Old Business Struggles while New One Shines
The Plaza at Gale Ranch in San Ramon has recently opened up to the public with the introduction of Safeway, its anchor tenant. The estimated $20 million development, located at Dougherty Road and Bollinger Canyon Road, will soon be home to other businesses that include Wells Fargo, Union Bank, Ascona Pizza, Gale Ranch Dental Group, Peet's Coffee and Fat Cactus Bar & Grill.
About 135,000 people live within five miles of the plaza, which is already more than Concord’s entire population. It is worth noting that the average household income in this area is $141,977.
Less than 5 miles away from Gale Ranch is Windmill Farms, which is facing pressure from the Contra Costa Health Department to change the way it has been doing business for the past 30 years. The San Ramon produce market has been selling cut fuits and vegetables along with other prepared foods in a space that is much larger than what is allowed by the county’s open-air codes. Windmill Farms can continue to sell their products as they have been if they create more indoor space and washable floors. If they fail to comply, they may be forced to shut down permanently.
It’s hard to hear of this produce market’s struggles alongside the success that The Plaza at Gale Ranch is destined for. As much as I would love for established, community-loved businesses to thrive, customer safety must be looked at as a priority. I hope that Windmill Farms will be able to resolve its disputes with the county without having to compromise too much of the services it has been providing to the San Ramon area for over three decades.
September 2nd, 2007 at 1:59 am
It’s very difficult to believe there is a genuine health problem with Windmill Farms, as the health department seems to claim.
I shop there and the experience has benefitted my health. The county bureaucrats have no complaints of anyone’s health being compromised.
You can go to the farmers’ markets in Danville or Castro Valley or Pleasanton or Walnut Creek and find the same “health risks” the bureaucrats exist here. So, why aren’t they acting against the farmers’ markets?
If you talk with the Windmill owners, you will find that the City of San Ramon wants them to build an entirely new store to comply with the City’s architectural plans for a retail center which the City wants to develop. Windmill can’t afford to do it, and they’ve made clear they don’t intend to.
Then, “coincidentally”, along comes some county bureaucrats with these demands to meet pressing health requirements. Again, there are no known complaints about the health of Windmill’s products — and apparently haven’t been for over 30 years. COINCIDENTALLY, it is an easy way to get rid of a property owner which doesn’t want to play ball with the City.
Something stinks here, and it isn’t Windmill Farms’ produce.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Assemblyman Guy Houston, a hopeful for the county Boad of Supervisors, came out to Windmill Farms on Monday to lend his support to keeping the business in business.
“This is an outrageous misuse of the health department’s police power,” said Houston, who planned to make appearances at the market through the week. “The county has a thin argument … there haven’t been any health issues here.”
Is it just me or does it strike others as more than coincidence that the city is trying to force two businesses on that corner out of business?
Earlier in the year, it was reported that the Outpost, a local tavern right next to Windmaill Farms, was having to shut down due to city pressure. Seems like the city has plans for that corner.