South Railroad a home for eclectic shops

The stretch of South Railroad between Fifth and Ninth avenues has historically been the hub for automotive and auto body shops — the stomping grounds for hard-nosed mechanics and an ideal location for people to dump their car when there’s a problem or a scratch. It might’ve been the only reason why San Mateo locals ended up there. But the aesthetics and makeup of the area has shifted completely.

“When I got our space over 20 years ago, it felt so different and so much more remote than it does now,” said Sibby Thomsen, owner of Sibby’s Cupcakery. “I remember literal tumbleweeds moving down the street. There was no fence barricade separating the street from the train tracks.”

Since opening its doors in 2004 — tumbleweeds and all — Sibby’s Cupcakery has become a pioneering success in the area, standing out as an alternative in a usually vehicle-repair heaven. One of Thompson’s most popular items at the bakery is grandma’s chocolate tea cake, a culinary combination of chocolate cake with cream cheese, a chocolate chip center and fudgy frosting.

“We're always coming up with new flavors, and then we also have our signature flavors that are definitely favorites,” Thompson said. “People never get tired of the classics, but it's always fun to have new flavors in the mix.”

A bakery might’ve been the trailblazing business to shatter the string of car care businesses on the block, but more followed. There’s an athletic gym a few doors down — Opex Kura — and Aloha Time Boxing, the ideal location where individuals could lace up gloves and take out grievances on a durable, synthetic bag.

There’s also Maker and the Moose Woodwork and Carpentry, the newest business on the block that generates custom-made bespoke furniture pieces — residential and commercial wood and metal. It’s a maker space for owner Nolan Hall, a nine-year California resident who was first exposed to the craft by his grandfather from Chicago.

“ I was looking at warehouse spaces all over and I found this spot,” Hall said. “It was kind of the perfect size. I didn't really know what I was getting into and then it turns out it's the absolute perfect location for me and what I do.”

Hall says he loves the proximity to downtown San Mateo. When he’s not building and designing a range of different items — one customer from Santa Cruz once asked him to rebuild a decorative boat — Hall takes an opportunity to explore the downtown culinary scene, where he takes his lunch almost daily.

Prior to renting out the location on Railroad Avenue and transforming to work full time, Hall would run his business through his home. A new space helps fulfillments for bigger orders, but also has one clear downside.

“It’s a lot more expensive,” Hall said. “It was challenging at first, but I've been super lucky and I just have a massive amount of people reaching out to me and I have no shortage of orders.”

In 2023, the average annual asking rent for office space in San Mateo was approximately $63.68 per square foot, translating to about $5.31 per square foot monthly, according to Commercial Cafe.

Despite the rising costs, business owners along South Railroad Avenue see value in the area's transformation, embracing a newfound sense of community and vibrancy.

“I think we're a great little street and everyone really supports each other on our block,” Thomsen said. “We’re kind of a little bit of a hidden gem if you've never been down here.”