Posted by bel, a resident of the Val Vista neighborhood, on May 19, 2009 at 12:43 pm

I would love to know too. Last time I drove by I noticed they have done a lot of work over there, so something must be moving in.

Posted by Huh?, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on May 19, 2009 at 3:58 pm

Yes! we need our 20th Starbucks! Let's start a campaign now to get another Starbucks....

seriously, I agree with the poster on every other point - well made, just would personally hate to see Starbucks - how about an independent coffee house OR a smaller chain?

we miss the ice cream parlor, Ben Franklins (what a cool variety store that was) and Flair Markets the most - the Chinese restaurant was very good too -what happened to this place??

Posted by Get out of the wagon, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on May 19, 2009 at 5:10 pm

They couldn't afford the taxes here and went to a cheaper city, county, state...

Posted by M, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on May 19, 2009 at 9:38 pm

coming from a 30-something single female-- would love to see a gym, bar (with a non-descript neon sign depicting "bar" out front), fast food, and coffee place. i'd support them all--- all day, everyday! a dance studio, sushi place that doesn't sell alcohol (do they yet?) and jewelry store does me no good ;)

Posted by Donald, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on May 19, 2009 at 9:41 pm

Starbucks would be ok but,I was thiking like you an independent coffee house or a smaller chain. It would be great to get all the stores up and going!!!

Posted by Get your neighbors to stop complaining, a resident of the Vineyard Avenue neighborhood, on May 19, 2009 at 10:40 pm

Seems to me there has been some talk about businesses going in that center, but even mention the idea of a delivery truck and everyone gets excited!

I agree The Home Depot had no business going in at Stanley and Bernal, but if you want any business at all that requires delivery, you are going to have to share the road with some trucks on occasion.

I hope the rents are low enough to encourage some people who fear downtown to give it a go. All reports say this is a time to capitalize on a great business idea!

And if the business is good, people will hear about it and seek it out no matter what the address.

Posted by cari, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 8:07 am

They need to do a "Gene's" satelite market...

Posted by dancermom, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 8:14 am

I would kill for a coffee shop, an ice cream or yogurt parlor for the kids, a small grocery store (a la Fresh and Easy or Gene's,)and a small gym for an inexpensive workout. Been hoping for those for over 15 years. Maybe someday....

Posted by Furdog, a resident of the Pleasanton Heights neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 8:21 am

Unfortunately, all the major markets have looked at the site (Trader Joes, Gene's, Safeway, Fresh & Easy, etc.) and none of them feel that the demographics are there to support a store. I find that hard to believe!

Rents are too high for small mom and pops to operate storefronts.

Posted by John, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 9:53 am

From what I know the land is owned by two brothers that fight with each other about the land. I think they live in FLA or something. The one brother will let the land just sit and rot to spite the other brother. Some of this may have changed because of the clean up but I think that had more to do with the city telling them they had to clean the eye sore or they would and send them a bill. This is what I was told by a city official and hopefully they put something good in there but I doubt it.

Posted by Vintage Hills Dweller, a resident of the Vineyard Avenue neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 10:10 am

as kids we used to love going here to Flair, Ben Franklin and Baskin Robbins - there was even a video rental place for a long time and a small short-lived toy/trinket shop but for far too many years this has been nothing but blight - with two long standing businesses holding on - the dry cleaners and a beauty salon. Please someone force this property owner to clean it up (seems like someone has done just that!) and let's get some mixed use tenants in here (mixed use meaning appealing to a variety of Vintage Hills dwellers and others)...kid friendly places would be delightful to see again (so I can bring my own kid) - doesn't seem like there will ever be a market again although Gene's would be an excellent idea!

Posted by LK, a resident of the Mohr Park neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 10:14 am

I used to live in that neighborhood. It does need a food/grocery related store, something more affordable (Trader Joe"S?) . A gym or a Yoga Studio would be nice too.

I would love a Yoga Studio!

Posted by CK, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 10:17 am

How about an Art/community center that sells coffee and treats. Something that has craft activities for the kids.

Posted by Neighbor, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 11:43 am

How 'bout a Trader Joe's? Lots of parking.

Posted by Nosy Neighbors, a resident of the Pleasanton Heights neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 12:04 pm

It seems there is a small logistical issue with the street orientations on Old Vineyard & Bernal that makes it difficult for large trucks to negotiate the entry points to the shopping center. While the city could widen some portions with the present state of the city that would probably come to be the responsibility of the tenant or property owner. The recent widening of the Vineyard Bridge is a step in the right direction for increased traffic in the area but just what more would be required?

I also remember from some article, study etc. that the area itself was not considered "able to support or sustain" (something to that affect) an upscale anchor market & related retail storefronts. Too many lower income, rental & mobile housing in the area. That might be so but there are also $1+ million homes just a few blocks away from there as well so what gives?

So many questions, too many Starbucks & not enough local flavor.

Posted by Local, a resident of the Stoneridge neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 12:13 pm

I'd love to see a Trader Joe's there. I would definitely support the store. The one on Pimlico has the worst parking lot, very hard to get a parking spot at peak times and the slope of the parking lot is dangerous because the carts can roll into your car too easily. I drive to the Livermore location just to avoid the parking situation. If not Trader Joe's, I'd love to see Fresh & Easy.

Posted by Craig, a resident of the Grey Eagle Estates neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 12:16 pm

The place needs to be torn down and some condo/townhouses built there. This place has never done well as a retail site. All the nieghbors are just going to complain no matter what goes in. Maybe a retirement center like Parkview? Something like that would do MUCH better than retail. The two brothers (I think both live in Hong Kong) could careless about it. They only cleaned up the property because of threats from the City.

Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Stacey is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com

Aw, keep yer tax dollars in Pleasanton! Shop at Pleasanton's TJs!

Posted by Karen, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 1:26 pm

We also drive to Livermore because the TJ's in Pleasanton is such a hassle to park at. Blah.

It would be GREAT to have one at the site in Vintage Hills, or maybe a Whole Foods?

Or what about something like "City Beach" (in Fremont) or "Sky High" in Santa Clara?

Posted by Look out for dancermom!, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 1:41 pm

dancermom...

You would "kill" for a coffee shop, ice cream or yogurt parlor for the kids, etc?

Have you considered an at-home coffee/espresso machine? Or stocking up on the icecream vats at Costco? There might be another way to shore-up these homicidal tendencies. In fact, just to help you, there is a drive through dairy that sells ice cream about another mile away downtown and you don't even need to get out of your car if you are feeling hostile! There is also a gym in the Raley's shopping center with a yogurt shop next door AND a Peet's inside Raley's just a bit further than that to cover all your needs.

I know it is upsetting for you to be without caffeine/ice cream...

Wait...are YOU the one that drove into Fitness Express? Whoa you weren't kidding that you'd kill for coffee! I vote a coffee-shop in at the shopping store so dancermom doesn't hurt anyone!! Look at what she is capable of!!

Web Link

Posted by Hoaggie Weinstein, a resident of the Kottinger Ranch neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 3:02 pm

How about a new larger library with air conditioning and wow look at the parking.

Traders joe's I agree-I go to livermore-the parking is better. how can one shop at Trader Joes when there is NEVER and parking.

Forget the gym-just get out and walk.

yoga-forget that too

just five us a grocery store so we don't have to drive to the store.

Posted by Senior Citizen, a resident of the Vineyard Avenue neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 5:23 pm

Excuse me, but you can no longer include the mobile home parks in the same breath as low rental properties. And we, the senior citizens of Pleasanton, support businesses just as well as any other resident. Some sort of grocery would be ideal in that center, and would be convenient for us, the "oldsters" in our "mobiles",to hobble over there on our canes and walkers. We only ask that the Mercedes, Jags and Beemers driving there from Gray Eagle and Ruby Hill keep an eye out for us as we cross the street.

Posted by Olde Towne Oldtimer, a resident of the Old Towne neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 7:37 pm

We too have missed the great Romleys Produce and fine meat market. Similar to Genes, great service and quality. We ultimately became close friends of the produce manager. A high end quality market or maybe even an Ice Rink might work. I've heard rumors of such.

Posted by frank, a resident of the Pleasanton Heights neighborhood, on May 20, 2009 at 10:32 pm

Seems like John in Birdland knows some of the key information that explains the root of the problem.

John, can you tell us more about your sources?

If there is some kind of emotional fight going on between the owners, who may have no compelling economic imperative to settle their differences over this property, then the mostly vacant shopping center can persist into near perpetuity.

That information is more relevant than all of the logical discussion above.

Posted by Fotis, a resident of the Vintage Hills Elementary School neighborhood, on May 17, 2010 at 2:27 am

Hello, wow interesting coments, specialy the very first one, I really thought that this will be a very nice neighborhood to open a service oriented business, I've been a jeweler , goldsmith and watchmaker for as long I can remember and I chose Vintage Hills Shopping Center because the location is actually pretty good, the people I meat allready are very nice and polite and in general I had a good feedback .

When more stores will open up it will be better, hopefully soon, the owners have a very nice vision about the place and yes the owners are here.

And to reply on the first coment here, I do not sell gold n time, I repair watches and fix and redesign fine jewelry.

Thank you and God Bless