Tribe.net. Local Connections Tony http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#bad7c59e-cc74-4387-879a-2a7dbcc4ca5c 2008-02-19T21:53:29Z 2008-02-19T21:53:29Z

Luciano's is gone? Wow! So much has changed in the year and half I've been gone.

Tony 2008-02-19T21:53:29Z Gwendolyn http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#3706c515-c06e-466c-84b3-90602a9e17e6 2008-02-19T16:13:03Z 2008-02-19T16:13:03Z

Don't be too sad - Barceluna is reopening in the space that was occupied by Luciano's. Not only do we get Barceluna back in a larger space - we get to have the Hob Nob, too (and I really like the Hob Nob, its a sweet bar and grill with a homey atmosphere and games to play).

Gwendolyn 2008-02-19T16:13:03Z Margo http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#a2fc7f26-ef0d-45f6-a33a-870accbbaea3 2008-02-19T15:31:49Z 2008-02-19T15:31:49Z

I just went to Hob Nob the other day and it is a great little spot....cozy, artsy, downhome and upscale. They have a full bar with specialty drinks and some very hearty appetizers. There are board games available to goof around with and the apparently sometimes have special events. How about if we don't mourn the loss of one beloved business by killing the new one trying to fill up the empty space left over?

Margo 2008-02-19T15:31:49Z Å₤ ℧å http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#03114ecd-10d8-46ff-874e-cf30bd957002 2008-02-19T06:43:47Z 2008-02-19T06:43:47Z

so sad that Barceluna closed. if anyone knows where they went, please let me know. i went there once when they were at the new Park Street location (now the Hob Nob--yeah like anyplace needs another cafe) and they were awesome!!!

Å₤ ℧å 2008-02-19T06:43:47Z George http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#9d0a7d20-a2a6-42e4-a82d-b7e403f69fb9 2008-02-18T18:04:36Z 2008-02-18T18:04:36Z

Too bad, because with the new library parking lot it was easy to go to the Park street Video Maniacs Video Maniacs in Bay Farm at 883 Island Drive phone 521-4860 is still open (I found them hard to find and had to call them by cell once I got there) There's also still Video Station at 1929 Broadway (across from the new Nob Hill Foods)

George 2008-02-18T18:04:36Z Gwendolyn http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#b162aa7a-33d5-48f4-9747-f5f76c9f1131 2008-01-21T02:42:41Z 2008-01-21T02:42:41Z

What I have heard from one of the bartenders at Lost Weekend who knows the folks who run Barceluna is that they will be moving into the former Luciano's site.

Gwendolyn 2008-01-21T02:42:41Z Beth aka Prue http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#261747fa-1014-493e-aed4-b0b72ef7fccd 2008-01-20T22:03:45Z 2008-01-20T22:03:45Z

I agree with your post, especially about the recommendations from Video Maniacs. A lot of our trips there were to look for something specific, but I frequently looked at the Recommendations rack, and got a lot of good stuff out of there, that I wouldn't have seen. When I first moved to Alameda, I got to see all kinds of stuff I had only heard of, like "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle." and "Multiple Maniacs," as well as a lot of great old MGM musicals that no-one else ever has! REEL in Berkeley is fabulous, but a pain to get to by public transit.

Beth aka Prue 2008-01-20T22:03:45Z c_death http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#8d8b0843-7fca-41d9-9051-7de2b27ae858 2008-01-20T21:14:02Z 2008-01-20T21:14:02Z

Wasn't Barcelona suppose to move to the old Driftwood/Kelly's location? now it called the Hobnob. Is it Barcelona, but they changed their name or did the contract fall through? and despite assurance at a town meeting that the twin towers wouldn't be blocked.... they lied. from the website "22 feet below the top of the spires of the Twin Towers Church" which is meaningless when you talk about perception from the ground and view from the corner at Peet's coffee. We don't walk eye level to the roof! http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/theater/images/chart_bldg_height.gif Also in perception, it is easier to mentally remove a sign from view (ie the Alameda neon sign) when it is a minority of the view. (ie the Twin towers with the Theater sign is equally the same height) A massive parking garage you can not mentally remove.

c_death 2008-01-20T21:14:02Z Margo http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#92bcff5e-02fd-44dd-a216-7f2ddbfa7877 2008-01-20T16:37:53Z 2008-01-20T16:37:53Z

I agree that Park St. will have challenges to keep up with, especially as the South Shore 'Towne Centre' gets filled in with more restaurants and service businesses. Most poeple hate driving up and down ramps in a parking garage and would prefer all the free, open parking at South Shore. Park Street really puts the Alameda in Alameda, if you know what I mean and many of us (myself included) really like knowing the individual business owners...Scott of Scott's Shoes and Kate Pryor of Tucker's for example. Gotta say though, aside from the stupid name, that Towne Centre is a beautifully designed "mall". I love that they've added in so many little courtyard areas for people to socialize. I intend to continue enjoying both environments.

Margo 2008-01-20T16:37:53Z In a kind http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#55f29ebc-e15c-4823-8443-9b5a5b622717 2008-01-20T05:50:40Z 2008-01-20T05:50:40Z

This is actually a great example of how government 'renewable' projects actually hurt a community. Here a long time alameda business was able to make a living in the space he had for many years. People who were looking for videos other than the 20 that Bbuster had in stock went there. You could get foreign and genre films BB wouldn't touch. [yes we can get movies thru the mail, but you lose the chance to chat with other movie buffs and get recommendations form the quirky people who worked there.] Then the greedy Rattos of the world (remember he pushed out the pizza place and another small shop to increase Pillow Park) lay their covetous eyes on your property and use their pull with the politicians and throw you out on you butt. You try to hang on in another place but you loose all your investment in what fixed up that last place, and the advantages ( drive thru, parking) that made you a success. Let's not forget the restaurants who had to close for the theater. They will be replaced my more expensive upscale places. The people who worked there lost their jobs too. Who will really benefit from the theater - yes some Alamedans, but mostly outsiders to keep it profitable. The Rattos of the world delusionally thinkthat people will stickaround and come buy sofas in his store. the irony is by making the parking garge connected to the theaters, Outside customers will not be on the street to see what is available. They will conveniently walk back to the elevator that takes them to the car. Alamedans who walk there would have gone to the restaurants anyway. The 'uptick' effect on local businesses will be negliable.

In a kind 2008-01-20T05:50:40Z Snake Lynne http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#b229239e-ca15-402d-a367-2b61318d351e 2008-01-19T07:28:09Z 2008-01-19T07:28:09Z

I have to admit since they were on Park with the sucky parking and no drive up drop off I havent really been in much. And am a netflix user...I rarely go to the video stores anymore. When I did go to VM there was never anyone in there.

Snake Lynne 2008-01-19T07:28:09Z Beth aka Prue http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#96f5c0c3-cfc4-43e6-862e-4dfbe65ea1a9 2008-01-17T18:55:05Z 2008-01-17T18:55:05Z

Dang, I was just there a couple of weeks ago, and didn't notice any signs of shutting down (though they did sell me a tape for the price of a rental; I figured they were phasing out videos for DVDs)

Beth aka Prue 2008-01-17T18:55:05Z Margo http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#bb101c32-3f4a-44e7-9243-71e86a76155e 2008-01-17T03:59:29Z 2008-01-17T03:59:29Z

The "cornor video store" is kind of a dying part of the entertainment industry anyway. It's too bad since many really cool people seem to have own and run them. Heck, even Blockbuster---the former 2000 pound gorilla of movie viewing---is running scared trying to keep up with what Netfix can offer. Now folks are just watching movies on their computersand and new companies are providing THAT service!

Margo 2008-01-17T03:59:29Z In a kind http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#4a1683b4-b29b-434a-b5f3-6450c2be8ba0 2008-01-17T03:09:45Z 2008-01-17T03:09:45Z

Wow I was afraid of this. Their new location sucked. no drive up drop off. Hell, no parking! However themarket with BBuster and Netflix may have cut into their bizniz too much.

In a kind 2008-01-17T03:09:45Z Steph http://AlamNonAnon.tribe.net/thread/d2185c43-d285-4b7a-b802-9bb9c24d4bff#46c55ddf-83d6-41fb-8ebd-568c97fe58b8 2008-01-17T01:07:58Z 2008-01-17T01:07:58Z

Looks like Video Maniacs just closed their doors on Park Street in the last few days. I've not been there in over a month, otherwise I'd have seen the notice that they were shutting down. :( The note on the window pretty much says the Park Street Business Association ran them out of business. When I got home, a salesman for Alameda Power & Telecom came to my door to pitch cable sales. We ended up talking about Video Maniacs - the sales guy told me Video Maniacs is suing the city for forcing them out of their old location on Santa Clara Ave to make room for the parking garage. The guy said something about Video Maniacs had signed something that said they had two months to review how sales were going in the Park Street location. He said that if business was good, then they couldn't sue if the business later failed, so they don't have a case. Does anyone have any more info on this?

Steph 2008-01-17T01:07:58Z