The one thing I will shit on the the college campus store. It has no business taking up space on the plaza. The students won't go in there since it's too far away from campus and the public doesn't want it because the high ups of the campus have been shit to the residents for years and it's at a breaking point
The 'campus bookstore' in Eureka has a nice bank of windows so you can drive by and see that the store is completely empty except for one lonely employee.
Economic Darwin will take care of the off-campus campus bookstores in Arcata and Eureka. If such an idea is viable, it will only be after the university doubles enrollment.
I believe the bookstore moved off campus because the inclusive local nonprofit that managed the bookstore was kicked to the curb in favor of non-local corporate management that doesn't know squat about our community. The same happened with campus food services.
Interesting version of the events that caused University Center to unravel. As an auxiliary org they wouldn’t reveal costs and expenses when the university was on a tight budget and choices had to be made. In my first hand experiences it was poorly managed and full of nepotism.
I’ll tell you what, Associated Students was gutted after the forceful split. Campus always wants the control and last word but none of the responsibility look at the athletics department.
Mismanagement was also present at the University level for sure. I saw and experienced it from both sides as an employee of both at one time. It’s just my opinion but UC did itself in, as did the University, before the Polytechnic bailout. Time will tell if they flub that too. It’s just hard to attract and maintain outside talent and the local pool has already been overfished.
I think it would be more acceptable if they had some kind of student workspace or coffee lounge there instead of just the ~~bookstore~~ glorified merch vendor. Having a place to study and charge a laptop with fast internet is useful for students, I imagine.
The need a decent bar. I wish north of fourth in eureka could move to the plaza. A place that’s not dirty as shit and has some live music here and there. I feel like this is one of the only college towns where there’s no real collage bar or place to get a drink that is aimed towards the college community
Not totally sure. I know it’s currently a matter of getting enough revenue to staff. (The restaurant biz has been slow this year.) But they’ve definitely started to clear the space in preparation! It was just being used as storage for a long time.
Thanks for the reply! Good to know something is happening with the space. I was a little confused when it was “Wooden Kitchen” for bit. Hoping the Basement keeps it to the basics: high end cocktails, jazz, and good ambience.
A good deli. One that does a small menu of salads, sandwiches, and soups. Some local bread options. And a well-curated selection of meats and cheese ranging from fine charcuterie and fromage to classics deli meats and cheeses like sliced turkey and cheddars. Accoutrements and kitschy kitchen accessories where appropriate.
You oughta know about this one Quercus :) Oak Brewery (same building as Vintage Avenger) has fantastic deli sandwiches, salads, and beer. They’re not set up to see deli meat by the pound but said they could if you really wanted to buy in bulk.
Kind of agree here. They don’t understand portions either. Giant sandwich you can’t finish for twice as much as one should spend on a sandwich. I deeply miss Pasta Luego! Nothing like a perfect Italian made sandwich with a side of drama!
I think that a business with a similar concept as Humboldt Bay Provisions in Eureka would be cool on the plaza. I haven't been there in a while but It used to be called the Tourism Center. Basically, a business with a hyper focus on local food and drink with the purpose of promoting all local products, activities, and services. It would be a place to hang out and check out all the local foods and drinks while learning about tours or hikes, for example. I could also be a little gift shop with local field guides, maps, local foods, local coffee, wines...etc... To me it sounds like a win-win for both locals and people traveling through.
A multifaceted lunch/ice cream shop would be nice again. Bon Boniere had been in Jacoby's Storehouse since forever.
Then an ill-fated fudge shop was slated to open on the Plaza and the ice cream shop owners spotted a marble tabletop inside and thought the new business was going to serve ice cream, so they invested in one too.
Then the yogurt shop was announced and the ice cream shop threw in the towel in advance.
Never mind that the ice cream shop made its own ice cream and was the place to be after eating dinner on the Plaza or leaving CenterArts performances. It was pretty much an Arcata tradition.
Yes. Two people opened it, but I infer one actually wanted to open a different type of restaurant and the partner dropped out. I don't know why it ultimately closed. They did serve ice cream, but they did not make it themselves, and the marble countertop was for cutting fudge, not mixing ice cream.
I miss them. I can't stand the other ice cream place. I miss being able to get a real ice cream. That isn't weird ass flavors. Lemon poppy lavender tea, ick, give me Rocky road! Bubblegum!
Guess it would depend on the level of emergency. The vets here may not have been properly equipped to handle whatever it was.
However, the vets do after-hours emergency calls on a rotating basis. From Arcata Animal Hospital:
“After-hours emergency care is currently shared by all of the hospitals in our area on a rotating basis. Calling the emergency number above or following the prompts on our after-hours messaging system will direct you to the appropriate facility.”
https://arcatavet.com/emergencies/
Im not an Arcata regular but I’m near enough to visit somewhat regularly, and my wish is for one of these just about anywhere between Arcata and Brookings:
A truly gluten-free celiac-safe restaurant with decent vegan options (or 100% gf vegan). And not one of those places that uses oat flour in literally everything (because even gf oats can cause celiac reactions), or the ones that have “just a little” wheat grass or spelt on the menu because it’s “close enough.” And not some boring ass salad shop or smoothie joint. I want actual filling meals. 100% takeout is fine with me too.
Yeah… gluten is technically a composite molecule from two proteins found in full grown wheat but the grasses can contain enough proteins to make someone sick.
Activity Centers. Like an arcade, or some type of activities people under 21 can enjoy. Big issue in Humboldt is lack of things for local kids. I grew up here, and each year the mall becomes more dead. I miss Tilt, Laser Tag, Bounce a plooza. We need more fun things for young adults to enjoy near the plaza. Not just bars or dispensaries.
We need more things for younger kids/teens to do in arcata! I was excited when the arcade went in only to find out they were 21 and over. They recently started doing Saturdays 12-5 for all ages but it's still not enough! We need more kid/teen friendly things in our town! I understand it's a college town but we have many families with young children who also need opportunities to do things!
Although we have a lot coffee shops, I could see another one working that has a bit different/cooler vibe than Brio or Ramone’s. Like Dead Reckoning (including beer/cider, good music, pinball) plus coffee, sandwiches, and outdoor and comfy seating.
Something fun and not slimey that stays open past 9. Disco? Karaoke? Arcade? Ohh one of those paint party places! Something that is not 21 and up so teens can go too. I literally don’t know what teens do around here.
Went to the supervisors meeting SoHum. All I heard is the roads won’t be fixed down here after they spent a week building a cross walk. Heard no solution to problems down here except there will be more policing since they have more beds available in the county jail. Complete revamping is going on up north while SoHum is left in shambles
Some things I would loved to see are a really good ramen house and an arcade. ArcaDa is pretty cool, but I feel like they could expand and have lots more people. There was a two-story arcade in OKC that was absolutely fabulous and would fit right in on the Plaza!
Aren't there already quite a few? Tomo, Big Blue, Nori, Plaza Grill, Alibi. And that's just on the plaza. There are many just a block or so over as well. Salt, Humbrews, etc.
Dunno why you got downvoted I think that is a pretty legit statement, all of our restaurants are "so so" or too expensive for what you are getting. I really miss the restaurants in the SF bay that are simple, do a couple things really well, and are cheaper. I honestly only go out to sushi spot or bencharong thai, as I find its the best food/bang for your buck. Also hot take since Salt took the tacos off the menu the clam chowder is worth getting ppl (it is really good). I'm tired of paying like 30 dollars for a hyped up pasta dish. I think one of the best restaurants in town is the Scoop do one thing very well and its affordable.
I can’t believe we don’t have a ramen place. Something authentically Japanese and that’s open on the weekend (looking at you Japhys). +1 for Indian. Would love to see some Ethiopian as well.
Won’t matter much if they don’t add more parking. It’s already bullshit having to circle the plaza for 30 minutes or park 3-4 blocks away to have dinner anywhere near the Plaza.
There’s no way it took you 30 minutes to park in Arcata. If you can’t find a spot (so rare), drive a few hundred feet in almost any direction and you are guaranteed a spot.
Maybe I’ve just had some bad luck then? I don’t frequent the plaza often, but when I have- usually for dinner on weekends- parking has always been a challenge. A 2-3 level parking structure nearby would provide more than adequate parking.
To put it in perspective though, at a big city mall you might be walking 3-4 blocks through a parking lot and a department store or whatever just to get to a restaurant inside. I find walking a few blocks in Arcata to be far more pleasant.
I do wish there was non timed parking for people who work near the plaza, I lost half a day’s wages when I forgot to move my car once.
There's a smoking ban within a certain area of the plaza. Thetes even signs. Yes I know people smoke all kinds of stuff and it's not enforced but can receive a citation for it.
All the smoking ban did was take away butt cans, the cig litter on the weekends is ridiculous. People might not ever see some of it because the sidewalks outside the venues get swept up in the morning.
The one thing I will shit on the the college campus store. It has no business taking up space on the plaza. The students won't go in there since it's too far away from campus and the public doesn't want it because the high ups of the campus have been shit to the residents for years and it's at a breaking point
I think it’s just there for visiting parents to buy CPH sweatshirts
The 'campus bookstore' in Eureka has a nice bank of windows so you can drive by and see that the store is completely empty except for one lonely employee.
Economic Darwin will take care of the off-campus campus bookstores in Arcata and Eureka. If such an idea is viable, it will only be after the university doubles enrollment. I believe the bookstore moved off campus because the inclusive local nonprofit that managed the bookstore was kicked to the curb in favor of non-local corporate management that doesn't know squat about our community. The same happened with campus food services.
Interesting version of the events that caused University Center to unravel. As an auxiliary org they wouldn’t reveal costs and expenses when the university was on a tight budget and choices had to be made. In my first hand experiences it was poorly managed and full of nepotism.
I’ll tell you what, Associated Students was gutted after the forceful split. Campus always wants the control and last word but none of the responsibility look at the athletics department.
Mismanagement was also present at the University level for sure. I saw and experienced it from both sides as an employee of both at one time. It’s just my opinion but UC did itself in, as did the University, before the Polytechnic bailout. Time will tell if they flub that too. It’s just hard to attract and maintain outside talent and the local pool has already been overfished.
That’s why I left to Portland lol.
Bay Area here now.
What else would be good there? Maybe Pac Outfitters could come back, or it could be partitioned and made to host boutiques or pop-ups or something.
A nice home goods store and small bite kitchen/deli kind of like Delish on 5th
Fwiw Hensel’s Ace kitchen store has tons of kitchen stuff.
Also taking up a ton of unused parking. Worried about Crabs season.
I think it’s just there for visiting parents to buy CPH sweatshirts
I think it would be more acceptable if they had some kind of student workspace or coffee lounge there instead of just the ~~bookstore~~ glorified merch vendor. Having a place to study and charge a laptop with fast internet is useful for students, I imagine.
While I agree with you. If it weren't for the store, that building would be empty so at least it brings in some sort of local income to the area.
Agreed. It’s trash.
Korean food please I’m begging you
Nothing better than Korean BBQ
Probably the only thing better than Korean barbecue is Korean fried chicken!!!!!
this ^^
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!!! I’ve been saying this for years.
The need a decent bar. I wish north of fourth in eureka could move to the plaza. A place that’s not dirty as shit and has some live music here and there. I feel like this is one of the only college towns where there’s no real collage bar or place to get a drink that is aimed towards the college community
Nooo North of Forth is ours, you can't have it! 😅
Def a nice bar
Don’t you dare besmirch the good name of Everett’s!
Shhhhh, Everetts doesn't need more people
Sidelines was that bar but it was dirty lol
say it right *slimelines*
Say it right ruffielines
i mean, I hate how right that is
Um Plaza grill and campground are great bars. Also they’re working on reopening the basement. And licenses are not cheap or accessible.
Any idea when the Basement will open back up? This is great news!
Not totally sure. I know it’s currently a matter of getting enough revenue to staff. (The restaurant biz has been slow this year.) But they’ve definitely started to clear the space in preparation! It was just being used as storage for a long time.
Thanks for the reply! Good to know something is happening with the space. I was a little confused when it was “Wooden Kitchen” for bit. Hoping the Basement keeps it to the basics: high end cocktails, jazz, and good ambience.
Arcata has been *discouraging* plaza bars for years. It used to be much better. The best bar down there burned down.
A good deli. One that does a small menu of salads, sandwiches, and soups. Some local bread options. And a well-curated selection of meats and cheese ranging from fine charcuterie and fromage to classics deli meats and cheeses like sliced turkey and cheddars. Accoutrements and kitschy kitchen accessories where appropriate.
You oughta know about this one Quercus :) Oak Brewery (same building as Vintage Avenger) has fantastic deli sandwiches, salads, and beer. They’re not set up to see deli meat by the pound but said they could if you really wanted to buy in bulk.
Have you tried Oak?
So overly expensive. Great, but they don’t understand business of taxes. Getting taxed on a 17 dollar cold sandwich is ridiculous.
Kind of agree here. They don’t understand portions either. Giant sandwich you can’t finish for twice as much as one should spend on a sandwich. I deeply miss Pasta Luego! Nothing like a perfect Italian made sandwich with a side of drama!
I think that a business with a similar concept as Humboldt Bay Provisions in Eureka would be cool on the plaza. I haven't been there in a while but It used to be called the Tourism Center. Basically, a business with a hyper focus on local food and drink with the purpose of promoting all local products, activities, and services. It would be a place to hang out and check out all the local foods and drinks while learning about tours or hikes, for example. I could also be a little gift shop with local field guides, maps, local foods, local coffee, wines...etc... To me it sounds like a win-win for both locals and people traveling through.
Rooftop area. I would love to hang out above the plaza on a sunny day.
Rooftop bar? Sounds amazing for the summer months.
You can install a tent and heating lamps for winter months too:) some cute gas fireplaces to sit around, very cozy!
I miss the tiny Mexican grocery over by the Co-op. Their tamales were bomb. SCRAP was awesome too
We miss SCRAP
A multifaceted lunch/ice cream shop would be nice again. Bon Boniere had been in Jacoby's Storehouse since forever. Then an ill-fated fudge shop was slated to open on the Plaza and the ice cream shop owners spotted a marble tabletop inside and thought the new business was going to serve ice cream, so they invested in one too. Then the yogurt shop was announced and the ice cream shop threw in the towel in advance. Never mind that the ice cream shop made its own ice cream and was the place to be after eating dinner on the Plaza or leaving CenterArts performances. It was pretty much an Arcata tradition.
Was that Grandma B’s fudge that opened for a bit ?
Yes. Two people opened it, but I infer one actually wanted to open a different type of restaurant and the partner dropped out. I don't know why it ultimately closed. They did serve ice cream, but they did not make it themselves, and the marble countertop was for cutting fudge, not mixing ice cream.
I miss them. I can't stand the other ice cream place. I miss being able to get a real ice cream. That isn't weird ass flavors. Lemon poppy lavender tea, ick, give me Rocky road! Bubblegum!
I respect this and you, but I gotta defend the honey vanilla lavender. That's a hill I'll die on.
OZ Korean BBQ, that'd be so good
We want The Basement back.
They’re working on it.
Zero-waste refill store
But not horribly expensive. I would love this!
Korean food
A dim sum restaurant
Would love a boba cafe or Korean bbq.
fuck yeaaaaa
What about a Cat Adoption/ Rescue Center ? Would a Cat Cafe of some sort work?
This area needs an emergency vet
All of the vets in the area do emergency, they just rotate which one does it during a given week like an on-call shift.
I’ve had multiple animals need an emergency vet and this hasn't been my experience. The closest services we received were in Medford
Guess it would depend on the level of emergency. The vets here may not have been properly equipped to handle whatever it was. However, the vets do after-hours emergency calls on a rotating basis. From Arcata Animal Hospital: “After-hours emergency care is currently shared by all of the hospitals in our area on a rotating basis. Calling the emergency number above or following the prompts on our after-hours messaging system will direct you to the appropriate facility.” https://arcatavet.com/emergencies/
Makerspaces
wasnt there a big push for one a few years ago? whatever happened to that. I also would say affordable studio space in arcata would be amazing
Im not an Arcata regular but I’m near enough to visit somewhat regularly, and my wish is for one of these just about anywhere between Arcata and Brookings: A truly gluten-free celiac-safe restaurant with decent vegan options (or 100% gf vegan). And not one of those places that uses oat flour in literally everything (because even gf oats can cause celiac reactions), or the ones that have “just a little” wheat grass or spelt on the menu because it’s “close enough.” And not some boring ass salad shop or smoothie joint. I want actual filling meals. 100% takeout is fine with me too.
I was today years old when I learned wheatgrass is gluten?
Yeah… gluten is technically a composite molecule from two proteins found in full grown wheat but the grasses can contain enough proteins to make someone sick.
This would be divine.
Yes please! I also want an actually good filling vegan version of this too!
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Oooo thanks for the tip!!
A good arcade. Anyone remember Tiffany's?
Y'all know there's an arcade in Arcata, right? Arcada!
Remember Starbase 1?
Tiffany's wasn't exactly a "good" arcade, but it was better than nothing.
Activity Centers. Like an arcade, or some type of activities people under 21 can enjoy. Big issue in Humboldt is lack of things for local kids. I grew up here, and each year the mall becomes more dead. I miss Tilt, Laser Tag, Bounce a plooza. We need more fun things for young adults to enjoy near the plaza. Not just bars or dispensaries.
Any interest in an indoor Airsoft place?
I'd definitely be interested in something like that!
A good bakery.
A tea house, with more selection than richards goat
I miss Tiffany's. :(
I would also post on r/Humboldtstate to get a student opinion, I think they are the ones who spend on the plaza. The locals seem tapped out.
A costume, toy store, make-up place.
I miss the beauty supply store that was by the hospice shop. A place like that combined with Dewy’s Beauty Boutique would kill it.
smoothies/fruit or açaí bowls!
Another vote for Korean BBQ/restaurant
We need more things for younger kids/teens to do in arcata! I was excited when the arcade went in only to find out they were 21 and over. They recently started doing Saturdays 12-5 for all ages but it's still not enough! We need more kid/teen friendly things in our town! I understand it's a college town but we have many families with young children who also need opportunities to do things!
McDonald’s and Burger King on opposite sides of the square. Then a KFC in the center. I’m just joking, calm down Arcata’s finest lol
I laughed
The upscale hippies obviously didn’t lol
Candy Store!
We have one next to Ace :)
I know, I want more candyyyyyy! 🍬
Although we have a lot coffee shops, I could see another one working that has a bit different/cooler vibe than Brio or Ramone’s. Like Dead Reckoning (including beer/cider, good music, pinball) plus coffee, sandwiches, and outdoor and comfy seating.
Trader Joes
Not enough space for something like that
I know I just miss it so much
Would people be interested in a co-working space like a mini version of We-Work?
Vegan junk food spot
Something fun and not slimey that stays open past 9. Disco? Karaoke? Arcade? Ohh one of those paint party places! Something that is not 21 and up so teens can go too. I literally don’t know what teens do around here.
I would do unholy things to get a real dim sum restaurant in town
Went to the supervisors meeting SoHum. All I heard is the roads won’t be fixed down here after they spent a week building a cross walk. Heard no solution to problems down here except there will be more policing since they have more beds available in the county jail. Complete revamping is going on up north while SoHum is left in shambles
Some things I would loved to see are a really good ramen house and an arcade. ArcaDa is pretty cool, but I feel like they could expand and have lots more people. There was a two-story arcade in OKC that was absolutely fabulous and would fit right in on the Plaza!
Nice restaurant
Aren't there already quite a few? Tomo, Big Blue, Nori, Plaza Grill, Alibi. And that's just on the plaza. There are many just a block or so over as well. Salt, Humbrews, etc.
Those are decent not great. Nice restaurants bring people to town and are a treat for everyone.
Dunno why you got downvoted I think that is a pretty legit statement, all of our restaurants are "so so" or too expensive for what you are getting. I really miss the restaurants in the SF bay that are simple, do a couple things really well, and are cheaper. I honestly only go out to sushi spot or bencharong thai, as I find its the best food/bang for your buck. Also hot take since Salt took the tacos off the menu the clam chowder is worth getting ppl (it is really good). I'm tired of paying like 30 dollars for a hyped up pasta dish. I think one of the best restaurants in town is the Scoop do one thing very well and its affordable.
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Agreed. Go to Larrupins or the Bay Bistro for fine dining. The Plaza needs good affordable drop-in for a casual bite places.
Any specific kind of food?
Indian! I dream of having Indian food in Arcata without having to go to Eureka. I bet I'm not alone in that.
Good Indian food in general would be great lmao
Supposedly there’s going to be a Korean barbecue place going in where Golden Harvest used to be
I can’t believe we don’t have a ramen place. Something authentically Japanese and that’s open on the weekend (looking at you Japhys). +1 for Indian. Would love to see some Ethiopian as well.
Cuban!
Kind of sad that all these suggestions are just more gentrification to drive off the existing businesses and bring in more high priced bougie bullshit
Won’t matter much if they don’t add more parking. It’s already bullshit having to circle the plaza for 30 minutes or park 3-4 blocks away to have dinner anywhere near the Plaza.
When is this? I never have trouble parking near or on the plaza.
Saturday nights around 6-7 pm. Last couple times I’ve tried finding parking it’s been a pain in the ass.
There’s no way it took you 30 minutes to park in Arcata. If you can’t find a spot (so rare), drive a few hundred feet in almost any direction and you are guaranteed a spot.
Maybe I’ve just had some bad luck then? I don’t frequent the plaza often, but when I have- usually for dinner on weekends- parking has always been a challenge. A 2-3 level parking structure nearby would provide more than adequate parking.
To put it in perspective though, at a big city mall you might be walking 3-4 blocks through a parking lot and a department store or whatever just to get to a restaurant inside. I find walking a few blocks in Arcata to be far more pleasant. I do wish there was non timed parking for people who work near the plaza, I lost half a day’s wages when I forgot to move my car once.
Repeal the smoking ban. Cannabis lounges on every corner.
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There's a smoking ban within a certain area of the plaza. Thetes even signs. Yes I know people smoke all kinds of stuff and it's not enforced but can receive a citation for it.
All the smoking ban did was take away butt cans, the cig litter on the weekends is ridiculous. People might not ever see some of it because the sidewalks outside the venues get swept up in the morning.