Overview: Amid the pandemic, many downtown businesses are struggling and some have closed. Indoor restaurant dining remains prohibited. The partial closure of Castro St., called “Summer StrEats,” now enables some restaurants to offer outdoor dining with health precautions, in addition to take-out and delivery. A new “universal” Mountain View gift card, accepted at a growing list of businesses, is available. More details below on these programs. And some new restaurants are pending as listed below.
Castro Summer StrEats: Since late June, four downtown Castro St. blocks have been closed to traffic to allow outdoor dining (all cross streets remain open). This experiment (several nearby cities have similar closures) is scheduled to last through September 30. Sarah Astles, President of MV’s Downtown Business Association, declares that the businesses have reimagined themselves, rejuvenating downtown MV’s “culture and excitement in these challenging times. There is a beautiful sense of community when you walk the streets, and a comfort in the safety being provided by the open air atmosphere and safety measures taken by every business. Come enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of summertime in Downtown Mountain View!”
List of open restaurants and other businesses: iloveMV.org
Mountain View universal gift card and the latest list of businesses where it can be used: http://www.ilovemv.org/mountain-view-gift-card
New restaurants pending: Even with a quarantine economy and business challenges, new hospitality businesses have been approved and are making progress. As of mid-July, according to the City: Three Kingdoms Hot Pot (134 Castro, formerly Han Gen Restaurant) is under construction. 383 Castro, whose remodeling for a new location of Ludwig’s German Table was troubled by permit delays, progressed rapidly during the pandemic, the construction fence has come down and exteriors are new. Modifications were approved at 143 Castro, near Olympus Caffe and Bakery, for a new café tenant, Yifang Boba Shop. A use permit is pending at 298 Castro for a new restaurant (Nick the Greek).
