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Pleasanton’s locals can look forward this weekend to the ceremonial grand opening of Pacific Pearl, the new shopping center on the east side of the city designed with a focus on the region’s Asian-American influences.
Located off Interstate 580 at the El Charro Road exit, the 112,000-square-foot retail complex is anchored by Pleasanton’s second 99 Ranch Market and features an array of Asian restaurants, specialty shops, salons and other businesses — many of which are already open.
“Pacific Pearl is bringing different restaurant choices to the Tri-Valley area, whereas before the new shopping center, locals would travel to Oakland or further for culturally authentic meals,” said Heath McCue, the center’s senior marketing director.
Owned by Danville-based Blake-Griggs Properties Inc. and managed by Vestar, Pacific Pearl is located at the intersection of El Charro Road and Stoneridge Drive.
The area has become a burgeoning retail hub for the Tri-Valley, with the CarMax dealership across the street in Pleasanton, the San Francisco Premium Outlets and The Shops at Livermore (under construction) across the street in Livermore and the Fallon Gateway right across the freeway in Dublin.
The project took more than seven years to bring to fruition the original concept of creating a shopping center in Pleasanton to cater more directly to Asian-Americans in the Tri-Valley, who make up about 30% of the population within 10 miles of the site, according to the developers.
The Pleasanton City Council in 2015 approved developers’ plans to build Pacific Pearl on an 11.5-acre site at Staples Ranch just off I-580. Construction began in the months afterward, and the first businesses started opening their doors late last year as work continued to wrap up around the property.
“We’re really looking forward to the grand opening event and encourage everyone to check out some of the new shops and restaurants, some of which we’re already familiar with, like 99 Ranch Market, but some are new to our community,” Pleasanton Mayor Jerry Thorne said ahead of Saturday’s grand-opening festivities. “More restaurants mean more opportunities for eating out and trying new foods, and I’m excited for all the new choices Pacific Pearl brings to Pleasanton.”
Pacific Pearl has 26 retail and commercial spaces in all, with only one or two spots still available for lease. Nearly all of the signed tenants have already opened — or will be open for business as of this weekend.
“A lot of the businesses stand out within the shopping center, as well as in the Tri-Valley such as 85° Bakery Café and Snowflake, which came from Vancouver, as well as Candy Doll Beauty,” McCue said. Candy Doll Beauty, a salon that uses and sells a variety of popular Japanese and Korean beauty products to respond to different needs, is one of the businesses scheduled to open Saturday.
“The addition of mouth-watering eateries … are bringing the taste of a variety of Asian and European cultures to Pleasanton and offering the center’s visitors an uncommon dining experience,” McCue added.
Other Pacific Pearl shops include restaurants like Fiery Shanghai, Bonchon Restaurant (Korean) and Bambu cafe (Vietnamese), spice and herbal store Tak Yuan Herbal, and services such as La Salon & Spa and Pure Organic Nail Salon.
Another new restaurant is Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, which was originally founded in Japan and now has hundreds of locations, including in the U.S., with two in the Bay Area, according to manager Danny Jung.
He praised the more diverse offerings at Pacific Pearl compared to other retail centers in the area, saying, “More authentic food Japanese style sushi, the Asian food cuisine whereas at the Outlets the food is more American-style; the foods being served are Chipotle, Johnny Rockets, Subway, etc. Pacific Pearl has more ramen, Korean barbecue; more toward Asian crowds and Asian foods.”
Jung said their restaurant is ready for this weekend’s grand-opening event. “We are expecting new customers, people that haven’t entered before. We are looking forward to seeing new faces. We want to be ready and have new varieties ready,” he added.
He also pointed out Kura is in the middle of its own special event through Sunday.
“Every month, we have a ‘Japan Fair’ in the middle two weeks, that started Friday the 13th and ends Sunday the 22nd. What’s cool about this fair is that we have limited quality fish and meat you can’t buy anywhere else,” Jung said. “Because of the ‘Japan Fair,’ we have our fish and meats come from Japan, and we are able to sell quality products at a fair price using authentic Japanese ingredients.”
Local residents Felice Rubi and son Christopher were among the shoppers checking out Pacific Pearl last weekend.
“We started by Snowflake, and have been walking around the whole premises to see all the shops and restaurants that are open now,” Felice Rubi said. “It’s separated from the Outlets; the way the facility is set up, I like the variety and new things.”
“When I look at different foods and places to eat, I like taste, flavoring, different experiences and variety,” Christopher Rubi added.
And over at Mumu Hot Pot restaurant, manager Carmen Stewart also spoke highly of the new shopping center while looking ahead to Saturday’s celebration.
“I’m expecting people of the community to enjoy themselves, they will enjoy the great foods and stores we have to offer,” Stewart said. “We will also have a set up of different meats and vegetables, demonstrating to our customers how to cook the food, sharing the experience with our customers welcoming the diversity and sharing the experience with our customers.”
The grand opening runs from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Pacific Pearl — which is accessible to drivers via the Stoneridge Drive-Auto Mall Way intersection.
Community presentations are scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. on the main stage near 85° Bakery Café, and opening ceremonies are scheduled at 12:45 p.m., along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Entertainment will include a traditional lion dance performance by Jing Mo Athletic Association and a traditional waking of the lion ceremony at the main stage. Interactive Indian dance by the BollyNaach Dance Company is scheduled to perform at 2:15 p.m. at the food court.
A variety of other activities will take place throughout the center, such as cookie decorating, kids crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, live beverage skirt performances and martial arts demonstrations.
For more information on Pacific Pearl and Saturday’s celebration, visit Shoppacificpearl.com.
Already open at Pacific Pearl
85° Bakery Café
99 Ranch Market
Basil Delight
Brilliant Minds Academy
East Bay Vision Optometry Center
Fiery Shanghai
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
La Salon Spa
Lern Education
Mumu Hot Pot
Pleasant Dental Care
Poke Moana
Pure Organic Nail Salon
Snowflake Dessert House
Sugar Dynasty
Tak Yuan Herbal
New businesses set to open soon
Bak Kung Korean BBQ
Bambu
Beijing Chef
Bonchon Restaurant
Candy Doll Beauty
Dalian Club House
Jinya Ramen Bar
King Wah Restaurant & International Food Court
Yummy Chengdu
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The scene at one interior corner of Pacific Pearl. (Photo by Mike Sedlak) -
Mom Felice Rubi and son Christopher Rubi enjoy the day shopping around Pacific Pearl viewing the shops that have opened before the grand ceremony.(Photo by Cierra Martinez) -
Fresh produce are among the draws to 99 Ranch Market, the center’s anchor grocery store. (Photo by Cierra Martinez) -
Jugnu Gaur picking out pastries to take home from 85°C Bakery Café. (Photo by Mike Sedlak) -
Another new restaurant is Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. (Photo by Mike Sedlak) -
Pacific Pearl is a shopping center in east Pleasanton with authentic Asian restaurants and shops, celebrating its grand opening starting at noon Saturday. (Photo by Mike Sedlak) -
Pacific Pearl sits at the corner of El Charro Road and Stoneridge Drive, an area that has become a burgeoning retail hub for the Tri-Valley. (Photo by Mike Sedlak) -
(Photo by Mike Sedlak) -
Poke Moana offers raw fish with mixed greens and fresh ingredients poke bowls.(Photo by Mike Sedlak) -
At La Salon Spa, Raymond Hung styles Sue Whitt’s hair and Angela Lim cuts Mark Newton’s hair. (Photo by Mike Sedlak) -
Suji Park paints a customer’s nails at Pure Organic Nail Salon. (Photo by Mike Sedlak)
Isnt it a little discrimatory to only lease to Asian businesses? Secondly, doesn’t this fly in the face of diversity. It is hypocritical and dont tell me its a celebration of Asian culture when every strip commercial center and shopping areas have these same or similar (sushi, hot pot, nails, etc) businesses. I know, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, etc are different but the marketing is still “Asian” which by the way are all mono-cultures without much diversity in those countries as it is. I guess it is another sign that China owns the United States debt and we are all too PC.
Chill out Bella. Nobody’s going to make you shop there. I believe they are catering to the tourism industry at the outlets. If suddenly, Swedes were making a point to visit the outlet malls, you’d see endless blocks of pickled fish and reindeer restaurants.
It’s not reverse discrimination. It’s good business. And you might make a point to go! I do, and I especially like the tasty treats at the bakery.
I really miss Claude and Dominique’s Bistro.
Bella isn’t wrong in her sentiment – there would be great backlash against a European center that only leased to European businesses (though to BobB’s point I didn’t see any reference to a business being rejected from opening in the center).
Bill,
Discrimination is discrimination, when you preface it with “reverse” discrimination you create an alternate definition that can then be viewed as more, less, or equally wrong. If an Asian center is preventing a Indian business from opening because they are Indian, that is discrimination. If an Asian center prevents a European business from opening because they’re European, that is discrimination.
I didn’t say there was any type of discrimination, reverse or otherwise.
I also don’t think you’d find any backlash at all over a European Center. Heck, last time I was in Solvang I didn’t see any protesters. Consider a European Design Center, with furniture and such. I don’t believe you’d see a backlash.
A lot of folks get their backs up when they see members of races that aren’t white congregating together. It’s a natural racist reaction. Something to work on getting over.
Food does not discriminate, that is what Pacific Pearl is about.
Wow, the discrimination, didn’t know!! So the nail salon, dentist, kids learning center are asians only?? I gotta report this.
Btw, I also saw a white person the other day with a Boba drink!! I can’t believe whites are now pretending to be asian.
I drove by the other day and saw lots of whites in Kura sushi and the thai place. Traitors!!!!
@Pleasanton Parent & Bella
Where did you guys come up with the idea that the Center is only leasing to Asian businesses and others are excluded? Go ahead and knock yourselves out and apply to set up an all-you-can-eat haggis restaurant at the Center if you want to introduce some Occidental flair. Sheesh, it’s pathetic to go through life constantly looking out for imagined slights and injustices.
Let’s open a white-Caucasian center!
Doug,
Re-read and you’ll see I didn’t say they did.
@Bella
You’re just determined to look for a hurt in all this, aren’t you? Get real. If you were the owner of a “Bubba’s BBQ” restaurant chain, do you think that San Francisco Chinatown or Oakland Chinatown or an Asian-themed shopping center would be a great area to set up a new store? How about a neighborhood in Berkeley in the middle of a bunch of vegan and vegetarian restaurants?
As for your “doubts” that non-Asian businesses are allowed to lease there, why don’t you actually look up what the facts are about leasing policies, or is it always your habit to throw out unsupported accusations without bothering to look up any facts?
BTW, if you had bothered to scan through the list of businesses at the center, you would have noticed that there are several which are not Asian-themed.
Isn’t Poke Moana more Hawaiian than asian?
Bella,
Are you a resident of Ponderosa or Alisal Elementary? Are you lost?
We now spend 6 months of the year out of the Bay Area and California. In our large Pleasanton neighborhood, the primary language spoken is Mandarin. If you are an English speaker in the Tri-Valley you feel like a foreigner in your own country. We find it so darn refreshing in the months we are out of the Bay Area, we are likely to get out completely. Glad the influx of foreigners has pumped up the price of houses, so we can cash in on the way out.
I guess I better not go to Solvang for fear of being a racist. And getting fat eating all those great butter cookies.
Poor Pleasanton, finally getting diversity.
It’s good for all of us!
It never ceases to amaze me when people react negatively to things that happen to be different than what they’re accustomed to (esp things so innocuous as cuisine or the language that is spoken by someone or displayed on signage). Ultimately, it stems from some type of fear. But hopeful we can all remember that our common humanity binds us in much more ways than what a few vocal dissenters would like us to believe.
Thanks, Boycott Solvang! That’s exactly what I wanted to say reading this.
I guess some people are uncomfortable with the Constitution’s notion of freedom of association. They scream at the birds for flocking. How dare you geese quack instead of speak in fluent mid-Atlantic tinged English like Frasier Crane, who is a crane after all! If you can’t be lily white in your theme then don’t be here.
My suggestion to people with that sort of thinking (Bella) is that you buy a large plot of land and open up a European themed strip mall. No one will stop you. We might even go there. The answer to feee speech (and their Chinese-lettered signs are free speech) is more speech. Have at it.
Marketing in multiple languages has absolutely nothing to do with free speech.
Grumpy, you’re right, there is nothing wrong with people of similar backgrounds congregating together…..oh, except for when the population isnt statistically representative of the population demographic it resides in. So by today’s politically socially woke standards an Asian center that doesn’t have statistically representative public participation must be inherently bias and be part of a subconscious bias that is discriminatory in nature.
@PP, that’s okay. You don’t have to like the 1st Amendment.
Yes, commercial names are protected free speech. (For example, the Supreme Court in 2007: Matal v. Tam: read https://www.theiplawblog.com/2017/07/articles/trademark-law/offensive-trademarks-are-protected-free-speech-under-the-first-amendment/)
And operating a culturally-targeted center is protected free association. So long as no one is denied service based on their race, people are allowed to congregate as they please.
It’s really the fundamental theme of the Bill of Rights. A church does not need to take down its cross because other religions might not find it representative of the community. And neither does an Asian restaurant need to take down its name. It’s one of the few things that’s black and white in our system.
What I don’t get is why so many people claim the government violates the Constitution one moment (“don’t take our guns”, “don’t force us to make wedding cakes”) yet throw the Constitution out when the shoe is on the other foot.
Me, I think the Constitution has some pragmatic or mechanistic flaws, but the values it represents are inspired and are one of the few forces that cause the arc of history to bend to good.
There is nothing wrong with our constitution.
The only personality to challenge it, and won.
Was Muhammad Ali.
An example of a pragmatic flaw is the commerce clause, which leaves it to be too ambiguous where the line is between federal and state power. An example of a mechanistic flaw is the election of presidents, which is why it’s been changed. Overall, minor.
Free speech in relation to government legislation or retaliation- not commercial ability.
Everyone thinks they can say whatever they want with zero accountability for it (positive or negative). Truth is free speech is protected from the government not private entities.
Don’t believe me? Ask colin Kaepernick
Can we just get our boba drinks now or what?
Thanks Curious for making my point. I want diversity by all cultures and sub-sets are simply not needed including an all European center that someone was ridiculous to suggest. The USA is the most racially integrated country in the world and Im proud of it unlike many Asian countries (China, Korea, and Japan
So why have an exclusively Asian center? This is the Pacific Rim, correct? where Asian foods can be ordered City-wide. My dentist and doctor are Chinese but they arent in Asian only hospitals or medical centers. But if you think its OK and I dont shop there because iI think its anti-diversity racism, thats OK too. I can get sushi and pho elsewhere. As a common sense practice like many other countries, enact laws to restrict investment proceeds from returning to foreign parent countries especially if they are a communist government.
I totally get it now! Persimmon Place? Just about 0 asian themed businesses, but that is OK folks! Asians are only 35% of our local population, so screw’em!!
Last time I checked persimmon place didn’t also explicitly market European only theme either. Ie it wasn’t built for the purpose of bringing authentic Italian cuisine and experiences that were otherwise americanized in surrounding areas with Italian themed bakeries, restaurants, and shops.
D’oh. Sorry.
We should bring back the underground tunnels.
BobB, you are way out of line. We are Jewish and dont tell me about discrimination for one second. You are a cyber bully who trashes any opinions or observations that dont support your position. You make up motives and jump to your own conclusions. I see you constantly and obsessively post negatives all day long on everything. Be more respectful in your anonymity even if you disagree and break your addictiion to posting. Its not healthy.
Hey Bella,
I moved to Pleasanton three years ago and am counting the days that I will leave your town returning to places that have large number of Asian malls (like Vancouver, Toronto, or LA). I guess you and I won’t miss each other. Unfortunately, I found that the tri-valley are full of people like you. Good riddance!
In the mid-eighties, Monterey Park made the cover of Time magazine because of the “invading Asians”, more than 30 years later, people still think this way. I go to Hacienda Crossings all the time but I never complain that I can’t get a bubble tea there.
The American Indian was here before all others.
The American Indian owned America.
My comment to Bella and her multi-generational CA native comments – seems you just don’t like the fact that CA has changed from your good old days of treating Chinese and Mexican with contempt and prejudice to now having to treat them like equals. You probably didn’t see any issues in the past because you looked right past the non-whites and didn’t even see them. Time to join the 21st century.
@Bella — I’ve lived in the Tri-Valley for over 15 years and am ECSTATIC that an Asian shopping center is finally close by. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and can finely easily get Asian groceries. If you think that this Asian-centric shopping center is out of place in the tri-valley you are LARGELY mistaken. Just go once and see all the Asian and Non-Asian consumers there. And hey, if you think it doesn’t belong, then just sit back and watch to see if all these Asian businesses go out of business (they won’t). Are you against China Town and Japan Town in SF too? Those places are wildly popular. It’s high time the tri-valley recognized that it is a profitable culture that EVERYONE can enjoy.
Are you against shopping centers that have a Bodega and Taqueria and are obviously geared towards Mexican fare? Are you against a shopping center that might be geared towards Families (Chuck E. Cheese, kids clothing store, toy store, etc)? Why is it so egregious that there is a shopping center geared towards Asian shops?
@PP — FYI Indians are Asians.
Asian American,
Just because theyre grouped in the same demographic checkbox that a privliged white xenophobic culturally insensitive politician created doesnt mean theyre asian in context to this conversation- or do you think theyd share in your sentiment that the asian pacific center was built around providing a shopping experience that catered to their cultural foods/tastes/experiences as well?
Bella, are you joking? You’re maybe trying to sound xenophobic as a kind of parody of something?
If you are serious about discrimination, do you know of anyone, or any business that wanted to open, but Pacific Pearl prevented them?
And what does China owning US debt have to do with it?
Build a brand new shopping area, all the tenants are Asian, and brand the center as being Asian. Given that, I doubt a Danish, Scottish, or Scandinavian business as some suggest would get a lease there. And Solvang is a historical settlement (an area versus a shopping center) as is Olvera Street in LA and both China Town and Japan Town in SF. I agree they are marketing to the Outlets although I doubt the dental and tutoring businesses for example fit that explanation. I still say having a new shopping center that is all Asian businesses feels contrary to integration and inclusion and some people would think there are preferential leasing practices. When a Bubba’s BBQ or Joe’s Taco Lounge has opened , I will stand corrected.
@Doug,
“or is it always your habit to throw out unsupported accusations without bothering to look up any facts”
It is her habit. Look at some of the other threads on this forum where she implies that she can tell if a person is American just by looking at them.
The is a small and shrinking group of people in Pleasanton who lament that Pleasanton is no longer a mostly white town, and that the culture has changed. Too bad for them.
The new Pearl Center comes off as intimidating to non-Asians. Most of the signage is in non-Latin based script. Many of the shops and restaurants are staffed by non-English speakers. For a person of African, European, or Hispanic descent, the mall is not inviting. It does not celebrate diversity like our wonderful Downtown. It caters to a subset of the population and does nothing to knock down the cultural divides that have been erected.
@”Hansen Curious”,
What are you talking about? There was English signage all over the place, and I had no problem ordering or shopping in English.
Give it try if you like. It isn’t so scary.
@”Disk Man”,
What are you so afraid of? Foreign languages make you uncomfortable?
@Discman,
If you want to leave, that’s your choice, and it sounds like you found a place that you like better.
Good all around.
@PP,
I guess I get where you were going with that, but you may be missing the point of what people like Bella are trying to say.
There are a (thankfully shrinking) number of Pleasanton residents who actually have a problem with non-whites and foreigners moving in to Pleasanton. They actually have a problem with that and want something done about it.
@Bella,
Please just stop pretending you are for diversity when you are against it.
When you say things like “enact laws to restrict investment proceeds from returning to foreign parent countries” you sound paranoid, xenophobic, and niave. What are you even talking about?
And please tell me again how you know most of the people in the new retirement center are Chinese?
@PP,
caywen is joking.
But in all seriousness, there are still people living in Pleasanton who lament that they can no longer legally discriminate against people based on race or national origin. Many wish they still could. That is the whole point of pretending to be offended by Pacific Pearl.
@Bella,
Tell me again how you can tell most of the residents of the senior center are Chinese?
Stop pretending to be for diversity when you are against it.
@Lord Stanley,
I think some Pleasanton residents would do well to watch this video and ponder some of the issues it raises.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGAqYNFQdZ4
Dear Lord Stanley, Toronto, Vancouver and LA are mega cities with several million people each. In fact, all three have long history of being Asian gateways into the USA as you inferred. The Hispanics were here first so I consider them native to our California culture. As a multi generation native to this State, i have seen more changes than your brief 3 years can ever fathom. We have always had blending of cultures and its never been an a thought to us. But we dont like new shopping centers exclusive to any one culture. We have evolved too muvh for that throw back to old times. I think you will be happier in one of these huge high density population areas. In fact I love Toronto, Montreal and Victorioria which all have historic ChinaTowns. Good luck.
Not true Michael, as America wasnt in existence by name until it was settled as such there could be no “American Indian” nor would they have referred to themselves as American or Indian for that matter. Additionally, the indigenous people you are refering to didn’t believe in personal land ownership, so saying the American Indian owned America is factually incorrect and extremely culturally insensitive.
@Bella,
The San Francisco Bay Area is a high population, high density area. Stop using “we” like you speak for everyone.
Stop using phrases like “native to our California culture”. Quit with the xenophobia.