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They’re closing the wrong Starbucks in downtown Redding
By Paul Shigley
I get no pleasure out of writing that the most important corner in downtown Redding is soon going to have a vacancy. The corporate honchos in Seattle decided that the Starbucks at the corner of California and Placer streets in downtown Redding will close.
The Starbucks with a drive-through window at the edge of downtown? That one stays. So does the Starbucks at the other end of downtown inside Safeway. But the coffee house at the most visible corner in downtown? The store that was supposed to anchor a cornerstone adaptive reuse project? It’s closing.
Five months ago, one of downtown Redding’s most popular lunch spots closed. Cheesecake’s Unlimited had served up salads, sandwiches and other goodies for 17 years. A story in the Record Searchlight newspaper suggested that the local owner, who lost a business partner last year, could no longer keep running two restaurant locations. So he decided to stick with his restaurant across town (located in a strip center between Safeway and a Lowe’s big box) and close the original downtown lunch spot.
Interestingly, the owner said that a new Shasta College branch located half a block away did not increase his business. That has to be a difficult for downtown boosters to accept, because the attractive community college facility, although small, was supposed to be a “catalytic” project for downtown.
As many of you know, Redding is the city closest to where I live. I’d love for it to be an exciting, lively place, but it’s not. Boosters argue that downtown is “getting better.” I appreciate their enthusiasm, but I can’t agree with them.
About the same time that Cheesecake’s closed, an independent CD, record and paraphernalia shop shut down. Last year, a family-owned men’s clothing store closed after decades in business. A Subway was supposed to replace the clothier, but project proponents now say the sandwich shop is doubtful.
At the site of the soon-to-close Starbucks, a property owner invested millions on an adaptive reuse project. But once Starbucks closes, only a small clothing store and the property owner’s cosmetics business will remain amid the empty storefronts.
Redding’s downtown mall is still some sort of bizarre joke that must be seen to be believed.
Last year, when we ranked downtown Redding the second most disappointing among mid-sized cities in California, some people in City Hall took it as a knock on their redevelopment efforts. Maybe it was, but downtown Redding’s failure is far too complete for only the government to get the blame. Property owners and merchants deserve large shares, too.
Ultimate responsibility, though, lies with the community. Redding is a town where people rush to the newest franchise restaurant. Earlier this year, they lined up overnight for the opening of a Chipotle in a rebuilt strip center. Seriously. It’s a town where Wal-Mart, Costco, Target and Home Depot have big boxes within walking distance of each other — although you’d take your life in your hands trying to make the trip on foot.
In other words, most people who live in Redding don’t care about having a vibrant, walkable downtown full of local flavor. And no one — including an urban planning journalist who thinks he knows better – can make them care.
Paul Shigley is editor of California Planning & Development Report, a trade publication for planners, land-use lawyers, developers, academics and policy-makers. He’s also the co-author of Guide to California Planning, a college textbook and standard reference manual for planners. His blog is The Daily Shig. Link to Paul Shigley’s blog to see the above story, which first appeared online on the CP&DR on July 26, and Shigley’s other posts.
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People lined up for the opening of Chipotle Grill..OVERNIGHT? Why? Some kind of food we have never had?
If the folks who did this could post and explain, please…….
Eat at the Thai Cafe. Its almost downtown.
There is a solution that has been buried for way too long.
A few years back the City of Redding commissioned a study on bringing urban housing downtown. Admittedly it was completed prior to the housing bust, but its conclusion was that within the downtown core 1150 market rate housing units were entirely feasible. Even considering the economic downturn they still are.
That study never saw the light of day, but it does exist, because the idea of the time was to have housing built in the area of Dickers Department store, a proposal dead on arrival because of demolition costs, and the continuing belief the salvation of the downtown is removing the roof from the Mall.
There are excellent affordable sites for three and four story mixed use buildings in the downtown, particularly on the east side of Pine Street that are begging for redevelopment. These are all view sites, and there are very few left in Redding. The study concluded that the majority of these units would be purchased by relocatees wishing to escape urban areas but not in love with lawns and redwood fences. The elevation change between Pine and East is a natural for parking, below grade on Pine, at grade on East. Every unit could have a view from living, dining and bedrooms. Add a couple of parks on the west side of Pine, a place to sit and be. Entirely affordable.
The way to revitalize downtown is to bring the people back and change it from a 10 hour a day major intersection to 24 hour a day vibrant multifaceted community. Ever been to Chestnut St. in San Francisco? We could beat it, and in a short time. Even if less than half of the units cited by the study were sold, this would bring a disposable income from residents in the downtown core of more the $10 million a year. The downtown planning to date is based primarily on retail and tourists. Won’t work. Fifties Glitz region? Get real. Dump the plan, focus on upscale housing. Want Starbucks downtown, reread the foregoing.
It is unfortunate that City efforts are entirely with regard to developing subsidized housing in the downtown core. Without the majority of these units being market rate or above, this would be just another sad chapter in the saga of downtown. Cities and towns across the nation are revitalizing their downtowns in this way. Kelowna in Canada, about our size, did it and has been voted one of the best places to retire. Portland has done wonders with the concept, every old building downtown has been converted to housing. Look around Muscone Center in San Francisco. And more. Check it out. Interested in the study? - well check that out too. It’s available at the City. They may have to dig for it
Thoughtful posts both. Everyone seems to agree on how nice it would be to have a vibrant downtown, and how it might look. That would be a terrific end result, and the potential is surely evident. It seems like the problem is that nobody agrees on how we get there. The idea is so compelling, and there are so many good examples of revitalized downtowns to emulate. But a vision without a concrete step by step plan we can all agree on will forever remain unrealized. My daughter and I talk about this subject all the time. I wish I knew how we get there from here. While we wish, the staus quo continues to disappoint.
I was even thinking about it as I watched bicyclists racing through the newly minted Beijing street scenes for the Olympics. If ours was a command economy, we could just make it so. Perhaps we should hold an Olympics! Ah well, we can barely hold a Starbucks, apparently.
I belive that revitalizing downtown means going downtown, having a drink at Market Street, enjoying a steak at Jack’s, enjoying a stroll through the now (almost finished) downtown core while window shopping, and catching a show at the Cascade or getting behind the wheel of a speedy electric go-cart at Need to Speed. I really believe that Downtown Redding will become a great place in the near future, especially with the roof gone. Now is the time to dream big - get out there and drop some money at our locally owned downtown businesses. Instead of going to Outback Steakhouse, try Jack’s or Market Street. It all starts with us - the consumers - patronizing the local downtown businesses and giving those business owners a reason to say they’re glad they’re located Downtown.
While a nice dream, downtown Redding will most likely, never be the business district it was once. All of your anchors, such as Penney’s, Wards, Sears have left and some have relocated to the red plains of Enterprise or have gone out of business.
The big old fat boxes of Wally World and Winco are there as well as apartments and new homes. Let ‘em stay on that side of the river. It already looks and feels like San Jose, Santa Clara, Sacramento with all the same traffic problems.
Starbucks…simply overbuilt. Plain and simple. Coffee milkshakes at 5 bucks a pop on each and every corner or special sandwich shops trying to cater to low budget college students ain’t gonna get it folks. They drink their coffee at home and bring a lunch to school.
The downtown will survive, but boo hoo, with a few less big bucks coffee shops.
One evening I found myself in downtown Chico in the evening. As I wandered through the shops, I thought, “This is the kind of downtown activity Redding wants.” In Chico, however, the answer is obvious: dormitories full of students within easy walking distance.
Why Chipotle’s? We didn’t line up the first day, but when we got around to trying it, we were glad we did. We consider it the “In and Out” of burritos. They do one thing and do it very well. And it’s affordable.
Speaking of affordable, there seems to be a tendency to prefer more upscale establishments. The raft and canoe rentals and the shady miniature golf place are gone. Most of the downtown establishments are not weekly indulgences for most of Redding citizens budgets.
I agree with janet. Downtown Chico is a delight to visit. Redding can achieve the same. First there needs to be a complete revamp of the city planners etc. Enough said, I’ll pick up my soapbox .
Response to several post:
Mixed use: affordable housing above, shops below. Brilliant.
Downtown: It IS Redding and as a recent transplant, it is where I spend most of my $$. I love downtown: Crown Camera vs. Best Buy; Market Street Steakhouse vs. Outback = superior service and support of local businesses (franchises make the most money–NOT the local owner) I cross over to the Big Box Store side as infrequently as possible (and it is REALLY infrequent.) It is depressing, homogenized and devoid of character.
Our lives are so hectic and harried…..the VALUE of being personally served, with a SMILE, by the owner of the business who CARES about your personal experience……..when you get your CAR WASHED??? Great way to start my day, I tell you.
Last thought….lots of expensive homes are on the west side. Those of us who live over here would shop more over here if there was more over here.
City council meets first and third Tuesdays at 7p, yes? I’ll be there….hope to see you, too!
Peets anyone?
Go Peet’s !!
not too many folks realize that the general plan from 30 years ago calls for residential on west side and retail on the east side. this was poor planning at its finest. this concept of poor planning has continued through the decades. from all appearances there is little to no effort on the part of city to bring downtown to anything close to the glory days. cascade theater anyone? did the city have anything to do with that? sorry, that was NPR from oregon. restaurants have come and gone on market. where is the outdoor patio appeal that they were discussing several years back - gone to the two lanes of traffic. does the city do anything to encourage business here? limited, little to none. housing in the downtown area? gosh, that would be wonderful, IF there was something to walk to. but we have no stores that you could stroll to on a summer evening. the theatre isn’t open every evening to visit. if you don’t have a sizable income, you are hard pressed to shop in the downtown area….some are very pricey and others are JUST NOT THERE. why didn’t the library go downtown in the mall. that would bring folks there. sorry, had to take up part of the park. new overpriced police station? sure, take up more of the park. nobody uses it anyway. want a very expensive fountain or two outside of taj mahal? no problem how about dead bushes in the sculpture park. metal fish that get stolen. the list goes on and on. bad choices by the city council, the planning department and everyone else connected with the potential growth of this city have caused this problem. why is the marketfest at the hottest time of the year? be serious, those fans don’t move - you have to find a spot where it spits on you and stand there. why can’t it be in april and may?
the solution to these problems? take your pick: new council, new ideas, move someplace else. i for one am considering moving. p.s. good article by paul shigley! i love his words.
I so disagree with Mr. Shigley’s negativity towards downtown. Downtown is so much better than it was a year ago, and a year from now it will be even better. Have you been downtown during Art Hop? It is amazing!!! There are people everywhere enjoying the terrific art, food, & drink. During August Art Hop the Vintage restaurant was filled to capacity with customers enjoying art, great food, and live music. Everywhere we went there was a crowd.
There are several wonderful boutiques downtown; Dandelion, Kimberly Nicole’s, Elegant Sole, For Elyse, Westside Florist, etc. There are also two new restaurants getting ready to open. One is Gorilla Bites which is an all organic restaurant. The other is opening in the old Cheescakes location.
I agree that losing Starbucks is a set back, but it’s not the end of downtown. I so believe in downtown and am very happy to see how many new stores and restaurants have opened in the last year.
I also disagree with his statement that most people don’t care about downtown. Everyone I talk to about downtown is very happy and excited to see the changes and are spending time downtown visiting the boutiques, having dinner at Jack’s, Market Street Steakhouse, Fuji’s, Maritime, Vintage, or any number of the other restaurants, and attending shows at the Cascade.
We can’t give up on our downtown, we have to keep fighting for it and not listen to people who say it will never be a vibrant downtown.
Sometimes it takes an outsider’s viewpoint to help see what downtown does have. There is an interesting story in the SF Examiner about Vintners Cellar. If interested, read it at: Wine Adventures in Redding.