According to a plan submitted to the city, owner Elizabeth Papera has teamed with building company Lennar for a project to add around 200 new housing units to the property. A rendering provided to the city shows a three-story mixed-use development with commercial space on the bottom floor and housing above.
“They put us on really short leases. They’re month-to-month leases, so I don’t think they have any intention to move forward with us," said Erin Nenow, owner of Old Cal Coffee. Old California Restaurant Row was developed by the Eubanks family in the early 1970s. They continued to serve as landlords until selling in 2020. Multiple restaurant owners told ABC 10News they never heard from the new owner, or even knew who they were, until Papera's name was revealed in the plan submitted to the city this month.
"It’s a little strange," Nenow said."These type of businesses, brick and mortar, they’re very relational, people working with people for the common good. So it’s definitely weird to not know who you’re working with." Several restaurants on the property have already shut down. The owners of others say they are currently exploring options to move, rather than deal with the uncertainty of staying.City staff are currently reviewing the redevelopment plans.
We are still open at Old California Coffee House 🤍☕️
What a shame! There are not many restaurants to choose from as it is and those three story condos with a business floor are trendy but useless.
The place hasn’t been the same since Bruno’s closed. Was the best Italian food in the county.