In This Issue
Parades, outdoor concerts, farmers’ markets: summer on the Westside has been sizzling despite the sometimes chilly weather. I was again privileged to serve as master of ceremonies on the judging stand at Webster and Haight Streets for the grand finale of the Fourth of July Parade, where I had a bird’s eye view of the parade contingents and the appreciative crowds lining Webster Street. The first three Concerts at the Cove have broken all previous attendance records, bringing huge crowds to the wider commercial district. Don’t miss the one last concert coming up on Friday, August 13th.
Then on the weekend of September 11 and 12 the Webster Street Jam will bring customers right to our Webster Street merchants’ doors. The Jam celebrates West Alameda’s diverse international cuisines, all provided by our very own local cafes and restaurants—with an eclectic soundtrack of live music. Stay tuned for an exciting addition to our Saturday musical line-up.
I congratulate those of you who have used these popular summer events to promote your businesses—and I encourage the rest of you to tap into these feel-good events as well. You can get the word out to a lot of new customers!
I’m so pleased to report that WABA is working in close partnership with the City of Alameda on the Webster Street Vision Plan, now in full swing. Thanks to all of you who responded to our invitation to participate and offer your insights. By sharing your vision, needs, and preferences with the City of Alameda’s consulting team Urban Design Associates, you have helped to define the alternative approaches we’ll use to guide our commercial district’s ongoing renaissance. Next steps: an ad hoc committee, including members from the Economic Development Commission, the Planning Board, WABA and city staff, will be charged with implementing the vision for Webster Street’s development. We’ll keep you posted.
I hope to see you at our next WABA mixer on Wednesday July 28th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Wescafe!
Warm regards,
Kathy Moehring, Executive Director
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The last concert of this year’s record-breaking Concerts at the Cove series takes place on Friday August 13th, when Casino Royale will entertain crowds from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with hits from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Don’t forget to bring your marketing materials to the WABA office for distribution at this event, or consider a raffle prize so your donation can be announced at the event.
In the first three concerts, opera fans were treated to a performance by Open Opera in May, a crowd of 3500 people came out to groove to the Michael Jackson tribute band Foreverland in June, and, in July, Fito Reinoso got another huge crowd gliding and swaying to his infectious brand of Cuban salsa. Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors and volunteers who work so hard to pull these events together and bring traffic to this end of town.
The Webster Street Jam on September 11th and 12th will offer a new, improved vendor configuration to give our merchants with shops along Webster more opportunity to capture the attention of festival attendees. There’s still time to think about how you can attract new business from some of the thousands of passersby on the street that weekend.
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Crowns for Causes opened recently at 1512 Webster #A (above the Pacific Pinball Museum). This unique nonprofit sells and rents formal wear for proms, weddings and other formal occasions as well as selling women’s business attire, shoes, jewelry and swimwear—and then donates a portion of its proceeds to charity. They’re open by appointment only, so check out their web page at www.crownsforcauses.org. Lanvie (1501 Webster Street, 865-3688) fine women’s apparel store celebrated its first year in business and marked the opening of its online store at www.lanvieapparel.com with a 10% discount through the month of July. The former location of Abigail at 930 Central now houses Rise Chiropractic & Fitness Center (205-9539), where chiropractor John Beall offers chiropractic, personal training and a fitness boot camp.
Construction of the Alameda Boys & Girls Club’s new Youth Development Facility near Appezzato Parkway and Third Street is well underway. The last piece of structural steel was raised into place just before July 4th and the insulation and exterior walls are now being installed. To make a donation to this worthy project, visit www.wecanbuildthis.org. For a personal or group tour call the club at 522-4900.
Nearby, the brand-new Bridge Point Church opened on Easter Sunday with a sermon by founding pastor Adam Ybarra, known to many local folks as the Oakland Raiders’ chaplain. The new church holds services Sundays at 10 a.m. at Ruby Bridges Elementary School, 351 Jack London Avenue (520-5444 www.thebridgepointchurch.com).
The Magic Paintbrush do-it-yourself arts and crafts workshop is now open at 943 Marina Village Parkway, offering ceramics painting, mosaics, and (coming soon) glass fusing. Owner Sharon Frederickson says they’ll also host parties. The Magic Paintbrush is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. For details, call 523-6244 or visit www.themagicpaintbrushceramics.com.
Alameda Pedicab, the Island's new bright-yellow "bicycle limousine," was launched in June, offering comfortable and environmentally friendly rides in the backseat of a high-tech bicycle rickshaw, which can be booked for special events, weddings, parties, valet services, tours or romantic rides. Visit www.Alameda-Pedicab.com or call 274-1065.
And on the food and beverage front: Santoro’s, a new Italian deli and market is now open at 475 Santa Clara Ave., between Fourth and Fifth streets from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday serving freshly made sandwiches and imported Italian meats and cheeses, plus fresh baked goods, coffee drinks, a selection of Italian specialties, wine and beer (call 217-8710 or fax your order to 217-8711). The interior work on Café Jolie in the former home of Tillie’s at Santa Clara and Webster is almost complete and the exterior work has begun. The former site of Acquacotta is slated to become a restaurant, bar and entertainment space named The Frog & Fiddle and operated by the owners of McGrath’s Irish Pub, Barceluna Restaurant and Ben’s Barbecue in the near future. The former aquarium shop near the Post Office will be changing its focus from a discount store to a fresh produce market—new name to be determined. Greek Meze will soon open at 1545 Webster, and United Market & Flowers is developing plans at 1549 Webster.
Rosenblum Cellars, a fixture in West Alameda since 1987 now owned by Diageo Chateau & Estate wines, will keep its tasting room open even as it stops producing wine at its Alameda Point facility. R&B Cellars and Rock Wall Wines will continue their West Alameda production. The Fireside Lounge (www.thefiresidelounge.com) at 1453 Webster reopened in June and will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday (firesidelounge@gmail.com).
The U.S. Post Office at 1415 Webster got a complete facelift with a new coat of paint, a gold-leaf painted eagle, and a striking new awning. The Record Gallery, which has been in the rear space at 1541 Webster since its move from across the street, has now moved into the front space previously housing Muse Reuse Boutique. Larry is back behind the counter at Larry’s Shoe Repair at 1449 Webster Street.
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Senior and disabled Islanders now have a free, convenient new way to travel to and from West Alameda on the City of Alameda Paratransit’s new shuttle service. The “West Loop” leaves Mastick Senior Center on the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and travels to Marina Village, Cardinal Point, Alameda Point, Independence Plaza, Webster and Santa Clara and Central near Webster. For details, contact 747-7506 or visit www.alamedaparatransit.com.
Two West Alameda businesses were recently honored by the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society: Wescafe for rejuvenating a disused but classic former bank building at 1536 Webster Street and the Rock Wall Winery for converting a 40,000 square-foot former airplane hangar at 2301 Monarch Street on Alameda Point into a boutique winery.
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A new event, Wine Walk on Webster, will take place on Wednesday, September 29th. Sponsored by the City of Alameda in cooperation with WABA, the event will market available commercial spaces along the street and spotlight existing businesses. Details to follow soon!
The April 19th WABA merchants and property owners meeting was a big success, with about 40 merchants in attendance to learn about the visioning process, marketing opportunities for their businesses, updates from the Community College District, Catellus and Alameda Landing, and new businesses coming to the district.
A team of WABA cycling supporters cheered on cyclists participating in the annual Bike to Work day on May 18th. Stationed outside Hawthorn Suites, they handed out bags of goodies to 50 cyclists headed off to work. Said team member Kathy Moehring, “We started at 6 a.m.! It’s not exactly my happy time, but I got through it.”
Mayor Beverly Johnson will be at Cardinal Point, 2431 Mariner Square Drive for a continental breakfast and "State of the City" address on Thursday, July 29th, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. (Reservations: 522-0414).
Thank yous are due all around to our spring mixer hosts: Brad Shook hosted our April mixer at the Bladium Sports Club at 800 W Tower Avenue on Alameda Point; Chris and Anastasia Pieda in May (with food catered by Wescafe) at Back to Health Chiropractic, 711 Santa Clara Avenue; and the Zimmerman Family in June at the Elders Inn, 1721 Webster Street. We hold a mixer almost every month now, so please pencil them into your calendar for the rest of the year now!
Thanks to WABA member Studio Alchemy (384-7609), WABA’s website will soon be getting a makeover to allow quicker, easier updates and a fresh new look. Plans are in progress now. Stay tuned!
Alameda Municipal Power’s e-mail newsletter Energy Solutions offers helpful tips for retailers on saving energy, lighting of retail spaces, etc. If you haven’t yet subscribed, view the Archive.
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WABA Mixer, Wednesday July 28, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Wescafe, 1536 Webster Street
Concert at the Cove, Friday August 13, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Crab Cove
WABA Mixer, Wednesday August 25, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. AAA Premier Scuba, 1515 Webster Street
Webster Street Jam, Saturday September 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday September12 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
WABA Mixer, Wednesday October 27, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Pasta Pelican, 2455 Mariner Square Drive
Halloween on Webster Street, Sunday October 31, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Joint Mixer, Wednesday December 8, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. WABA, the Chamber, PSBA, and GABA hold a joint gathering (location TBA)
Santa Visits Webster Street & Community Tree Decorating Saturday December 11, 2 p.m.-5 p.m., Pacific Avenue and Webster Street
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