In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko goes inside the makeover at Ocean Street’s Hotel Paradox, updates New Leaf Market’s plans to leave downtown and more.
Jessica M. Pasko
Jessica M. Pasko has been writing professionally for almost 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
Hotel Paradox unveils multimillion-dollar renovation as local tourism industry bounces back from pandemic
Santa Cruz’s Hotel Paradox recently completed a multimillion-dollar refresh and an ambitious overhaul of its in-house restaurant, Solaire. The Ocean Street property joins a growing list of Santa Cruz County hotels that have opened or undergone renovations in the past two years as the region experiences a rebound in tourism.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
New Leaf plans to leave Pacific Avenue store in downtown Santa Cruz for Gateway Plaza in 2025
New Leaf Community Markets brand manager Lindsay Gizdich said the store is moving from Pacific Avenue in order to have more space. While New Leaf’s downtown location is 9,000 square feet, the new spot on River Street is 29,000 square feet, allowing the grocery store to expand its offerings.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Ag industry struggles, downtown visions, Michaels in Capitola
In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko talks to agricultural commissioner David Sanford, updates downtown planning in Watsonville and Santa Cruz and checks in on local comings and goings.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
$65M in storm-related losses just one of many challenges ag chief sees for Santa Cruz County farmers
“It’s been a tough year,” David Sanford says of 2023 for Santa Cruz County farmers and farmworkers. Sanford, who took over as county agricultural commissioner earlier this from Juan Hidalgo, talks about how local growers are tackling the variety of issues stemming from climate change, the effects of inflation and more in a Q&A with Jessica M. Pasko.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Watsonville downtown planning, Onewheel recall & small biz resources
In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko details Watsonville’s Downtown Specific Plan ahead of a city council vote and notes a recall affecting Santa Cruz-made electric skateboards, plus milestones for local businesses, dates to save and more.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Watsonville city leaders weigh vision for downtown’s future
With the goal of creating an active, vibrant and walkable downtown featuring a mix of shops, restaurants, housing and office spaces that still maintains the area’s historic character, the downtown plan goes to the Watsonville City Council for a vote next Tuesday.
Posted inLookout PM Archive
Lookout PM: Local biz roundup, Pinot Noir harvest underway, Onewheel recall, and a West Cliff community workshop
In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko details…
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Outdoor dining hurdles, Joby joins Air Force, Crepe Place’s loss
In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko looks at hurdles facing restaurants wanting to keep their pandemic-era outdoor dining spaces, Joby Aviation’s Air Force connection and a loss for the Crepe Place family.
Posted inLookout PM Archive
Lookout PM: Local biz roundup, outdoor dining struggles, and CSUMB jumps up in college rankings
The City of Santa Cruz issued temporary permits for restaurants to shift to outdoor dining in a hasty response to the…