Holiday planning? Order your meat now
If specialty meats will be on your table during the upcoming holidays, now is the time to get your order in at two local meat businesses, Freedom Meat Lockers and Corralitos Market & Sausage Co.
Cooper family buys two dealerships
WATSONVILLE—The family that owns Chevrolet Watsonville has purchased two new neighboring dealerships, giving it the lion’s share of the sales on Auto Center Drive.
The Cooper family closed the deal on Wednesday for Monterey Bay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Mid Bay Ford Lincoln.
The family...
Groundwork moves ahead for new warehouse
Work continues on the new massive beer and restaurant supply warehouse just off of Highway 1 (between Riverside Drive and Green Valley Road) on the Manabe-Ow property in Watsonville.
Approved by the Watsonville City Council in March, the 155,847-square-foot, two-story industrial warehouse is still in...
Monterey Mushrooms awards $226K in scholarships
Monterey Mushrooms presented 167 children of its employees with $226,500 in scholarship awards for the 2017-18 academic year.
A taste of the Pajaro Valley | Brew Tour
The Pajaro Valley is best known for its agriculture but its craft brew scene is also starting to demand some attention. This short but strong list of breweries and taprooms around the Watsonville area are key stops on anyone’s tour through California’s bountiful brew...
Stay loyal, stay local: Gift ideas from around the Pajaro Valley
Looking for places to shop for loved ones this holiday season? You don’t have to rely on Amazon or other large retailers—instead, look into small, locally-owned stores right here in the Pajaro Valley. Contact the stores directly, follow on social media and check out...
New hardware store coming to Capitola
CAPITOLA—A new branch of Outdoor Supply Hardware (OSH) is slated for a Jan. 6 opening in the former Orchard Supply Hardware store on 41st Avenue.
Ryan Odell, store manager at the Napa OSH branch, said the company will run a soft opening in the first...
Hidden Fortress opens second Watsonville shop
WATSONVILLE—Hidden Fortress Coffee Roasting has opened a new branch in the Cabrillo College Watsonville Center at 318 Union St.
They started roasting coffee in 2012 and have one location in Watsonville and another in Seaside. Their first store opened three years ago at 125 Hangar...
Pier 1 to close all stores
CAPITOLA—Pier 1 Imports announced Tuesday that it will close all 540 of its stores nationwide, sell its inventory and liquidate its assets.
The sales will begin at the Capitola store as soon as the Santa Cruz County Health Department allows it to open.
The company’s website...
Hampton Inn & Suites begins taking shape
The 112-room business, being built by Elite Development Inc. between Beach Road and Riverside Drive, has now reached the insulation, electrical and plumbing phase, said co-owner Juggy Tut. Barring any unexpected hurdles, Tut said he hopes to see the place up and running by the end of the year or in early January. Roof work is slated to be completed in December.
Queer Youth Leadership Awards approaching
The Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA) has, in the decades since its inception, honored young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ+) whose...





















