In the 900 and 800 blocks of Pacific Avenue, we get into some familiar territory, at least on the east side of the street. The three big redevelopment projects on that side will rebuild the entire 900-800 frontage. The two Pacific Station projects were described in posts #21 and #22. Neither of those projects have begun construction yet. Most of the 800 block has been razed in 2021, and the big new project there (see post #4) is slowly rising from the ground. So let's look now at the west side of those two short blocks.
As with the 1000 block, the first thing to notice as you travel south on Pacific Avenue past Elm Street is a large, colorful wall mural facing you on the right. Streetlight Records has filled some of the new & used LP/CD/DVD vacuum left when Logos closed, and seems to be doing well. All of the mid-block businesses beyond are also open.
At the next corner is yet another fun wall mural, facing south toward Maple Street from the wall of long-time retailer Andy's Auto Supply. The store closed in 2019, unlikely to return, but I hope the mural stays. If the scene pictured in the mural is accurate, Andy's used to be located farther south, in the 800 block.
The old location of Andy's has long been home to Zachary's, a locally-owned breakfast/lunch institution. Since re-opening for indoor dining, weekend waiting lines once again fill the PacAve sidewalk in front.
Past Zachary's is the last surviving Santa Cruz example of what was once common in commercial building nomenclature - the Jonas Block. From about 1870 to 1910, Pacific Avenue filled up with large-ish buildings dubbed "Block" - usually following the owner's name. This one was built by David Jonas, a clothing retailer, in 1908. the building name, high up on the roof-edge parapet, is hard to see from the street because of the trees, but can be read easily on the Andy's mural.
The block ends at Laurel Street and a less-treasured local institution, the Bonesio Liquor Store. The front corner of the building is chamfered at 45 degrees, so that customers can drive in from either street, stop right in front of the door, leave the motor running while running in to make a purchase, and exit straight ahead onto the other street. What could go wrong?
A bit of historical deja-vu: in 1963, Victor Bonesio announced his intention to sell his liquor store to a man from Tulare named Harold W. Jarvis. Probably no relation, but among the earliest wine-and-spirits wholesale/retailers in Santa Cruz was George M. Jarvis, who opened a store on the north end of Pacific Avenue in 1876.
Santa Cruz Changes locations can be found on this Google Map.
