Plus, a SoFA Block Party.
 
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Today’s Forecast

57º | Mostly sunny | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:22 a.m. | Sunset: 5:06 p.m.
 

They’re not going anywhere

San Jose’s oldest family-owned businesses
The front of Santo Market.
Whether it’s summer or winter, people will still stand outside for the fresh poke. | Photo by SJtoday staff
Last month, we shared four local, family-owned businesses that have stood the test of time in the great 408.

Many of you enjoyed this blast to the past and gave us so many more tips, so we’re back with five more local establishments that have served the San Jose community for 65+ years.

O.C. McDonald | Est. 1906

Founded by Oren Charles McDonald more than a century ago, this company installed the first air conditioning system in San Jose. The plumbing, process piping, and HVAC service provider is currently owned and run by Oren’s great-grandson, Jim McDonald.

Hammer & Lewis Clothiers | Est. 1920

A Polish immigrant named Sig Hammer established this men’s clothing store that specializes in custom suits, Panama hats, Pendleton items, and more. It originally was located on Market Street for 69 years, but moved to its current location at 19 S. First St. following the Loma Prieta earthquake.

Greenlee’s Bakery | Est. 1924

Emmett Greenlee founded the bakery almost 100 years ago, but European pastry chef Norbert Geldner and former Cambrian Bakery owner Rosalina Geldner bought it in 1981. Their combined culinary skills made Greenlee’s brioche-like cinnamon bread its best-seller.

Santo Market | Est. 1946

San Jose born and raised Earl and Helen Santo are the head of this Asian grocery market’s legacy, having kept it in business since Earl’s uncle founded it following the end of WWII. Today, foodies flock to the corner store for its strawberry mochi and fresh poke.

Kirk’s Steakburgers | Est. 1948

After WWII, Bill Sincere and his wife, Kirk, moved from New York to California and decided to open up a burger joint that served charcoal-grilled patties like the ones they enjoyed back east. After opening up the first location in Palo Alto, word spread among early Silicon Valley developers, and the rest was history.
More historic businesses
Asked

What other longtime local businesses can we add to our list above?
Send us a tip
 
Events
Monday, June 19
  • Juneteenth Community Celebration | Monday, Jun. 19 | Times vary | Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose | $14-$15 | Learn about the African diaspora through a mix of short films and enjoy a drumming workshop.
Tuesday, June 20
  • Disney Sing-a-Long Musical Trivia | Tuesday, Jun. 20 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Britannia Arms Almaden, 5027 Almaden Expy., San Jose | $8-$16 | Channel your inner Disney enthusiast and belt out your favorite tunes.
Wednesday, June 21
  • Make Music San Jose | Wednesday, Jun. 21 | Times vary | Locations vary, San Jose | Free | Catch live music performances throughout the great 408 at community centers, parks, restaurants, museums, and more.
  • “Othello” | Wednesday, Jun. 21-Sunday, Jun. 25 | Times vary | The Stage, 490 S. First St., San Jose | $38-$62 | Enjoy this reimagined, jazz-infused version of William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.
  • Morgan Jay | Wednesday, Jun. 21 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose | $20-$75 | This performer touches comedy and music fans alike with his smooth melodies derived from his love for classic R&B and bossa nova.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
News Notes
Today Is
  • Juneteenth, which marks the end of institutional slavery in the US. It is a federal holiday, so expect closures. Commemorate the day at the Children’s Discovery Museum’s community celebration that features an African drumming workshop.
Civic
  • The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved an $11.3 billion budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which closes a $120 million funding gap. The budget prioritizes expanding access to behavioral health services + housing, as well as increasing support for youth and families.
Cause
  • In honor of Juneteenth, the San Jose Quakes are selling limited edition wristbands in collaboration with Black Players for Change to raise money for the organization’s efforts to end racism. Wristbands are available for $5 online.
Try This
  • San Jose Obon will host its first odori dance practice tonight, June 19, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The following practices are scheduled for June 21, 26, 28, and 29 — and will all be held at the San Jose Buddhist Church Gym at 640 N. Fifth St.
Number
  • 145.11 million. That’s the collective amount that the top five, highest-paid female executives in Silicon Valley earn. 23andMe Inc. CEO Anne Wojcicki topped the list, which also included Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of retail. (Silicon Valley Business Journal)
Community
  • The Urban Vibrancy Institute will host another block party in the SoFA District this Thursday, June 22, at 5:30 p.m. The event will feature more than 40 retailers who will offer fun programs + incentives for party-goers.
Regional
  • A soon-to-be Santa Clara University graduate will begin work at SpaceX — and he’s only 14-years-old. Kairan Quazi of Pleasanton is said to have an IQ ranked in the top one-tenth percentile. Kairan will be a software engineer for the company with an acceptance rate of less than 1%. (NBC Bay Area)
Plan Ahead
  • The 1975 will come to the SAP Center as part of its largest North American tour on Thursday, Sept. 28. General ticket sales begin at 10 a.m., Friday, June 23. (The Mercury News)
Finance
Eat

🍦 Scoop, there it is

What ice cream flavor best embodies San Jose?
Five ice cream cones and lots of sprinkles.
If the ice cream is strawberry, that means it counts as a serving of fruit — right? Asking for a friend. | Photo via Unsplash
Calling all lovers of San Jose, warm weather, and ice cream. We want to know — if our city was a flavor of ice cream, what would it be? What local ingredients would it contain? Would it be ribboned with locally procured sea salt caramel or crumbled cookies from BiBi Bakery & Café?

Share your locally inspired ice cream flavor with us by Friday, June 30, and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter — just make sure it includes one to three local ingredients (bonus points if you list the local spot to source the ingredients and include a catchy name for your frosty concoction).

Need some inspiration? Here are two examples to get your stomachs grumbling:

🇺🇸 US: A waffle cone of vanilla bean ice cream laden with chunks of apple pie.

🇯🇵 Japan: A taiyaki filled with taro soft serve and topped with a black sesame cookie.
Submit your San Jose-inspired flavor
 
The Wrap
 
Alyson Chuyang headshot

Today’s edition by:
Alyson
From the editor
This past weekend brought sunshine and a ton of community events. On Saturday, I went to Juneteenth Homecoming, put on by the African American Community Service Agency. I also stopped by 55 South’s day party, which featured DJs from Ladies 1st DJ Club.

So, for all the people you know who say “there’s nothing to do in San Jose,” tell them that they don’t know what they’re talking about + send them the subscribe link to SJtoday.
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