Giant local beer distributor has small beginnings
George Couch was an ambitious 25-year-old when he came to Watsonville in 1973 and negotiated a deal to purchase a small Anheuser-Busch distributorship. It would not stay small for long.
His company Couch Distributing, which he runs with his brother Geoff, has since 1973 delivered...
Rancho Del Mar work progresses
Work is moving forward at the major rebuild and renovation project at Rancho Del Mar in Aptos.
Watsonville native plans to transform Corralitos restaurant
WATSONVILLE—Jesus Montejano is eager to put his skills to use for the community he calls home.
After recently graduating with honors from Cabrillo College’s business program, Montejano has set his sights on transforming a restaurant located next to the iconic Five Mile House on the...
Business brewing: Historic crop making comeback as city takes cautious step into brew scene
Akiyama Hopyard business partners Sam Akiyama and Jorge Vasquez are not the only people jumping head first into the blossoming craft brew scene in Watsonville.
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore moving to downtown Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission at its Tuesday meeting unanimously approved an application from Habitat For Humanity to fill a vacant portion of a large building on the 500 block of Main Street.
Formerly home to a bounce house business, the 555 Main St. location adjacent...
Regulations could pinch crab fishermen
MOSS LANDING—As commercial crab fishermen prepare for the season to begin on Nov. 1, they are also grappling with a strict set of new regulations that start the same day, which some say could severely curtail their livelihood.
The new rules, created by the California...
City budget buoyed by sales tax revenue ‘bubble’
WATSONVILLE—Despite the economic shutdowns resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the city of Watsonville’s overall sales tax revenues have held steady thanks to a myriad of reasons, including a sharp rise in online and local shopping.
That’s according to Administrative Services Director Cindy Czerwin who at...
Van’s Shoes finds new location
Owner Jim van Lanen said the move comes as an adjustment to the market, especially in that “more people and buying goods online.”
Organic produce sales up 9%, tops $2B for the quarter
Total organic fresh produce sales for the first quarter of 2021 saw a continuation of last year’s growth, increasing by 9.3% from the same period in 2020 and topping $2.2 billion for the quarter, according to the Q1 2021 Organic Produce Performance Report released...
Kitchen incubator celebrating five years
El Pajaro Community Development Corporation's Commercial Kitchen Incubator, 412 East Riverside Drive in Watsonville, will celebrate its fifth anniversary with Tacos and Tapas on Aug. 23 from 6-9 p.m.
Homemade bomb shuts down Freedom Boulevard
A lengthy stretch of Freedom Boulevard was shut down Tuesday evening after Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies discovered a pipe bomb in a car.
The...
