Facing competition, Midtown merchants band together Around Town, posted by Editor, Palo Alto Online, on Nov 3, 2009 at 11:05 am
When Midtown native Mike Wallau opened up Mike's Cafe in 1995, "Midtown was a blighted area," he said. "I was the first new business in Midtown in five years."
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, August 30, 2006, 12:00 AM
Posted by Welcome to Midtown, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 3, 2009 at 10:16 pm
As Downtown slumps Midtown picks-up. You can't park Downtown; it's all restaurants there is no shopping to be had. Midtown does at least have a grocery store of sorts; I wish it was bigger.
Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 4, 2009 at 6:54 am Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online
I am almost sorry that the prediction, when I first moved to Palo Alto, that the Oregon Expressway would irretrievably divide the city, did not pan out. Perhaps it is not too late. North of the slot could become Old Palo Alto while we retained Palo Alto, or we could become Mayfield; at any rate we could separate from the arrogant Nanny that infests our cohabitants. Suh, they've fired at our plastic bags, the Regiment marches at dawn.
Posted by Ada, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Nov 4, 2009 at 10:08 am
I wish it was true that the midtown businesses are doing great, but I live in midtown and pass by those businesses every day. They look like they are in a pretty sorry state, in dire of need a "facelift" and energizer boost. The are still looks "blighted". The fronts of stores and restaurants are unappealing and depressing. I see few customers. It is not a lively area, like T&C or California Ave.
Posted by Kate, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Nov 5, 2009 at 7:13 pm
The original story above first appeared in 2006!! Yet, nothing much has changed. Mike's Etc. at Midtown does a great business - marvelous chef. I long for the good old days of Bergmann's Department Store "where everybody knew your name", one-stop shopping, and Baja's lunch counter with Mama Bajas and Bajas presiding, and you could buy just about anything from needles to shoes to stockings to a hair-fix to one of the best hamburgers in town. And down the street was the Midtown Pharmacy where the Palo Alto Coffee Cafe is now.. Yes, it does need updating.
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