This blog series highlights the business corridors in the  #ShopLocalSJ campaign, written by the business outreach team in the City’s Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs.

My name is Sal Alvarez and I am part of the Business Development Team at the City of San José’s Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs, focusing on small business support through capacity building of business associations and storefront activation. I manage city-wide Streetlight Banner, Storefronts Activation Grant and Business Improvement District Formation Programs for the City. A San José native, I love our neighborhood business districts and am excited to support the Willow Glen Business Association and support our local businesses through the  #ShopLocalSJ program.

Lincoln Ave. Street

Downtown Willow Glen is wonderful main street business district experience if you are looking to stroll to shopping, dining with a nostalgic small town vibe chock-a-block with small businesses – you can practically do it all. The Willow Glen Business Association does a wonderful job planning events that are available to the public throughout the year. I highly recommend bookmarking their website to learn more about their event schedule and business directory.

Hicklebee's Store Front

When our children became school age, our family lived close to Downtown Willow Glen to be near family and walking distance from coffee (Starbucks, Peets, Noah’s Bagels, Pizza My Heart, Willow Street Pizza, frozen yogurt at Willow Glen Creamery and magical places like Hicklebees and Aqui Mex Grill (for Swirls 😊). We still go back for all of the above and enjoy seasonal events like Halloween, meeting up with family and have added in a stop at Ganados Feed to pick up alfalfa and feed for our animals.

Are you ready to explore Willow Glen? Visit our Willow Glen Shop Local page and view our list of places to shop, eat and celebrate along this corridor, and visit the Willow Glen Business Association page for a full list of businesses in the area.

For other business areas to visit, see the #ShopLocalSJ page.