San Mateo’s downtown pedestrian mall will likely remain closed to vehicle traffic for the next several years, including a section that some business owners have asked the city to reopen in light of tumbling sales.
The two blocks at B Street between First and Third avenues are closed to all cars but open to the public to increase pedestrian use, with the council approving the street closure in October of 2021 after it helped struggling restaurants adhere to outdoor dining regulations during the pandemic. The closures were made permanent after widespread public support for its ability to improve the area’s walkability and long-term future of the downtown.
But, similar to concerns that surfaced during last year’s City Council discussions, the northern part of the pedestrian mall — between First and Second avenues — has struggled to realize the same benefits as the southern portion, and many merchants have expressed interest in at least a partial reopening of the street, according to the staff report, stating limited food delivery driver access and minimal customer parking have decreased transactions.
“That is the most essential thing we need as a restaurant or retail, is parking for people to come to our venues. If we don’t have that, then people don’t come,” Guerrero Espinoza, who operates Pancho Villa Taqueria, said. “If there’s no parking, sales are dead.”
Other business owners in the area also voiced concern during the meeting — such as those from Deja Vu Juice Bar and Sajj Mediterranean — as well as Erica Wood, CEO of the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce.
“I’m concerned about what businesses are telling us in terms of challenges. We too have looked at the national data, recognizing surveys reflect opinions at a point in time, and that national data is not great,” Wood said. “The chamber strongly urges the city to learn more about experiences of other communities and conditions for success.”
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Most councilmembers, however, directed staff to move forward with a pilot program of the northern portion of the mall for the next few years, which would maintain a closure for the time being, to help determine if additional infrastructural changes could help rebound the business’ customer sales.
“This is definitely a difficult issue in that, in general, public support of everybody who is a resident loves the outdoor ped mall, and then we’re getting a lot of feedback from businesses that it’s hurting them,” Deputy Mayor Rob Newsom said. “I’m just not 100% convinced that it’s the ped mall that’s causing the problem and not just the economy.”
The pedestrian mall project would also look to add additional barriers and ADA improvements, such as ramps and bollards.
San Mateo downtown shops – you get the government you voted for. I’d recommend that when your lease is up, get out and move to a better and easily accessible location. Somewhere near or in Hillsdale Mall? Where parking is plentiful, free and there’s no need to worry about overzealous parking ticket folks taking a bigger bite out of your wallet.
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San Mateo downtown shops – you get the government you voted for. I’d recommend that when your lease is up, get out and move to a better and easily accessible location. Somewhere near or in Hillsdale Mall? Where parking is plentiful, free and there’s no need to worry about overzealous parking ticket folks taking a bigger bite out of your wallet.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.