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South Main Street is about to get a major face lift with new retail stores and a restaurant in an empty building abandoned after Guaranty Bank declared bankruptcy in August, 2009.
Craig Semmelmeyer, whose Main Street Property Services developed the popular Tully’s Coffee Shop site at Main and Angela streets, has purchased the building at 234 Main Street.
Guaranty Bank reportedly paid $2.5 million for the property, but other than putting signs in the window never moved in before it was seized by the FDIC. At the time, Guaranty had 103 branches in Texas and 59 branches in California.
Semmelmeyer’s firm reported paid $500,000 to acquire the 234 Main Street property.
Semmelmeyer said plans are being prepared to renovate the building for retail tenants and a restaurant that will offer different services and cuisine than what’s now available downtown.
Fleet Feet, now located at Main St., has already signed a lease to move into larger space at the 234 Main Street building, more than doubling its current space.
The 234 Main Street building has about 5,000 square feet of tenant space. Semmelmeyer said that at one time it was actually two buildings and his redesign of the structure will make it look again like two separate facilities when reconstruction work is completed in the first quarter of next year.
“I plan to put a restaurant on the site, one that will be unique and will attract diners to downtown Pleasanton who don’t come today,” Semmelmeyer said. “I’d like to have outdoor seating that along with other tenants will bring some energy to the 200 block of south Main Street.”
Main Street Property services rebuilt the properties at the corner of Main and Angela where Tully’s, Coldstone Creamery, Bibiane Bakery and Fontina Restaurant are located. That corner, with its outside courtyard, has become a favorite meeting place in Pleasanton’s downtown. The Tri-Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau has its offices on the building’s second floor.
Fleet Feet Sports is located across the street at 310 Main St., in property also owned by Semmelmeyer’s firm.
Oh Boy, another restaurant. Can we not be more imaginative? How about some space for kids to hang out? Something supervised but imaginative and attractive to keep them busy and out of trouble? Oh yeah, I forgot, it is all about the “Buck”! I miss the shoe cobbler, the hardware store, something that made downtown feel ‘homey”. We just have banks and restaurant glitz now. Oh well…..
This is a wonderful idea to help downtown Pleasanton maintain its charm, character and economic vitality. Hopefully a developer will do the same for the vacant Nob Hill property and its surrounding businesses. With the Iron Horse Trail connection plans underway this Nob Hill area would be a great way to attract riders and walkers into Pleasanton. As it stands now, there aren’t many reasons why people from the north would want to head into Pleasanton past BART. North of BART on the Iron Horse Trail there are so many great places to stop, have coffee or a bite to eat. We really need that in Pleasanton too if we want people to come into our community.
I’d say Semmelmeyer knows what he’s doing and knows how to create a successful venue for us to enjoy – let him do his thing! I’m sure it will be a huge improvement over what is there now, which is nothing!
This is great news! The 200 block needs some help. Having been part of the Main Street Property Services organization, I know it will be a quality product. Kudos Craig!
I really think Livermore’s downtown has it hands down over Pleasanton, hopefully they’ll take a peek of Livermore’s and diversify. Was there the other night at the movies they have a fondue resturant, along with Nestles tollhouse cafe. Pretty cool
So glad to hear that we are going to have another quality project downtown with a mix of restaurants and retail. I hope some of the long time building owners take note of the price the building sold for. Part of the issue with downtown is that some of the rents are out of whack with reality. Mr. Semmelmeyer has turned a dead corner into a hub and I am sure this project be just as successful. I hope he will turn his eyes to the north and find the old Domus building at some point.
Scott,
the tax revenue generated from turning this space into something productive would benefit the City who might in turn able to use that money for youth programs. In case you have not heard the term, it’s called a “win win” situation. Why aren’t you down at the City Council meetings pushing the leaders to bring these issues forward. Is it the private sector’s responsibility to do so?
Unless, of course, you have your own money to invest. If so, do as you suggest to 234 Main. In the meantime, I think we should support Mr Semmelmeyer for taking the risk to invest during these trying times.
Sounds good.
Whatever it becomes, I hope they make plans to empty the trashcans more often on weekends so they don’t overflow like at Tully’s.
This is very good news indeed. The south end of Main St. has been looking pretty scruffy for the last few years, and renovation of the 234 Main building will very welcome. Tully’s Plaza is a great success and one of my main hangouts, and I look forward to seeing what will take place across & down the street.
Bob and Joel, sorry I offended you. You are right. Put in a comment and you get personally directed “crap” back. Pleasanton is “All the Name Applies”. And you my friends are fine examples of what is in town today. Don’t bother writing back because I will not be reading these PW threads anymore.
One last thing. I have/had nothing against the developer as I am sure he will do a good job as he did with thye Tulleys complex.
Just what we need, another restaurant
If Scott Walsh wants a place for kids to hang out he can buy the property and develop it himself. Why should any developer, who puts up the money, make a free place for kids just to keep them out of trouble (as Walsh says)? That’s the job of the parents, not the taxpayers or the developer who buys the property.
There is plenty of opportunity for new restaurants in Pleasanton, I have been to most of them already and am not overly impressed. If people want something other than restaurants and retail then put up the money and do it. Just don’t whine when you can’t make any money on free kid hangouts, etc.
I’m happy something new and exciting is happening on that end of town. I trust this property owner to make smart decisions about what he puts in his property. The Tullys shopping center is one of the most successful in downtown and draws the most people. Restaurants don’t bother me as much as all the salons downtown. I agree with Joel. We need to go to City Council. Downtown is one of the reasons I moved here and I’m guessing a lot of other people. We need to make sure it stays nice. When was the last time a group of citizens went to City Council and asked them to work on downtown? Anyone willing to go with me?
How original. the developer will put a “…a restaurant on the site, …with outdoor seating.” How many of those do we already have downtown? And he claims that will be “unique and will attract diners to downtown Pleasanton who don’t come today…” Let me guess: Italian restaurant?
I don’t mind another restaurant as long as they don’t use public streets for their outdoors dinning. I think that is rude to citizens who walk down our main street and have no place to go when they run into someone coming in the opposite direction.
It’s a start but there is still the issue of a a big vacant lot that was supposed to be a nice 2-story, Charles Huff designed bar/restaurant on the old Union Jack Pub site that after 2+ years has yet to materialize. Couple that with the single largest piece of available downtown real estate at the old Domus and you have a “heart of downtown” location with available parking to boot.
The revitalization of downtown isn’t going to happen overnight but the developer with a sense of insight that is willing to invest when the economy is still in a downward trend is going to reap huge rewards during the (hopefully, eventual)upturn.
Just PLEASE…no more hair, nail, day-spas, etc. We’re getting a bad rap now as a town where the fat & pampered go to get sucked, tucked, lipo’d, trimmed, painted & shaved.
I think it’s great that the 200 block of main is vetting a facelift as it’s a great location. I do think that what his town really needs is a teen center where kids especially teenagers can go & have fun without getting amped up
on sugar and caffeine when they hang out at Tully’s & Cold Stone Creamery. If the teen center had video games like Games To You offers, Karoke, dancing, the Wii, a. Indoor jungle gym, etc the kids would have a lot more options and would be more
likely to stay out of trouble, get & stay fit and not be in such a hurry to leave Pleasnton as soon as they’re college age. There must be other family oriented towns that have popular teen centersthat we could model after. The last thing we need is another expensive restaurant.
…he was the only honest dissenting voice so far. And, THAT is what this country (not just Pleasanton) is all about! I hope others speak up… and yes, I too hope they speak up in places in ADDITION to PW, like the council meetings–it is ALL part of the democratic conversation we can enjoy in this country.
Here is my opinion: I agree with Scott’s observation: downtown is boring without the diversity of attractions that he mentions. However, I’d like to see him take it further, not give up with Oh, Well. I’m right behind you, man!
Mr. Semmelmeyer did a fanastic job with the Tully’s Plaza so Iam happy he is willing to take the development risk in these tough economic times to invest in Pleasanton! It will extend our downtown to the south where it is now dead, dead, dead. He will obviously lease the tenant spaces as necessary to get the tenants. People should be happy to have more investment in our town and not gripe about what they think we should all want (like spoiled children. The market will determine that
Instead of another restaurant, how ’bout a gun store thta sells OLL lowers and other firearm accoutrements. Even downtown Livermore has one.