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💪 Only the OGs

San Jose’s oldest family-owned businesses

You can’t miss the mint green + burgundy sign of Original Joe’s in downtown. | Photo via @signmonger

San Jose is almost always experiencing rapid development — BART will soon expand to downtown, and Google’s transit village will shuffle plenty of new restaurants + shops into the great 408.

While all of that is new and exciting, we want to shed light on four local establishments that have served the San Jose community for 65+ years — quite impressive with our changing scene, no?

(Psst... We’d love to make this a living list, so if you know of a business to add, send us a tip.)

The exterior of Chiaramonte's Deli. — Look no further for your Italian sandwiches, meats, and other goods at this 115-year-old deli.
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Photo via @lunaparksanjose + @sanjosefoos

Chiaramonte’s Deli & Sausage | Est. 1908

Located near Backesto Park is this 115-year-old gem. Salvatore + Alfonsia Chiaramonte immigrated from Sicily and opened up the deli, and it remains as one of the oldest family-owned and operated Italian delis in the US. Stop in for homemade sausages, pasta plates, or made-to-order sandwiches.

Kogura Co. Gifts | Est. 1928

In the heart of Japantown, you’ll find a gift shop that once sold Japanese appliances to the community in the 1930s. Kogura Co. is one of the oldest stores to stay in its original location in any Japantown in the US. Now, you can find products like rice cookers, Japanese dolls, colorful tea sets, and more.

A customer orders from a worker inside of Peter's Bakery. — There’s nothing like the sweet smell of Peter’s Bakery.
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Photo via @hectorvillablanca

Peter’s Bakery | Est. 1936

This San Jose staple is the oldest family-owned bakery in the Silicon Valley. Founder Tony Peters, born in San Jose in 1907, learned about the bakery business through family members. By 1938, he had two bakeries up and running — one at Delmas + San Carlos streets, and the other on Alum Rock Avenue.

Original Joe’s | Est. 1956

The founders of the original Original Joe’s in San Francisco desired to bring the homestyle Italian American flavors from SF to the South Bay. So much so, for the first few years of operation, they transported SF French bread via Greyhound Bus everyday. It remains an SJ institution in the heart of downtown.

Asked

What other longtime local businesses can we add to our list above?

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Events

Friday, May 12

SVCTE’s 17th Annual Custom & Classic Car Show | Friday, May 12 | 5-8:30 p.m. | Central County Occupational Center (CCOC), 760 Hillsdale Ave., San Jose | $20 | All classic car clubs, collectors, and auto enthusiasts are welcome at this show featuring 300+ exhibitors.
LUNAFEST San Jose 2023 | Friday, May 12 | 6-10 p.m. | San José Woman’s Club, 75 S. 11th St., San Jose + virtual | $30-$90 | Enjoy a festive evening of film, food, and fun while supporting Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and local charities.
Carlos Mencia | Friday, May 12-Sunday, May 14 | Times vary | San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose | $25-$75 | This comic is best known for his unfiltered style of comedy, finding the irony in both the day-to-day and newsworthy events of his life.
SJSU Music & Dance Presents: Art & Video Game Music Series “Game Play” | Friday, May 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose | $20 | The SJSU Wind Ensemble and Concert Choir will play renditions of video game music, including tunes from “Halo,” “Final Fantasy,” “Super Mario Bros.,” “Journey,” “The Banner Saga,” and “Civilization.”

Saturday, May 13

46th Annual Berryessa Art Festival | Saturday, May 13 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Penitencia Creek Park, 3050 Berryessa Rd., San Jose | Free | Celebrate creativity at this family-friendly fair showcasing local artists, crafters, artisans, musicians, and more.
Second Saturday | Saturday, May 13 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. | 1065 The Alameda, San Jose | Free | Browse 30+ artists’ open studios while enjoying live music and tasty food.
“Tres Minutos” - An Immigration Opera | Saturday, May 13 | 2-4 p.m. | Mexican Heritage Theater - School of Arts and Culture, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose | $10-$40 | Follow the story of Diego and Nila, a brother and sister who share DNA but not citizenship.
Cougars on the Loose - A Night of Comedy by the Cougar Comedy Collective | Saturday, May 13 | 7-9 p.m. | Tabard Theatre, 29 N. San Pedro St., Ste. 200, San Jose | $20-$25 | From the ups and downs of dating, to poking fun at the challenges of aging, there is something for everyone at this show.

Sunday, May 14

Folkloreada 2023 Festival | Sunday, May 14 | 2-6 p.m. | Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose | Free | Los Lupeños welcomes you to its annual outdoor community fest featuring Mexican folklórico dance & music.
Spring Concert Series | Sunday, May 14 | 3 p.m. | St. James Park, North Second + East St. James streets, San Jose | Free | Relax on the lawn with a beer or wine while listening to local musicians.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Finance

Kick back and retire (yes, please)

SmartAsset matches you with vetted financial advisors in your area. | Photo by SmartAsset

This billion-dollar startup wants to help you retire.

If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise Millennial looking to get ahead — SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area.

It’s never too late to work towards more radiant golden years. Take this quiz to see if you can retire comfortably.*

Take the free quiz

News Notes

Announced

SiliCon with Adam Savage — scheduled for this October — has been canceled. Event organizers cited the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and funding issues as factors in the decision. But don’t lose all hope, FanimeCon returns Friday, May 26-Monday, May 29. (The Mercury News)
The Friends of Levitt Pavilion have announced the full lineup for its Spring Concert Series happening every Sunday. Artists include Los Yesterdays, Diamond Ortiz, JC Smith, and more. The first event will kick off Sunday, May 21, 3:30-7 p.m., with Melanie Charles.

Development

A new, 7,827-sqft fire station is being proposed at a 1.12-acre site in Little Saigon — at 1138 Olinder Court. The project would demolish an existing structure to make way for Fire Station No. 32. Public comments will be taken through Wednesday, May 31.

Community

The city plans to hire a new Housing Director and is encouraging residents to voice their input about what knowledge, skills, and abilities may be important for the role. Five in-person meetings will be held at various community centers — the first one is on Monday, May 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Sports

Quakes homegrown players Cade Cowell and Niko Tsakiris have been called to represent the US U20 Men’s National Team in the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup, among 21 other players. Team USA’s first match will be against Ecuador on Saturday, May 20 — watch live on FOX Sports + Telemundo.

Fun Fact

Have you ever heard of the Banh Mi Line? Officially called Xe Đò Hoàng, this bus line has connected America’s largest Vietnamese hubs — San Jose + Westminster — since the late 1990s. The name derives from the complimentary meal that was once served on the ride. Learn more + perhaps snag a $50 ticket. (CBS News)

Read

San José Spotlight will soon launch a newsletter that builds off of its popular series, The Biz Beat, which features local businesses in the South Bay and their untold stories. Sign up for upcoming newsletter. (San José Spotlight)

Kids

Let your kids touch the stove

Summer cooking camps for kids in San Jose

Two kids in denim aprons gaze at a counter holding a bowl of flour, chocolate chips, and croissants.

Kids will be whipping up French pastries in no time. | Photo via Sur La Table

Let us explain. We’d only recommend this activity under professional supervision, with detailed instruction, and the promise of tasty treats at the end — AKA, everything you get in one of Sur La Table’s cooking camps.

Check out the camps held at Sur La Table (855 El Camino Real, Suite 57, Palo Alto), perfect for little chefs who’d love hands-on cooking instruction this summer. Bon appétit.

🧁 For kids ages 7-11

Baking 101
This camp will have kids making everything from chocolate marble banana bread to homemade pizzas. While most camps have sold out, five-day camps are available July 10 through August 4. Browse camps and sign up.

Culinary Excursion
From chicken dinner to taco night, little chefs will learn a breadth of recipes to make again. Five-day camps are available June 12 through July 28. Browse camps and sign up.*

More camps for kids

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Alyson

From the editor

As we approach Mother’s Day, I want to give my mom a huge shoutout for always supporting me + being my No. 1 fan. Thank you for always reading the newsletter and telling me what you liked about it. Thank you for letting me pursue my own interests, and for cheering me on in whatever it is. Thank you for teaching me what it means to be a gracious, loving, and strong woman. Love you, Mom.

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