comment by vigi — January 17, 2015 @ 1:57 pm
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I’d use Encinal Mkt all the time if it wasn’t clear across town. Especially because of the Scalise butcher shop. I’ve had nothing but the best service there.
However, I went there and into every other Mkt in Alameda (except one) looking for pork belly a while back. Even went over the high street bridge to the Island Mkt in Oakland where I had gone before looking for a bone-in pork butt and they were the only Mkt in the area that had bone-in pork butt, but…nada on the pork belly (black guy was waiting at the counter said, “what did you order?” I said “bone-in pork butt”, He said, I never heard of that…no way I’d eat pork butt”, didn’t tell him it’s same as pork shoulder).
Driving home disappointed when the wife said why don’t you stop at the Market Spot on Lincoln, which is a small Asian market with a separately owned Chinese meat shop in the rear and is not too far from where I live. “They’ll never have pork belly”, I told her but stopped there anyway. Went in and asked if they had any pork belly…guy behind the meat counter says, “you mean poke bowey” I said “yeah, pork belly” he asked, “what kind poke bowey you want? You want skin-on poke bowey, you want bone-in poke bowey? I said “I want bone-in and skin-on pork belly”. So now, whenever I want pork belly I go to there and ask for poke bowey.
Reminded me of a trip I was on and an Aussie sat down next to me for dinner and introduced himself as “Stive”, “glad to meet you Stive, my name is Jack” I said. “No, not Stive, my name’s Stive!” he said. Hmm, I thought…”oh you mean Steve?” I asked, “Yeah” he says, “Stive”.
Comment by jack — January 17, 2015 @ 2:39 pm
Jack. Is Island Market a Hispanic place? I was recommended to try a market on High across International which I know by site but have not visited (yet). There is also Chinatown.
Comment by MI — January 17, 2015 @ 4:24 pm
Jack I have been to Spot Market…but never to Encinal Mkt…I think that is the bad side of town 🙂 I keep myself away from Park St…except the bagel shop there is really good. I don’t think I ever had pork belly, but my mom made Stive once and it smell like pee and she gave it to the dogs and they wouldn’t eat it and she never cooked it again.
Comment by Jake — January 17, 2015 @ 4:40 pm
MI yes but the meat market is Chinese.
Jake, Encinal Mkt isn’t Park St. Just hold your nose crossing Park and continue to High St and there is Market.
Comment by Jack R — January 17, 2015 @ 6:30 pm
Jake, what is “Stive”?
Comment by jack — January 17, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
Addendum to 48…Mark, I found Island Mkt in the yellow pages after I had searched all over Alameda for Pork Butt. I thought it was in Alameda so I drove to High St in Alameda and quickly found out that it wasn’t on the Island. Found it and was amazed. The meat market was huge, sparkling clean and efficient? They had my Pork butt and I left happy. That was couple years ago. Last time (last summer)not so good. Kinda intimidating area and they didn’t have what I wanted.
Comment by jack — January 17, 2015 @ 6:57 pm
Jack I got it all wrong…I met tripe. I have never had it or probably won’t ever as our house smelled bad. My bad spelling and memory.
Comment by Jake — January 17, 2015 @ 8:55 pm
Jack:
I get whole pork bellies from Allied Pringle meats near Jack London Square. Quality is so-so, it’s factory farmed stuff, but price and quantity work when you need a lot. I cure and smoke 40-50 lbs every December to give away to friends and neighbors and that’s where I get it. Del Monte meats, also near JLS, used to have Berkshire bellies which were truly excellent, but they stopped doing retail out the back door a while back. That reminds me to call them to see if they’ve started again. I’ll give you my bacon recipe in exchange for an unopened VW Rye.
In Alameda, Barron’s meats has the best beef, hands down. It’s pricey and worth it, especially the grass fed ribeyes and the onglets (aka hanger steaks, best cut of beef IMO). I bagged 2 deer last year instead of the usual 1 so I haven’t bought much beef in quite some time, but I’m fairly confident their beef still rocks. Barron’s pork is good as well, a touch better than Scalise but it’s close. I agree 100% about Scalise’s service. It is excellent, they totally win in that department. Their marinated trip tips are outstanding, too.
Comment by dave — January 17, 2015 @ 9:55 pm
Throw in a half Berkshire hog from Blue Rooster Farms and a bottle of Elmer T. Lee and I may consider a trade for a PVW something or other.
Comment by jack — January 17, 2015 @ 10:25 pm
I was excited to see that the new Safeway had the appropriate beef bones for Pho making. Saves me a trip to Chinatown or 99 Ranch. Now if there were only a spot for getting fresh pho noodles on the island, I’d be set.
Asian section in new Safeway is limited, but with enough basics that one can make do. They did have Soy Sauce specifically for Seafood which is hard enough to find in Chinatown markets, so I was impressed to see it on their shelves.
Comment by Lauren Do — January 18, 2015 @ 7:11 am
” ..appropriate beef bones for Pho making…”
I watched Pho being made in Vihn and the bones they threw in the pot looked like joint bones. Don’t know what brand animal they came from, probably ox.
Comment by jack — January 18, 2015 @ 10:52 am
Glad to see Safeway opened. But I must say I’m disappointed at the center as a whole. We lost the opportunity to have a more urban format with a great gateway to Alameda – no I’m still not excited about a gas station and a burger joint at the entry to such a beautiful city.
I’m disappointed because I’ve seen the amount of time and money today’s developers spend on “Gateways” to their developments. For a home builder, the entry or gateway to their development is the most important part of their branding and marketing effort, and it is the most significant way they can attract potential buyers, shoppers, etc. We can’t re-do existing gateways, but where we have the opportunity — it’s important to take control and make a bold statement about who we are and what our city has to offer. For example, the gateway to Harbor Bay is waterways, parkways, walkways, and golf courses.
So now I realize why we have such an entry to Alameda Landing – because it was the commercial developer – and not the home developer that controlled the gateway. What’s done is done, and it looks like its too late to change it, but in the future we need to do a much better job on the gateways to our lovely city.
As far as the shops – this center is a regional center that attracts shoppers from all over the Island as well as shoppers off the Island. It provides a great sales tax base for this city, and I’m glad to see it was made part of the Webster Street business district.
However, I will continue to shop all over Alameda, including our Historical Park Street District – nothing can replace that experience in my view. The theater, the restaurants, the Alameda Market Place, the shops, and its incredible history all provide us with more choices. And I will also continue to shop at South Shore – Jamestown has done an incredible job with that center, and it’s hard to stay away.
The idea is to have many choices on the Island – and the more shops, restaurants and entertainment we have on the Island – the less reason we have to leave the Island.
About the Marina Village Shopping Center – I agree it will be interesting to see what happens to Luckys. The last time a large Safeway store was built – Lucky
closed its doors.
Comment by Karen Bey — January 18, 2015 @ 12:09 pm
At a minimum for pho you need shank and oxtail. Anything else just helps improve the flavor and mouthfeel.
Comment by Lauren Do — January 18, 2015 @ 12:27 pm
I just came back from the gym and went to Safeway and I was surprised how many people were walking there from Bayport. The parking lot was full and maybe it is because it is new and people just checking it out. I think we will see a lot of new opportunities on Webster St and the West end and see some companies coming here. It is too bad the developers left Clif bars hanging because of the economy…because they missed out on the big picture in the long run. My thought is the best place to invest in a business in the bay area is West Oakland or West Alameda.
Comment by Jake — January 18, 2015 @ 12:54 pm
Karen, I agree the space for the fast food place and gas should have been different…a greenway (brown) would have been nice but Catellus isn’t the company they use to be they just want a profit. When they first developed the plans many people show up and approved of them, but everything changed since then as they were merged/sliced/and were diced they became a different company. They use to care but now don’t…Catellus was named after CA for California and Tellus who was I believe the goddess of land. Although I think that triangle should be different I like the Safeway…Target not so much.
Comment by Jake — January 18, 2015 @ 1:31 pm
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The last time a large Safeway was built was at South Shore and Lucky at Marina did NOT close its doors.
Comment by jack — January 18, 2015 @ 2:20 pm
This town in the last fifteen years or so, has really become full of itself. But, aside from a few enclaves of wealth it’s still a town of proles. So what’s the big deal about supporting a store where they can buy their groceries? Does it really degrade the self image of the newb self identified big shots who have honored the town by moving here to have a Lucky store on their Island? Apparently so.
Comment by jack — January 18, 2015 @ 2:39 pm
#62, the last large Safeway was built at South Shores, and the Lucky stores at South Shores closed.
Comment by Karen Bey — January 18, 2015 @ 2:50 pm
Jake, all developers want to profit from their ventures – I don’t have a problem with that — we just need to make sure that we as a City control all gateways into the City so we can have a say how we want our gateways to look. And we need to make sure we are choosing the right developer for the right project. It’s important that we select “urban developers” who specialize in “urban design” and “urban development”. Catellus specializes in big box developments — and I don’t think their model has changed much. As you can see Alameda Landing is comprised of mostly big boxes.
Going forward, we’ve got a great start: the Del Monte project is an example of good urban design. Alameda Point Parters are urban developers and their team specializes in urban design. I believe we will see some great urban design and a great gateway at Alameda Point.
Comment by Karen Bey — January 18, 2015 @ 3:21 pm
Karen, I don’t want to day your comments are wrong…but you worked for Catellus and I think you currently work for Lennar, and so I agree with most of your comments but where I have a problem is can a small company pay for the infrastructure or is this something we will have to pay for.
Comment by Jake — January 18, 2015 @ 3:47 pm
Jake, I’m not saying a small company would have been better suited for the development, I’m focusing on the type and style of development. Looking back, I think the loss of Cliff Bar took us down this road: Here’s some information about the new Clif Bar Headquarters in Emeryville:
“The 75,000 square-foot Clif Bar Headquarters transforms an original World War II valve manufacturing facility into a workplace haven for the outdoor enthusiasts at Clif Bar & Company, a leading maker of organic sports nutrition foods and healthy snacks. The space celebrates the inherent natural light and volumetric space of the repurposed warehouse, while capturing the company culture and connecting employees to the outdoors through “biophilic” interior design.
The project exemplifies Clif Bar’s core values, from custom door pulls made from bike frames to the solar array on the roof. Housed in the EmeryTech Building in Emeryville, California, the project has received LEED Platinum certification. The headquarters features an open office working environment, research and development kitchen, a gym, onsite childcare, theater facilities, and a cafe.
Comment by Karen Bey — January 18, 2015 @ 7:24 pm
#30–I shop Lucky over Spaceway all the time. It goes back to the UFW lettuce and grape boycotts long ago, but I have not been impressed by the SSC Spaceway or by the Whole Paycheck near our church in San Francisco: they are too busy, have too much marketing hype everywhere, prices that are too high. And I don’t need umpteen zillion concierge services or prepared foods from my supermarket. Since I buy most of our food at the Alameda Farmer’s Market–on my bike, BTW–I only need occasional staples like oatmeal, kefir, yogurt, bananas, canned items, baking supplies, and almond milk. Simplicity and lower prices count.
Comment by Jon Spangler — January 19, 2015 @ 7:19 am
somehow I missed this whole conversation, Jack have you tried Taylor’s sausage in Old town part of Oakland. I have purchased pork butt, ribs, and lots of sausage from them. Normally easy to park, and get in and out in a few minutes.
Comment by John P. — January 19, 2015 @ 8:34 am