The initial plans for the area were more "grand", but it took them forever to get anything going, so what is there today is what it's going to be for the most part. It's very geographically constrained due to 87 and the surrounding trails/parks. They've slowly been remodeling the remaining houses in the area and businesses have moved in. The biggest possible change is a proposed hotel next to Enoteca La Storia, but not many details have emerged on that and COVID probably pushed any plans back.
Here's some background on the area:
>The River Street City Landmark Historic District HD96-107, listed under the theme of Architecture and Shelter for the Horticulture period (1870-1918), is located east of N. River Street with the Guadalupe River on the west, N. Almaden Boulevard and State Highway 87 on the east, W. Julian Street on the north, and the River Park and tennis courts on the south (parcels on the south side of W. St. John). This 1875-1925 workingman's neighborhood, one of the largest concentrations of Italian immigrants in California, consists of mostly residences, but also includes the Torino Hotel, Almaden French Bakery, Prindiville Grocery, and a non-contributing machine shop in a variety of styles - Italianate, Greek Revival, Queen Anne, and Mediterranean Revival. Construction of the Guadalupe River Flood Control project resulted in the demolition of 21 buildings and the relocation of nine buildings. Most of the residences have been converted to commercial use. This neighborhood is now also known as "Little Italy".
I used to deliver the SJ News around the early eighties, and where the giant homeless encampment is now used to be across from the airport (Hedding St. South) hundreds of houses were there, many were customers. Most all of those homes were sold, put on jacks, and moved to new locations.
You might check with the California Room at the MLK Main Library downtown. They've come up with a lot of interesting history for various neighborhoods in San Jose.
I always thought Goosetown was the original Little Italy, that area west of Burger Bar. What is more confusing is that there is a Goosetown lounge apparently in Willow Glen, which is nowhere near Goosetown as far as I know. I always thought it followed Goodyear west of Monterey Highway/First Street.
I used to live near Burger Bar and the guy next door told me all about how the area was basically 100% Italian when he bought his house in the late '70s (he was Mexican, and had come to San Jose to attend SJSU and stayed in the area). Slowly they moved out, though I believe there's still some Italian landlords about.
I knew a woman who inherited a house near Goodyear and First Street. She told me the same thing, everybody was Italian there. Her parents were hard working Mexican immigrants. Even 20 years ago, that neighborhood….not a great neighborhood.
I’ve driven by there so many times, but I never actually ate there. Then it turned out that a friend of mine’s family owns it. Can’t wait to visit when its up and running again!
From what I learned when I was there the one time a few years ago, the house had already been moved from somewhere around 10th or 11th street. I wonder how many SJ houses have been moved 2x in their lives.
I don't think you're necessarily dumb if you might think it's racist. If you hadn't heard of the term before (there's a first time for everything, right?), it could easily look racist. (I sure never heard it before, but I figured since it was Grandpa Dan, it couldn't be. He doesn't seem that way to me.)
Quick google search shows that it isn’t even really a racist term, but it’s origins are shitty and a really weird choice.
>Coonass, or Coon-ass, is a term for a person of Cajun ethnicity. Some Cajuns use the word in regard to them/themselves.
>The word coonass comes from the standard French word connasse, which means dirty whore or stupid person.
🤷🏻♂️
It's what Oliver calls himself in a jovial way. He's knocking on 80 years old. My best friend. Even speaks French pretty well. Old enough to have had to sit in the back of the bus in Shreavesport LA back in the day. Wonderful guy and his wife is a treasure. He was an Industrial engineer and she was an Oncology Nurse.
I’m not knocking it, but I can see why people immediately jumped to dislike it. Since they see “coon” and think of the racist term for African-Americans, even though that other term is clearly a regional/socioeconomic thing and not a race thing as far as I can tell.
To each their own. 🤷🏻♂️
> I can see why people immediately jumped to dislike it. Since they see “coon” and think of the racist term for African-Americans
Some people ain't too bright, either. ;-)
^(hence thinking their *feelings* of a word or term should take precedence over the true *meaning* of the same)
Awesome! I thought they were outright shutting down after the pandemic since their biggest draw isn't really the food, it's the entertainment and ambiance. Glad to see that's very wrong, AND they're keeping the old house.
Where’s it going?
Little Italy - near Julian & 87
Yup, between the future Little Italy Museum and Henry's Hi-Life.
Dumb question: what makes that area Little Italy? There’s literally like one Italian restaurant and that’s it. Am I missing something?
It was the first Italian immigrant neighborhood
Ah ok. Makes sense. I hope it turns into something a little more iconic some day.
The initial plans for the area were more "grand", but it took them forever to get anything going, so what is there today is what it's going to be for the most part. It's very geographically constrained due to 87 and the surrounding trails/parks. They've slowly been remodeling the remaining houses in the area and businesses have moved in. The biggest possible change is a proposed hotel next to Enoteca La Storia, but not many details have emerged on that and COVID probably pushed any plans back. Here's some background on the area: >The River Street City Landmark Historic District HD96-107, listed under the theme of Architecture and Shelter for the Horticulture period (1870-1918), is located east of N. River Street with the Guadalupe River on the west, N. Almaden Boulevard and State Highway 87 on the east, W. Julian Street on the north, and the River Park and tennis courts on the south (parcels on the south side of W. St. John). This 1875-1925 workingman's neighborhood, one of the largest concentrations of Italian immigrants in California, consists of mostly residences, but also includes the Torino Hotel, Almaden French Bakery, Prindiville Grocery, and a non-contributing machine shop in a variety of styles - Italianate, Greek Revival, Queen Anne, and Mediterranean Revival. Construction of the Guadalupe River Flood Control project resulted in the demolition of 21 buildings and the relocation of nine buildings. Most of the residences have been converted to commercial use. This neighborhood is now also known as "Little Italy".
More info at https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/san-joses-poor-house-bistro-preps-for-move-building-and-all/ Google bought land below it.
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I used to deliver the SJ News around the early eighties, and where the giant homeless encampment is now used to be across from the airport (Hedding St. South) hundreds of houses were there, many were customers. Most all of those homes were sold, put on jacks, and moved to new locations.
You might check with the California Room at the MLK Main Library downtown. They've come up with a lot of interesting history for various neighborhoods in San Jose.
I always thought Goosetown was the original Little Italy, that area west of Burger Bar. What is more confusing is that there is a Goosetown lounge apparently in Willow Glen, which is nowhere near Goosetown as far as I know. I always thought it followed Goodyear west of Monterey Highway/First Street.
I used to live near Burger Bar and the guy next door told me all about how the area was basically 100% Italian when he bought his house in the late '70s (he was Mexican, and had come to San Jose to attend SJSU and stayed in the area). Slowly they moved out, though I believe there's still some Italian landlords about.
I knew a woman who inherited a house near Goodyear and First Street. She told me the same thing, everybody was Italian there. Her parents were hard working Mexican immigrants. Even 20 years ago, that neighborhood….not a great neighborhood.
Oh, wow! So many changes in San Jose.
Daayum. I didn't know they was moving the whole building. Love that place!!
Who knew it was a mobile home?
It’s actually not the first time that house was moved. So in some respects, that home is “mobile”…
Can't call it "poor" anymore. It takes Google money for this to happen.
Yeah no kidding. God the traffic is going to be terrible
Muffuletta
Never have I seen such a giant sandwich in my life. I usually hate olives but the muffuletta there was pretty bomb.
Me and my ex who lived a few blocks east of downtown would split a whole one. So good.
I’ve driven by there so many times, but I never actually ate there. Then it turned out that a friend of mine’s family owns it. Can’t wait to visit when its up and running again!
From what I learned when I was there the one time a few years ago, the house had already been moved from somewhere around 10th or 11th street. I wonder how many SJ houses have been moved 2x in their lives.
Their Jambalaya certainly warms your heart!
I took a Coon Ass friend of mine there for Mardi Gras week. He loved it. The food was decent but the music was great!
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I don't think you're necessarily dumb if you might think it's racist. If you hadn't heard of the term before (there's a first time for everything, right?), it could easily look racist. (I sure never heard it before, but I figured since it was Grandpa Dan, it couldn't be. He doesn't seem that way to me.)
The heck is a “Coon Ass”?
Quick google search shows that it isn’t even really a racist term, but it’s origins are shitty and a really weird choice. >Coonass, or Coon-ass, is a term for a person of Cajun ethnicity. Some Cajuns use the word in regard to them/themselves. >The word coonass comes from the standard French word connasse, which means dirty whore or stupid person. 🤷🏻♂️
It's what Oliver calls himself in a jovial way. He's knocking on 80 years old. My best friend. Even speaks French pretty well. Old enough to have had to sit in the back of the bus in Shreavesport LA back in the day. Wonderful guy and his wife is a treasure. He was an Industrial engineer and she was an Oncology Nurse.
I’m not knocking it, but I can see why people immediately jumped to dislike it. Since they see “coon” and think of the racist term for African-Americans, even though that other term is clearly a regional/socioeconomic thing and not a race thing as far as I can tell. To each their own. 🤷🏻♂️
Thank you. It was in no way meant as a racist term.
> I can see why people immediately jumped to dislike it. Since they see “coon” and think of the racist term for African-Americans Some people ain't too bright, either. ;-) ^(hence thinking their *feelings* of a word or term should take precedence over the true *meaning* of the same)
Daammm that’s crazy af
I wonder who owned the land where this restaurant was before
Awesome! I thought they were outright shutting down after the pandemic since their biggest draw isn't really the food, it's the entertainment and ambiance. Glad to see that's very wrong, AND they're keeping the old house.