UPDATE on June 8, 2023: The entire Hiddenbrooke Plaza is for sale. See the listing at https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/8300-8340-Bennington-Ct-Vallejo-CA/27836986/
(UPDATED text in boldface as of April 18, 2023) What type of businesses do you think should fill the current and upcoming vacancies at Hiddenbrooke Plaza? It’s been years since the dry cleaner moved out, and the real estate office next door just became available for rent. Traci Perry of Spectrum Properties, the rental agent, asked me to share that the rent on both spaces is the same although one is designed for retail sales and the other is a carpeted office space. You may reach Traci at (707) 469-8000 or traci@spectrumpropertiesre.com. Property descriptions are at https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/8300-8308-Bennington-Ct-Vallejo-CA/11986503/
Vanessa Nelson of Ashmun and Associates Real Estate assures me that she is still a Hiddenbrooke resident and her firm is still serving our community. She explained that after 9 + years in Hiddenbrooke Plaza she has decided to close here brick & mortar space because she and both the agents working under her brokerage use their home offices much more than coming to the Plaza office. She says that most Real Estate documents are now signed digitally and stored on a cloud platform so maintaining such a large space no longer makes sense for her business model. Learn more about her services at www.ashmunrealty.com
However, a web search shows that The Loft Thai Fusion & Sushi restaurant is for sale but I’ve been unable to connect with the owner or agent. Details at https://www.bizben.com/business-for-sale/thai-asian-fusion-restaurant-for-sale-in-vallejo-california-279336.php.
I’m eager to continue a discussion amongst our Hiddenbrooke neighbors that might encourage new businesses that we would all appreciate. The other plaza business owners whom I’ve spoken with say they hope it will be a business that compliments their own. One suggestion that I’ve heard is a dog groomer. I’ve seen several mobile groomers in my walks around the neighborhood. I wonder: would a storefront be preferable? Another neighbor who I spoke with at the recent Tree Lighting Dinner at the Hiddenbrooke Golf Club mentioned that they wished we had a place to get a great cup of coffee. I can get behind that idea. I remember when the new golf club owner said at an HPOA meeting how disappointed he was with the coffee he was served when he first visited the Hiddenbrooke Grille. I checked-in there this week and the coffee doesn’t seem to have improved. And while J&O’s Market & Deli serves coffee, it doesn’t seem to be a priority there either. At home, we enjoy drinking Moschetti’s Coffee that is roasted here in Vallejo. I drive to their downtown roastery about once a month to resupply.
So what sort of business would you like to see move into the Plaza? Type your comments and suggestions below to share with your neighbors. I’ll also post about this to Nextdoor and Facebook in hopes to get a discussion going that will help the rental agent fill the space with businesses that we all are eager to support.
Coffee would be wonderful! I’ve thought a lot about how nice it would be to get some hot coffee, warm baked goods, and maybe a simple breakfast sandwich.
With remote work becoming more and more the norm for people, perhaps a shared office space would do well? Maybe a good starting point for the neighborhood is, “what type of business do you NOT want to see in the plaza?”
In my opinion, any business that the community can get behind will be far better than having a vacant storefront for year after year. Thanks for posting about this!
I would love a pizza joint. You would think that, with 1100 homes, Hiddenbrooke could support a pizza place! Maybe with good coffee????😂
I was looking at the property to put in a brick oven and do pizza and beer and wine. With pasta specials and salads. I have a business partner we looked at the numbers and rent.
Amount to be able to build a brick oven and put in proper vent system.
We decided not enough traffic to make it profitable. But if we offer golfers a special due to grill closes early. Who knows maybe it could work?
The Loft was a pizza/pasta restaurant before and had great food and didn’t make it. I was a bit surprised. Michael Warrings was a coffee shop before and it didn’t last very long. I would love both. I think a coffee shop like Journey Coffee Company or La Paris that also serves pastries and baked goods would be an awesome addition. I would think the pastries would compliment the gym next door as well!
I was actually thinking about that putting in a brick oven and doing pasta and salad specials.
We looked at cost for proper ventilation and building oven.
Just not enough traffic to make it profitable.
Maybe I will reconsider?
Did you see Kevin’s note about the Loft already having a pizza oven? Now they are advertising the restaurant as being for sale.
Tim provides great history! I’ll add a couple of thoughts… Pizza and coffee would be great. Inside the Loft, there is a spectacularly gorgeous mosaic tiled pizza oven that has been painted over. I’m still hoping that one day it will be fired up again. The coffee shop that was originally in the space that Michael Warring operates was fabulous but just not well run. They used to go pick up pastry at Buchon — a big trip and before we had Le Paris 10 minutes away. An operator like Journey Coffee (that really knows what they’re doing!) would be a game changer. Whoever goes in there will have to make the business draw from outside Hiddenbrooke as well. That’s what makes it sing for Michael. Journey could do that and a smart pizza maker could figure that out, too. The environment today is completely different than it was 20 years ago and I think a pizza shop or a café could make it today if they looked wider and were careful operators.
Personally, I miss both the dry cleaners and Ace Hardware. They were so convenient and helpful! Unfortunately, my understanding is that the rent is extremely high, making it very challenging for a business to survive.
Yes I remember the Italian restaurant. They changed hands twice I believe. They advertised outside hiddenbrooke but still not real successful.
Being in the business for over 35 years it is a bit more risky being tucked back here.
A lot of restaurants is location location can make or break you.
Michael Warring rent is less than any other storefront in that center.I was told, he also made a huge name for himself and charges accordingly to make a profit for that style of upscale food.
I vote for a great taqueria!
I’d be on board with a pizza joint! Or any of the above. But in the interim, who’s the go-to for pizza delivery in Hiddenbrooke? We’ve tried a few and not been very impressed. Does someone here have a favorite? And after reading all of these, I think I need to go make a latte!
Hi Tiger
We use Mountain Mikes Pizza on Sonoma Blvd. The owner lives here in HB and is a very kind man.
I got this message from the Pizza Guys on Tennessee St. in Vallejo at https://pizzaguys.tchpt.com/home : Hi Ed, we appreciate your interest in Pizzaguys servicing your community in Hiddenbrooke . We go out to your to Hiddenbrooke quite often for delivery’s. Yes I don’t mine if you mention us in your blog ,at the moment we are offering 25% off when you order on online at pizzaguys.com using the code 25NOW .
What we lack in HB is (a) a great cafe for coffee in the AM, and a place to grab a drink after work. Here’s my idea – an Italian cafe that serves coffee drinks, pastries and light, European style breakfast in the mornings, adds paninis in the afternoon, and around 3-4pm switches to beer and wine and light simple Italian meals. I would meet up there after work for a drink and socializing with other HB dads several times per week and stop for coffee several mornings a week. Think Moschetti on Florida St but Italian and with the beer/wine after hours.
I would so love to see a local pizza place here, along with salads …
Just my preference..
I was thinking of converting the space into a cardio only fitness room if it’s not taken soon. I’d rather see a coffee shop, but as the owner of Pike Fitness, the prospect of expanding to offer my members more is very appealing.
I would support a place with good coffee /teas and good warm fresh breakfast pastries, plus fancy salads, gourmet sandwiches, specialty pizzas and some pasta dishes , and why not also some nice Mexican tacos dishes. Definitely, beer and wine, plus changing menu often, so customers don’t get bored with restaurant and continue patronizing it! It might have to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner!
We were so eager for the Loft restaurant to succeed when it first opened 6 years ago. They took our photo and hung it on the wall But after numerous visits, I must say that the service isn’t welcoming and the food isn’t bad but it’s not up to the level of alternative places. I’ve reached out to the owners and manager several times hoping to schedule a neighborhood gathering to help build their business but I get no response.
How about a a UPS Store type business that can support office services, shipping services for pick up and drop off, small business supplies and PO Box services. It can also be a pick-up and drop off for Amazon. It can help solve some of the porch pirate issues and mail theft concerns. They often don’t require a lot of space.