Is Pacific Garden Mall in Santa Cruz like Downtown Center in San Luis Obispo? (Chico: salon, home)

[the city]

Is Pacific Garden Mall in Santa Cruz like Downtown Center in San Luis Obispo? Or is it more of just some streets that have some resturaunts and stores?

[AlwaysSmiling]

the city......
Seriously????

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by the city

Is Pacific Garden Mall in Santa Cruz like Downtown Center in San Luis Obispo? Or is it more of just some streets that have some resturaunts and stores?

i've never been to San Luis Obispo but the main part of downtown S.C. is a bunch of streets with shops and places to eat, Pacific being the main or center stretch of it.
with lots of little side streets. Kinda basic ... no big deal.
One end is more "high end" with fancier shops and the other end is much more "funky" ... head shops, places to buy new and used music, street folks, etc. and then the side streets from one end to the other end are eclectic with various different shops and eat places and some offices.

[NewToCA]

I've been to both within the past year, and would say that San Luis Obispo is more of a substantial downtown area, while the Santa Cruz area seems somewhat more tourist oriented, with a bit more of an entertainment focus.

San Luis Obispo's Thursday Farmer's Market is quite a bit of fun, and very lively.

[the city]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

I've been to both within the past year, and would say that San Luis Obispo is more of a substantial downtown area, while the Santa Cruz area seems somewhat more tourist oriented, with a bit more of an entertainment focus.

San Luis Obispo's Thursday Farmer's Market is quite a bit of fun, and very lively.

I would have to say SLO's downtown is more than just substantial because it cators as a hang-out place for teens and college students. The Court Street Center (upscale mix-used center) has Talbots, Chicos, Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, Aveda Salon Lux, Pottery Barn, Sephora, and Peet's Coffee. Then there is also the Downtown Center (mix-used center) which has California Pizza Kitchen, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Gap, Express, The Apple Store, Barnes N Nobles, Papyrus, a movie theater, Sunglass Hut, and Solstice Sunglasses. Both mix-used centers are along Higuera and Marsh Street which is the fashion district of downtown. There also some funky shops, bars, and local stores. Also, there is an urban outfitters, ross, beverley fabrics, aaron bros, patrick james, and more along hiquera and marsh street.

[Sandpointian]

Originally Posted by the city

I would have to say SLO's downtown is more than just substantial because it cators as a hang-out place for teens and college students. The Court Street Center (upscale mix-used center) has Talbots, Chicos, Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, Aveda Salon Lux, Pottery Barn, Sephora, and Peet's Coffee. Then there is also the Downtown Center (mix-used center) which has California Pizza Kitchen, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Gap, Express, The Apple Store, Barnes N Nobles, Papyrus, a movie theater, Sunglass Hut, and Solstice Sunglasses. Both mix-used centers are along Higuera and Marsh Street which is the fashion district of downtown. There also some funky shops, bars, and local stores. Also, there is an urban outfitters, ross, beverley fabrics, aaron bros, patrick james, and more along hiquera and marsh street.

Sorry, that sounds horrible. Advice: claiming downtown SLO as the home of chains is not going to win points. How about some authentic locally-produced flavour?

Is this what the US is coming to? Franchises and chains even in quirky places like SLO (or at least the SLO I recall)? How sad!

Thank God for places like Santa Cruz!

S.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by Sandpointian

Sorry, that sounds horrible. Advice: claiming downtown SLO as the home of chains is not going to win points. How about some authentic locally-produced flavour?

Is this what the US is coming to? Franchises and chains even in quirky places like SLO (or at least the SLO I recall)? How sad!

Thank God for places like Santa Cruz!

S.

Santa Cruz has changed.
I still love it here but it's not what it used to be.
Money comes in .... the rich recognize and then want the magic of a place and gobble it up 'cause they just gotta OWN it and they spoil it.

[eightiesfan]

Originally Posted by Sandpointian

Sorry, that sounds horrible. Advice: claiming downtown SLO as the home of chains is not going to win points. How about some authentic locally-produced flavour?

Is this what the US is coming to? Franchises and chains even in quirky places like SLO (or at least the SLO I recall)? How sad!

Thank God for places like Santa Cruz!

S.

Exactly. Sounds a lot like anywhere America to me. I like SLO but not for any of the reasons you listed, you should enjoy the character the city still has, not the cookie cutter developments.

[the city]

Originally Posted by coyoteskye

Santa Cruz has changed.
I still love it here but it's not what it used to be.
Money comes in .... the rich recognize and then want the magic of a place and gobble it up 'cause they just gotta OWN it and they spoil it.

Yeah, Santa Cruz is not any better than SLO.

Borders, Regal Cinemas, American Apparel, Gap, Gap Kids, Urban Outfitters, O'Neil, Trader Joes, Longs Drugs, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Acapulco, Quizno's, El Polo Loco, Subway, Taco Bell, Fosters Freeze, Cold Stones, and more bars and theaters than SLO's downtown

Im sorry, but Santa Cruz has about as many chains as SLO. SLO has a bigger downtown, so it has more chains and more local stores. SLO's downtown just doesnt have as many theaters and bars.

[JetJockey]

Originally Posted by the city

Yeah, Santa Cruz is not any better than SLO.

Borders, Regal Cinemas, American Apparel, Gap, Gap Kids, Urban Outfitters, O'Neil, Trader Joes, Longs Drugs, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Acapulco, Quizno's, El Polo Loco, Subway, Taco Bell, Fosters Freeze, Cold Stones, and more bars and theaters than SLO's downtown

Im sorry, but Santa Cruz has about as many chains as SLO. SLO has a bigger downtown, so it has more chains and more local stores. SLO's downtown just doesnt have as many theaters and bars.

I wish all those big box chain stores and restaurants would go away. It would be nice if downtown SLO ONLY had local small businesses.