In her weekly roundup, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the closing date for Forever 21 on a busy Pacific Avenue corner, desperate times for Front Street’s Comicopolis and more news, notes and numbers from Santa Cruz County business.
Jessica M. Pasko
Jessica M. Pasko has been writing professionally for more than two decades. She cut her teeth in journalism as a reporter for the Associated Press in her native Albany, New York, where she covered everything from plane crashes and arts & culture to state politics, including assisting with the coverage of former New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s resignation. After getting her master’s degree at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she moved to the West Coast and covered crime and breaking news for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. She has also worked for KION and written for a variety of local, regional and national publications on both coasts, including Evanston Patch, The Good Times, Santa Cruz Waves and many others.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Forever 21 to close downtown Santa Cruz store
In the latest blow to retail in downtown Santa Cruz, Forever 21 will close its doors at the end of January after over 12 years in operation. The fast fashion retailer’s departure could potentially leave both corners of Pacific and Soquel avenues largely empty, given the recent closure of New Leaf Community Markets’ store on the opposite corner.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Surf wax company wins Demo Day, new record store opens
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a surf wax company that won a local entrepreneurship competition, a new record store opening downtown and a Cabrillo College scholarship program being boosted by Comcast.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Filling the old Logos building, hotel rates and a Westside rebrand
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the struggle to find a new retail tenant for the former Logos Bookstore space in downtown Santa Cruz, a fall decline in hotel business and Wi-Fi coming to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Brew Cruz bids adieu; city seeks retail tenant
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the closure of popular brewery tour business Brew Cruz and on the City of Santa Cruz’s search for a tenant for a new retail/restaurant space at 822 Pacific Ave.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Brew Cruz hits brakes after decade of Santa Cruz County craft brewing tours
After 10 years and close to 2,000 tours, popular brewery tour business Brew Cruz is shutting down, with owner Annie Wolff Pautsch putting the familiar bus known as Betty Jane on the market.
Posted inLatest News
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Joby positioned for NYC air taxi service
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a key step being taken ahead of Joby Aviation’s plans to operate an air taxi service in New York next year, along with New Leaf Community Markets opening a new store in Capitola and Santa Cruz Works seeking nominees for local business leadership awards.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: An El Pajaro CDC milestone and Harts Fabric on the move
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the legacy of successful food and other small businesses that have been developed in El Pajaro Community Development Corporation’s 45 years. Harts Fabric is moving to a new Seabright location, and Terra & Self is closing its Santa Cruz store to go online-only.
Posted inLatest News
Harts Fabric relocating to Midtown Surf Shop space
Harts Fabric on Seabright Avenue in Santa Cruz will soon take over the former Midtown Surf Shop at 1126 Soquel Ave., potentially as soon as this week.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz skin care shop Terra & Self to close Oct. 29
Specialty skin care and beauty product shop Terra & Self will shutter its brick-and-mortar store on Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz on Oct. 29. The business, started by Kenne Johnson in 2020, will continue online sales.
