A fact that I wouldn’t normally like to admit I am willing to admit to you for the sake of an article. I actually planned on attending tomorrow night’s Justin Timberlake concert at the Shark Tank. I was excited as I (another humdinger) watched him perform on the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night and was actually looking forward to a night out of dancing and being entertained. Regardless of what you think of him, his music, or his taste, he is an entertainer, and they are a dying breed in this world.
Anyhow, my friend who I was going to the concert with—a mom of two little kids— emailed me yesterday morning reiterating how excited she was to be going to the concert. Then, on Monday afternoon, I received an email that Timberlake’s concert was cancelled due to “strain on his voice from the music awards and a strenuous tour.” So the Wednesday concert is cancelled and rescheduled, just like that.
The thing is: little does poor ol’ J.T. know what his decision just did to downtown San Jose with that one move to save his voice. Countless businesses had tomorrow night circled on their calendar and had probably scheduled extra staff members knowing that the large number of people downtown would boost their revenue, make their businesses hop and their tables fill. But, wait, not so fast….
We have always known that the entertainment and restaurant industry downtown is completely and totally dependent on HP Pavilion and any events it brings in. It’s been that way for years. However, is enough being done to make sure that these businesses don’t fail on account of Justin Timberlake feeling under the weather?
The sheer number of people that concerts and events downtown bring in cannot be rivaled, but we need to give these businesses a critical mass of people to fill their restaurants and businesses: more events at the Convention Center, more street festivals and fairs, more plays, outdoor movies and concerts. We need more, more, more; and even though things are happening, they are not happening fast enough.
This also leads back to the discussion we have been having about whether we are building too much housing in San Jose and not leaving enough space for industrial zoning. Though I am not sure I agree that we need to stop building housing (we still need to reach a critical mass of people living downtown), I do believe that we need more offices and industrial use. I don’t mean just a Quizno’s here and there; we need branches of the likes of Google, Apple, Microsoft and Nextel.
We are the tenth largest city in the country, but where are all the people? Well, we know one thing for sure: those that were going to spend money downtown tomorrow night before and after attending the concert will probably be eating at home instead.
Have John Michael O’Connor substitute for Justin Timberlake. I would love to attend a four hour lecture by Mr. O’Connor on how to make downtown better.
It’s a sad commentary that the success or failure re: an evening’s worth of receipts for restaurants and bars downtown can hinge on the whims of a twirp.
Sorry SG, but whether or not a performer is an “entertainer” is a matter of opinion, and I strongly disagree with you. I’d be fine if this breed of irresponsible “entertainer” died out tomorrow.
But I can’t rhyme like you, George.
It’s not just evenings, SG; weekends are dead. Last Saturday I finished a round of golf and headed down to Capers Loft for lunch. It was just about halftime of the Raiders game. The manager/bartender downstairs acceded to my request to turn on the BMW Golf so I could watch Tiger. After Tiger won, we switched back and watched the Raiders go down in flames.
While watching golf a fellow came in and asked why were weren’t watching Raiders. Manager replied that I had asked for golf, and that in the 2 1/2 hours that they had been open, I was the first customer!!!
In the 2 1/2 hours I was there, they had perhaps six customers. They can’t have even made payroll with that customer count.
I left and went the three blocks to my office, and saw very few people downtown. Lots of new storefronts along Second Street @ the new apts….all empty. No-one leasing the retail space. One would think that mixed use construction on transit lines would draw; but not in SJ on weekends. We need much more residential density to make retail downtown work.
Need more housing? Take cues from Austin, where developers there are trigger happy. About 13 condo/hotel highrises are underway in downtown’s west end. They range from 40-55 stories. Austin has a bright future, which San Jose doesn’t. The developers are too cautious here and sensitive. Alot of them just don’t pull the trigger here. The housing market in Austin is not any stronger there. It’s just that the developers and the lenders there are more eager to go for it, not San Jose; therefore, San Jose will never have the critical mass to support any businesses downtown. It’ll always rely on events at the arena or convention center, and if a performer pulls out for whatever reason, the businesses will tank. That’s the way it goes. Johnmichael #3 is very right, but unfortunately, we can’t build enough housing to sustain the downtown’s economy for the next 15 years unless we build them fast enough and have as much housing underway like Austin, Charlotte, San Diego, Chicago, New York, Vancouver, Toronto and Miami. The market here is every bit strong as those, but the people in the real estate such as developers and lenders are too chicken to proceed like those of the cities I mentioned above. Unless that changes, downtown will be very, very unhealthy for a long time which will require periodical subsidies to keep downtown afloat.
I think it’s sad that people think their only entertainment option is some big star they’ve seen on TV.
One of the things about Austin (#4) is that they have a thriving entertainment scene built on supporting local artists. Or maybe we could learn from our sister city, Dublin, which also has a thriving nightlife based on local artists.
City policy in SJ is basically to make sure that live entertainment doesn’t happen except at the arena—not exactly a recipe for exciting nightlife.
Today is September 11th, and in my mind and heart it is a day to reflect on our blessings, the excellent work of Fire Fighters and the Police everywhere, (many of whom flew out to New York to help). It is a day to come together to remember the many heroes of 911, and to mourn the loss of innocent people who lost their lives.
In today’s Merc, I read about the protest scheduled for today at 5pm. It is a protest against the Police and their use of tasers.
I’m wondering about the timing of such a protest. It shows so little respect for the Police and other Peace Officers who keep us safe in our homes, businesses, and on the streets.
I’m really disappointed in the lack of sensitivity of these selfish people, that they would even consider a protest of Police Officers on the anniversary of Sept. 11th.
Kathleen – I can’t agree more. Whatever you think about the use of Tasers, it is not appropriate to stage a protest against, or involving our Police Department on this, OF ALL DAYS. It is not just insulting to our Peace Officers; it is an insult to this nation to in any way protest our Police Department on the very day when our Peace Officers and Firefighters were called upon in rescue efforts (and many died) when our nation suffered from a terrorist attack.
I support the right to protest; I support these individual’s right to have an opinion on this topic, and express it; I am shocked at their lack of decorum.
RIP – San Jose Grand Prix
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6862780
Good riddance San Jose Grand Prix.
Alfred #5 wrote:“City policy in SJ is basically to make sure that live entertainment doesn’t happen except at the arena—not exactly a recipe for exciting nightlife.”
Alfred, could you please expand on that a bit, with examples. Do you believe there is a city policy that keeps entertainment confined to The Shark TanK? Clearly it would not be a written policy; but examples of why you feel that way would be interesting and provocative.
I have worked in SJ since 1973 and lived in Santa Clara County since 1975 or so, and in Willow Glen since 1980. During that entire time I noticed that when national acts came to the bay area, they’d play SJ & its environs mid-week (if at all), and do the higher paying weekend gigs in The City (where I lived for a dozen or so years before moving down here).
My take on it was that there just wasn’t a big enough audience to attract big acts to SJ on weekends. I still believe that to be true.
Despite all efforts since the McEnery years to make downtown SJ a vibrant destination, it still ain’t one..not even for people living in SC County, let alone other bay area locations.
I have always felt that the reason for this is the predominately suburban character of the folks who live here; not all, but the vast majority. The things that urban folks like just don’t resonate with at least 80% of the population of SJ. Thus, our “downtown” remains moribund despite the best efforts of a lot of intelligent and well-meaning people since at least 1980, or so, coupled with the expediture of at least $2 BILLION of public money (not counting the Taj Gonzal).
Those folks who believe that SJ, by virtue of its place as tenth largest city in the USA, can somehow take its place among similar-size and smaller cities in the USA that have vibrant night life and entertainment, are quite simply deluded.
There’s a lot more to life than Justin Timberlake, The Dave Matthews Band, Depeche Mode, The Killers, or The Rolling Stones.
By virtue of our proximity to SF, a couple of generations of civic leaders have tried to force SJ into being something that it’s not—a city, in the 20th century sense of the word. We’re the ‘burbs, and the sooner some folks realize that there is nothing wrong with that, the better off we may be.
So, we need to start playing to our strengths, instead of trying to emulate something that most SJ residents do not consider positive.
JMOC: San Jose is plenty big enough to make room for a “city-like” downtown and maintain suburban lifestyle in many other parts of the city. There’s no point in having 175 square miles of sameness.
Guess what? The Grand Prix is cancelled just like Justin Timberlake. It goes to show you that you can’t rely on events to help downtown or save it. Mo housing, mo housing will! Alot of housing or downtown will die. It’s black + white. It’s that simple. Not just 4 highrises, that are under construction, will save downtown, it is 20 condo towers that will, along with several more office and hotel towers. The lenders are king, and they’re too cautious as I mentioned above. You better hurry up or just simply give up!
#10 Berkeley is a ‘burb too, but there’s a lot more going on there than there is here. Partly this is due to the university, but it shows that even a ‘burb can have an identity.
Thirty years ago there were way more venues for live music than there are now. A few of them catered to national acts, but many of them featured local musicians.
Not all of this can be blamed on the city; for example Starbucks put a lot of locally owned coffee houses, many of which featured live music, out of business. But the city can contribute by making it harder to get liquor licenses if a venue has live music, and by selective enforcement of laws, making it difficult to get permission to use amplification in public parks, cracking down on street performers, etc.
If I want to hear some live music, I usually end up going to Santa Cruz, which has way more live music venues per capita than SJ.
It’s sad because SJ used to have a fairly lively music scene, which generated some big acts, e.g. the Doobie Brothers, but now that has been swept away in the drive to become the ultimate vanilla ‘burb.
This past weekend the little town of Murphys busted out at the seams. They hosted the Doobie Bros on Saturday & BB King Sunday at Ironstone Vineyards and free concerts at the community park with local talent Friday and Saturday evenings. http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/concertseries/index.html
http://www.visitmurphys.com/events.html
It’s a combination of community service and businesses partnering to keep the local economy healthy and it works. SJ needs to prioritize local attractions and individuals need to get involved. If you wait for someone else to do it, it won’t happen.
FYI – I poured wine for the Community Club Friday night & had a blast. The food, the wine and the music were all great.
My beloved, poor DSJ,
No Justin Timberlake, No more Grand Prix, no Living Tomorrow Pavilion at block 2 San Fernando, no Cirque du Soleil…just more of the same ole bad news for our beloved city core. And Mark T. is right on again…it’s just too bad all of our downtown restaurants/bars are so event dependent. It’s probably too late and “legally” impossible, but I’ll throw this out anyway…DSJ sure could use 32,000 people 81 times per year (cough CISCO FIELD cough). Why should an empty field in Fremont enjoy our downtowns ticket to greatness? Heck, even getting another 40+ dates of 18,500 people (cough NBA cough) would help out. It’s a damn shame to see great restaurants and bars (Capers Loft) go to waste with no life whatsoever.
For once in ages I’m agreeing with John Michael O’Connor. Before the ‘burbs were built, after WWII and Korea, downtown was where everything happened. That was when San Jose had 75,000 residents. We’d go downtown for everything we needed. There were theaters all over First Street. The stage venues were the Civic Auditorium and Montgomery Theater. Then the suburbs came. The city chased everyone out to the suburbs by installing parking meters. Valley Fair was first, then Eastridge and Oakridge and now Santana Row. Plenty of parking and it’s FREE. It’s more fun to walk the streets of Santana Row than downtown by a long shot. About all the downtown attracts now are the rowdies from out of town to tear up the bars and clubs on weekend nights.
I’ve lived in San Jose my whole life. I love this place and would never want to live anywhere else. However, that is starting to change. I feel like the city doesn’t listen to it’s citizens and is making things worse.
I live in North San Jose near Lundy and Brokaw. I bought my very first new house there in 1993 when I was 24 (it was only 250,000 bux). It was a great place to live; not so much traffic compaired to everywhere else.
Recently, they’ve been building houses in every nook and cranny. They’ve torn down industrial areas on old oakland rd and built new houses and built more condos and townhomes packing in people like sardines.
I don’t know how long or how many more people can live here but, it really sucks. Now, I immagine myself living in a quaint old New England town near the ocean on the east coast… My loyalty to this area is starting to waiver :O(
I also totally agree with Kathleen # 6. Rather than have these so-called activists protest the police and their supposed brutalities, they should go out into the greater community and provide forums on BEHAVING CIVILY. Act like a regular human being and abide by our laws, and you won’t have to worry about being “tased and abused.” The greater good over the rights of thugs/criminals!
Downtown San Jose is falling apart right before your eyes. It’s a total failure. San Jose will never be a successful city. Downtown can never sustain itself and be viable. It’s a loss cause. Give up, man!
#21- Thank you for your comments. I heard both Council Member Williams, and Supervisor Blanca Alvarado suggest that the public be offered some kind of training in how to behave when stopped by a Police Officer. I wonder if that will ever happen.
We seem to live in a City where illegal immigrants have the legal right to protest the law and call it racism, if we demand they be arrested and deported for sneaking over here. Out of towners can come downtown get drunk, start fights, and scream Police brutality, and we hold the Police responsible, not the guilty parties. We have club owners who are irresponsible and who serve too much alcohol to cliental, and then complain about $5.00 parking fees killing their businesses, and Police brutality.
We have legal immigrants who don’t speak English, who own businesses but don’t use English in their business signs. They want us to respect their need to come here for freedoms they don’t have in their native born country, but don’t want their right to be exclusive questioned. We “white privileged people,” are not allowed to be exclusive or we’re called racists. We have Japan Town and now we’ll have “Little Saigon”, or some Vietnamese name that will further alienate Vietnamese businesses and people from we American born folks.
I’m deeply concerned about the lack of willingness by immigrants to assimilate to our customs, while maintaining their own traditions. This exclusionary behavior creates hate crimes, prejudice, and a lack of community. We’re one people, and we’re in this thing together.
I must say I’m confused by the perception of these folks, and what exactly can be done to change the minds of these folks who feel so entitled to “special treatment.” ~
Nam #11—yes, SJ is certainly big enough to do what you say…but the majority of the people who live here don’t care whether it happens or not. The one thing downtown promoters from Tom McE forward refuse to admit is that most people who live in SJ don’t care about downtown, or whether it succeeds or not. That’s what suburbanites are—people who don’t give a damn about a “downtown”. 25 years and a few BILLION$$ have not changed that attitude, yet the boosters keep trying.
Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Well, for 25 years the RDA has been pouring $$ into making downtown SJ economically viable. It hasn’t happened yet, and is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.
I’m on the interest list for the new CIM dowtown 23 storey condo building on San Fernando. I’m part of the minority who would like to walk to almost everywhere I want to be. But I recognize I am in the minority. If downtown residents were to increase by an order of magnitude, they would still be in the minority of people who gave a damn about downtown’s viability.
Our city streets are in many cases Third World, but we find $$ to subsidize The (not so) Grand Prix, and McCormick & Schmicks.
Kathleen #22 wrote:“I heard both Council Member Williams, and Supervisor Blanca Alvarado suggest that the public be offered some kind of training in how to behave when stopped by a Police Officer.”
People really need training for that? I received simple training from my Dad as a youth: anyone with a gun and a badge was addressed as “Sir” and all his/her orders/requests were complied with immediately. The street is not the place to contest lawful or unlawful orders of people with guns and badges. The courts are the place where you do the contesting.
Folks who want to settle it on the street with cops deserve everything they get in response.
#24-I agree with you 100% JMO. My parents told me the very same thing, but I’m 50 years old. I can tell you that kids today don’t get those valuable teachings from their parents now or days! Most families are run by a single mother trying to make sure she can feed and clothe, and shelter her kids.
I work with youthful offenders and I can tell you they have a complete disregard, and disrespect for authority figures.
We also have a lot of immigrants in this country who don’t know the law. Some teaching would help them to understand what is expected of them.
And when you have illegals marching out in the open demanding rights in a country that tolerates outright lawlessness by not arresting them for coming here illegally, what do you think we are teaching our children?
The HP Pavilion is the only wolrd class facility in San Jose that can attract visitors from out of the area. The convention center is a joke. It can oly book second and third tier conventions whose participants are on a tight budget. Even then, they couldn’t wait for the convention to end so they can make the rush up to San Francisco.
Downtown San José – off the mark
#4 – “The developers are too cautious here and sensitive. A lot of them just don’t pull the trigger here. The housing market in Austin is not any stronger there. It’s just that the developers and the lenders there are more eager to go for it, not San Jose; therefore, San Jose will never have the critical mass to support any businesses downtown.”
#10 – “I have always felt that the reason for this is the predominately suburban character of the folks who live here; not all, but the vast majority. The things that urban folks like just don’t resonate with at least 80% of the population of SJ.”
Downtown San José – on the mark
Developers can build as many high rises, lofts or “warehouse spaces” until there is no more room. This is NOT the problem. JMOC almost hit the mark; I live in D1 (West San José) and go downtown every weekend day and many weekday nights. Most of my neighbors will not go downtown for several reasons (many of which may be misperceptions):
· No parking that is convenient to city center
· Filthy with dirt and litter
· Too many homeless
· Too many bars
· Too much “bad smells”
· Too many “gangsters”
· Not enough entertainment for families in their 30’s, 40’s & 50’s
· Too much cruising
· No shopping – like Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s or high-end department store(s)
· Why should I go downtown when I have everything here: Santana Row just down the street, parks with paths that are safe and people that make me feel safe and secure.
Until we, city staff, council, mayor, RDA address the above concerns the “suburbs” will NOT come downtown.
JUSTIN TIMBERFAKE ,BRITANY SPEARS HOW DISGRACEFUL ,NO WONDER FOREIGN COUNTRIES HATE US,AND SINGLE GAL ,YOU JUST LOST MY VOTE ,AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE DIFFERANT!
Thank God I found your blog! I was beginning to think that I was the only young female blogger in the area not writing about the tech industry!!!!
No shame in liking Justin; I’ll admit it, I think he’s hot!!!
I have to say I disagree about too much housing, though. We def. need more businesses downtown, but who can blame them for not setting up shop here with the rent being what it is?
I’ve noticed that some of the units being built downtown are being touted as affordable housing, and indeed, and priced reasonably well. Affordable housing is sorely needed in the area, and IMO, needed more than new businesses.