News

WATSONVILLE—Rocky Patel said he was largely inspired to open his new restaurant, Mr. Z’s Crepes & Teas, by his two children. “They are boba tea fanatics,” Patel said. “My 15-year-old son especially loves it. I was like, sure, let’s go all-out and do this.” Boba, also...

Fat Boy Burgers and Grill recently opened its doors at 1467 Freedom Blvd. and was swarmed with hundreds of customers looking to dine on its tasty offerings, which include burgers, crinkle-cut fries and milkshakes.

WATSONVILLE—One person was injured and roughly 88 people were displaced in a two-alarm structure fire that broke out at the Wall Street Inn in downtown Watsonville today shortly after 1pm. Rosa Meyer, administrative analyst for the Watsonville Fire Department, said that firefighters were able to...

WATSONVILLE—Work continues on a new business complex on the 900 block of Main Street at Auto Center Drive in Watsonville. Santa Cruz Seaside Company spokesperson Kris Reyes said the three-building project includes two restaurants, Chipotle Mexican Grill and The Habit Burger Grill. Reyes has also...

On Monday I clipped my bike to the 91X Metro Express bus on Water Street in Santa Cruz and came out to Watsonville. The express bus is just that — it whistles out to south county very quickly: I climbed off the bus 35...

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man died early Friday morning in a solo-vehicle crash on Amesti Road. California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said the 33-year-old victim was driving a blue 1998 Volkswagen Beetle eastbound on Amesti Road east of Cypress Lane, at an unknown speed at 12:28am....

WATSONVILLE—Two people were seriously injured in a dramatic three-vehicle crash early Thursday on Freedom Boulevard. Watsonville Police Sgt. Donny Thul said the male driver of a white SUV was traveling north on Freedom Boulevard north of Stanford Street around 6:30 a.m. when he attempted a...

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested two men suspected of killing a fellow inmate in a cell at Santa Cruz Main Jail designated for active gang members. Mario Lozano, 33, of Santa Cruz and Jason Cortez, 25, of Watsonville, face murder charges for...

WATSONVILLE—On many days, when groups of school kids crowd into Conchita’s Ice Cream in Plaza Vigil for an afternoon treat, handfuls of people experiencing homelessness show up, some pushing shopping carts loaded with their possessions through the store and others demanding free items. The people,...

After working as a manager at Freedom Meat Lockers for nearly three decades, William Panis was ready to set off on his own. His new butcher shop—Willie’s Meat Market—is located at 20 Mariposa off Freedom Boulevard.  He offers a wide selection of meat, sausage and bacon,...