Wow. This is too bad. I think it is crazy to allow three good stores to just leave. Especially Rakestraw, which brings a lot of foot traffic through the shopping area.

Sometimes, landowners and renters just don't "get it".

What will be left? Chows and Pegasus?

So large egos and greed win out over taking care of people who have loyally served the local community for decades! That is truly sad.

This is sad. I know it is common to assess all the tenants for "improvements" to the common area, but this should have been charged to Chow's and not penalized the existing tenants. Now we've lost them.

Shame on you landlords! Have you learned nothing from the greedy banks?

This is sad. I know it is common to assess all the tenants for "improvements" to the common area, but this should have been charged to Chow's and not penalized the existing tenants. Now we've lost them.

Shame on you landlords! Have you learned nothing from the greedy banks?

Ridiculus fee increases all for one very average restaurant! To the remaining stores, I say fire your landllord. There must be better landlords elsewhere in Danville. I'm certain your loyal customers will still frequent your store.

These businesses have served and been well-loved by the community for years - very sad to see them go. And the unfortunate effect it also has is that it makes me not want to support Chow. This move by the landlord seems to have very little forethought.

Chows and the Alamo Group Iron Horse LLC, should be a good citizen and absorb the cost of adding the spaces in thier rent. I suggest we all boycott Chows. Just one more example of Chain Store operations, (Chows has four Resturants) entering the market and displacing locally owned and operated business, like the dress store and Rakestraw. Shame on the Chows and Alamo Group Iron Horse, LLC, (who ever they are). One more comment. I would bet the Bike store and the Cleaners will be forced out as well. Peets and Supercuts most likely have rental agreements that limit the pass through of those kind of additional costs. So much for small businesses in Danville... Thanks to Chows and the Alamo Group. "One should think twice, about where you spend your money!"

This has been in the works for a while. PROPONENTS OF ALAMO INCORPORATION, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION!!!!!

===

From the Oakland Tribune, December 14, 2007:

The small Bay Area chain, officially known as Chow Food and Drink, went before the Danville Planning Commission on Tuesday night. The commission approved the development plan 6-1 to allow the restaurant to begin tenant improvements.

Adding a higher-profile restaurant to the shopping center will "intensify" the business on this end of downtown, said Kevin Gailey, Danville's chief of planning.

===

I searched the internet and could not discover the names of those who comprise the "Alamo Group Iron Horse LLC." It might be enlightening to compare those names to the supporters and members of the AIA.

Hey Carolyn, forget being sad...that does nothing. Be more agressive..Curt's suggestion to boycott Chows is a very positive and appropriate way to express your disappointment in how the Town of Danville Officials and greedy landlords operate. Believe me, if Chows sees less gross sales and less in their bottom-line...you may see a change. Remember, even the greedy landlords will be affected if Chows gross drops.

SEND A MESSAGE AND BOYCOTT THE RASCAL'S

I have never eaten at Chow-Danville. Chow is not to blame though. The Danville Planning Commision and the owners of the property are. Raising the fee's that much a month are sure signs of more changes to who rents there. People of Danville should contact the commision and let them know how they feel. If and when Alamo incorporates the people of Alamo must let their voices be heard to their own commision. They will be more likely to be heard by their own commision then the County planners.

No competent commercial property owner would run off its tenants in a down retail market unless it didn't understand basic real estate economics. The problem is the owner will lose months or parking lot cost recovery, PLUS rents, and the city will lose the associated sales tax cash flow. Someone gave some bad advice on how to structure capital improvement project.

A quick check at the secretary of state's website shows donald f. gaube of alamo as the agent/owner of alamo group iron horse llc.

The name of the group is easier found as just Alamo Group if that would help aid in your searches :P

Yes, the above landlord name would be correct.

I agree with boycotting Chows, the food isn't worth businesses (that have been loyal to Danville and the ongoing changes to our town)to either close or relocate. Shame on Danville Planning and Council members to allow this to happen. I will remember this when it comes to giving those my vote in the future.

Wow, just amazing! This should be filed under "you just don't get it." Not in any economy should someone pass on this type of capital improvement to their tenured tenents. We are quickly seeing small independent retailers being forced out of business for the "big guys." Consumers beware! Less selection, less quality, and less direct city income. It will be easy for me to shop elsewhere and support local business. Michael, let me know if you need help moving!

All this for another Chinese restaurant... Good lesson in how to destroy a shopping center. I will foward the link to our new Mayor in Dublin.

I don't go to Peets any more because I can't find a parking spot.
Good luck to Mike and Honey Bee.

Railroad Avenue is turning into a ghost town. Honey Bee and Rakestraw leaving combined with the Old Danville Hotel area being deserted has left this area of Danville looking deserted. The landlords really don't get it....is it possible they don't realize the challenges all businesses are up against in this economy? To more than double the common area fees is crazy. Now instead of getting a fair price, they will get nothing. Who is going to start a business in those spaces at such a high cost?

That whole re-vamp of the parking lot has been nothing but a nightmare since they did it. They may have added spaces, but they are not as easy to park in. It is also very awkward and inconvenient since they made it into a one-way traffic lane. I used to frequent that shopping center, now I avoid it because of the parking lot!!! I can't believe they are now "sticking it the little guy" to pay for the costs!

When Chow's opened we tried it and because of the loud noise and poor menu we never went back. Other businesses "commom area fee" have more than doubled in order to accomodate Chows. Why does the city allow this! People in Alamo who are for incorporation I hope you're watching. I or any member of my family will never go back to Chows.

I'm not alone when I say that I will not ever grace Chow's with my presence after what happened. The changes to the parking lot and the other requirements to accommodate the restaurant should not be passed on to the other tenants. To see the Honey Bee, Peets and The Beauty Source go is a shame. The changes that were made to the parking lot are horrible for traffic and the long time that the lot was closed certainly made it difficult for the other businesses there to conduct business. Bad mistake in my opinion.

I'm not alone when I say that I will not ever grace Chow's with my presence after what happened. The changes to the parking lot and the other requirements to accommodate the restaurant should not be passed on to the other tenants. To see the Honey Bee, Peets and The Beauty Source go is a shame. The changes that were made to the parking lot are horrible for traffic and the long time that the lot was closed certainly made it difficult for the other businesses there to conduct business. Bad mistake in my opinion.

I am sorry to see Honey Bee and the others go. I bought clothes from Honey Bee for over 30 years. They are a great store and Michelle and Angie give personalized service. What is the matter with the Danville Planning commision? Everyone encourages shop Danville, but how can we when stores keep going out of business because of greedy landlords. Chows should have paid for the parking lot renovations themselves. I don't like the new parking lot as it is still hard to park there with the one way traffic. Danville Planning. City Council etc should wake up and not destroy the small businesses that make Danville so nice. I will not vote again for them. Good luck to all the people relocating and especially to Honey Bee. You were the best

As a fan of the Lafayette Chow (not chinese), i was waiting with anticipation for the Danville site to open. Little did we know that there would be such a negative effect on neighboring businesses. Without the facts, i couldnt begin to know if the Chow folks are the problem...but it certainly seems poor business sense to stick the costs for new parking lot configuration that was not needed for the existing businesses to them...in any way. And I would also look to the town approval of the minimal addition of spaces which are wholly inadequate. I'm not a city planner, but when I heard Chow was moving to that space..i predicted that there would not be enuf space for their customers....let alone those for the existing businesses... So sorry to hear that what was hoped to be a good thing has resulted in so much negative fall-out...

City Council and Planning want us to shop Danville! How can we when the local business owners have to close their doors due to the high cost to have a business in Danville. The new parking lot is a joke, I can't believe the cost was passed on to the tenants, if Chow's wanted to open in Danville so bad then they should have paid for the improvements, I remember when Costco expanded and their parking lot was reconfigured, Costco paid for it, they didn't pass along the cost to others, that's being a good neighbor. I will not spend one dollar of my hard earned money at Chow's ! SHAME on GREEDY landlords and SHAME on Danville's City Council and Planning for allowing this to happen to our local business owners.

I am mad and shocked. Just returned home from what will be my last shopping trip to Honey Bee. I am a 38 year resident of Danville and have enjoyed being a customer for many years. Angie and Michele have had to endure alot - moving because of the planned Albertson expansion which never happened. Moving a business costs - but Angie and Michele were making it work and then the parking lot fiasco hit.
I can't believe this town can't get their act together. I'm still mad we lost the best grocery store we ever had - Diablo Foods - due to a landlord rent increase. We sure could use a grocery store on our side of town. We will cast our vote on several levels, at the ballot box next chance we get, and by not parking in that fancy lot to eat at that mediocre and noisy Chow resturant.

This turn of events is shocking and another example of what is wrong with our current business morality. Not only did these businesses suffer because of the reconfiguration of the parking lot but now they have to pay thousands to the landlord for the work done to enable the opening of Chow's. Very greedy and very unfortunate for the residents and businesses of Danville. What were the town planners thinking when they allowed this?

I totally agree with all the comments above. The parking lot would not have been reconfigured if it wasn't for Chows. The cost should go to them. I don't even like the new configuration and am frustrated everytime I go there to go to Peet's or Rakestraw. But I put up with it because I want to support our locally owned bookstore. As stated before, the "powers that be" just don't get it.

Alamo residents - Watch out - this will happen when you incorporate. Vote NO on March 3rd.

Modeled after Danville's, autocratic/gatekeeper 5-Council-member and gestapo-tactic Planning Commission, who dictates the future of a town without citizen oversight, is the tragic fate of Alamo if proponents of incorporation succeed on March 3, 2009.
WE R ALAMO/VOTE NO ON MEASURE A.

I loved going to the events at Rakestraw and will follow you!

Dear Friends of Rakestraw Books,

Wow! What a tremendous outpouring of support!

I want to stress how excited all of us here at Rakestraw Books are to be making this move to Hartz Avenue. 522 Hartz offers us more space for our author appearances, a chance to grow the inventory, and, of course, to become even more part of historic downtown Danville.

We are sad to be leaving our wonderful neighbors at Peet's, Pegasus, and Chow (hey, I eat there at least once a week!), but are looking forward to Sideboard, Norm's, Forward Motion, Christe James, and The Vine at Bridges. Iron Horse Plaza has been a great home for ten years, but with the support and encouragement of members of the Danville Town Council and our fellow merchants, we think 522 Hartz will be even better.

We look forward to welcoming you to our bright, beautiful, new shop on April 1, 2009 -- our 36th Anniversary in Danville! Until then, Happy Reading!

All the best,

Michael Barnard
and the Staff of Rakestraw Books "The Bookstore in Danville"

I wonder if the many small stores around Chows in Lafayette were similarly charged when the restaurant was added a number of years ago. Does anyone know?

It's unfortunate that the cost to build additional parking for Chow is driving out the better businesses in that area. I for one will not patronize Chow, but it's too late for anything else constructive. It will be interesting to see what happens when these businesses move - is the economy right for new stores there?

How encouraging to hear so many locals supporting local businesses, and their sadness when landlords raise rents so drastically. We've watched this happen in Alamo, around Safeway, where several of our favorite businesses left due to high rent costs. Speaking up and voicing your opinions to the Town of Danville is a must. I don't know how and why the parking lot reconfiguration costs landed on other shop owners. Now, I want to know. Local control should work, and if it doesn't, locals need to get involved and change leadership? To forcast that Alamo's incorporation will give the same type of treatment is a cheap use of public forum. I've lived here for over 35 years, and I am looking forward to closer access to local leadership and control (yes - incorporation). So work within your town and make it work and shame on Danville for allowing this unfortunate situation.

How encouraging to hear so many locals supporting local businesses, and their sadness when landlords raise rents so drastically. We've watched this happen in Alamo, around Safeway, where several of our favorite businesses left due to high rent costs. Speaking up and voicing your opinions to the Town of Danville is a must. I don't know how and why the parking lot reconfiguration costs landed on other shop owners. Now, I want to know. Local control should work, and if it doesn't, locals need to get involved and change leadership? To forcast that Alamo's incorporation will give the same type of treatment is a cheap use of public forum. I've lived here for over 35 years, and I am looking forward to closer access to local leadership and control (yes - incorporation). So work within your town and make it work and shame on Danville for allowing this unfortunate situation.

I already planned to boycott Chows. Diablo Magazine recently had an article on best burgers and the Chows in Lafayette charges $9 for the same burger they charge us $12 in Danville.

What happens in Danville's Iron Horse Plaza has nothing to do with the election in Alamo. Rents go up and down. This is how capitalism works. The tenants have leases that are legally binding agreements. If you think that incorporating Alamo is going to ruin the crappy little mini-malls that you call "downtown Alamo" then you are kidding yourself.

It saddens me when I hear of small business leaving a community. I am pleased that Rakestraw is relocating as they will remain with us. As a loyal customer of Honey Bee for 10+ years, I will miss both Michelle and Angie. Their personalized service made their store unique! I do hope they are able to find a new location to start up again.

I will not be spending any money at Chows due to this.

I only ate at Chow's in Danville once., I had the "LARGE" bowl of soup and the only thing large about it was the bowl. It was an insult to my intelligence. Don't plan on going back. IF the owner of Chow's wants to make a go of this enterprise, he needs to take a lesson from Ferrari Foods. Just being successful in Lafayette doesn't guarantee they will make it in Danville. This parking lot fiasco is not going to help them.

Alamo incorporation is a solution looking for a problem. The real issue is about a guy with means who had the County shut down his personal development project in a quiet upscale neighborhood. Shortly thereafter the Alamo Incorporation "movement" began with his project manager. He knows he can buy off a new city council to get his deal approved. How? We all know that government costs money, and more layers of government will cost more money. Danville, Dublin, San Ramon, and Pleasanton use "mitigation fees" with building permits to build the government infrastructure in those towns. Taxes won't go up because of Prop 13 but when you want to get your roof replaced be ready for a big bump in permit fees, and be ready to have more government intrusion by a staff who live elsewhere. If you vote for incorporation you are voting for more development fees, more bureaucracy, and more government intrusion. Problem solved?

This is the price we pay for "greedy capitalism" at work. When an investor buys something, he/she always wants to make back their money as quickly as possible, without regard to the community nor the longterm shop owners. Of course, the City politicos rub their hands in delight over the (supposed) higher tax inflow.

I moved out of Walnut Creek years ago after they paved over Simon's hardware store and brought in a bunch of "upscale boutique shoppes" -Danville has been inexorably moving in this same direction - towards trendy, overpriced junk stores(hmm, now where did ACE go?).

With luck, this recession will force us buyers to pare back discretionary spending and allow some real stores (ones who sell things we need) back into the mix. You know, stores that become part of the community they serve, not just a place of business that generates (supposed) tax revenue.

Just say "NO" when Neiman Marcus comes knocking on our Town door.

Can you hear us, Mayor ? Town Council ?

How ironic to see Alamo Incorporation opponents using a Danville landlord/tenant issue to decry incorporation, when the basic facts of the problem actually underscore the importance of Alamo incorporation.

The Alamo Incorporation movement was borne out of frustration by citizens who have watched all it's planning decisions being made by bureaucrats in Martinez with no local ties nor loyalties. Danville town planners have a certain vision in mind that obviously grates on many concerned Danville citizens. But at least Danville citizens have an outlet for their voices, and locally elected officials who shepherd the planning vision for their town. Until Alamo incorporates, its citizens share no voice in its planning decisions - we are merely sheep.

It looks like some new facts are in the updated article. Interesting point that Don Gaube, managing general partner with Alamo Group, the landlord, made when he said "When we bought the center, Blockbuster was dying so we negotiated a lease termination and started marketing the space" Early termination equals = $$$$ cash to me! So you have to assume He recieved some $$$cash from Blockbuster to let them out of the lease. He should have put that cash from the early termination winfall in the parking lot improvements, instead of milking his tenents.... Although in the end after Honey Bee, Rakestraw and the beauty store, then the cleaners and the bike store move, Mr. Gaube will end up paying for the improvements anyway. He may need that cash! All this disruptions, was it worth it?

I'm excited for Rakestraw - it sounds as if the new location will be great and my family will certainly patronize them there. Reading the backstory of the parking lot fiasco only makes me shake my head - I certainly won't be patronizing Chows.

Alamo residents: ask your friends who live in Orinda how they feel about their incorporation. Most will tell you it's been a change for the better.

As a 42 yr resident of Danville I have seen my share of greed locally
but this one shows all what is and will continue to happen in our town. Hey alamo group iron horse llc (donald f gaube) has right to charge any rate they choose within the law BUT we as residents also have right of our wallets to just not eat at Chows We also will make our voices heard to city planning city council. Many business have been forced to leave or move because of greed or our city. Many may not realize that we once had two great lumber yards, one that took up all of Iron horse Plaza Lunardi's and the parking lot Danville sells parking spaces from to business,s that dont have enough to meet code
Just a general warning to developers many of us in Danville don't make a big deal about things like this but you can bet will be voting with our wallets and voting those out if this continues All the luck to Honey Bee, Rakestraw, Beauty Source We will shop at your busness,s as always

As a 42 yr resident of Danville I have seen my share of greed locally
but this one shows all what is and will continue to happen in our town. Hey alamo group iron horse llc (donald f gaube) has right to charge any rate they choose within the law BUT we as residents also have right of our wallets to just not eat at Chows We also will make our voices heard to city planning city council. Many business have been forced to leave or move because of greed or our city. Many may not realize that we once had two great lumber yards, one that took up all of Iron horse Plaza Lunardi's and the parking lot Danville sells parking spaces from to business,s that dont have enough to meet code
Just a general warning to developers many of us in Danville don't make a big deal about things like this but you can bet will be voting with our wallets and voting those out if this continues All the luck to Honey Bee, Rakestraw, Beauty Source We will shop at your busness,s as always

This article should have / should be published as it was originally written, not this new sugar coated version of the truth. Or un-truth as I see it.

Been to Chow's once. I do not plan on going back. In fact, I noted there was nothing special about Chow at all. The food is nothing to brag about. It's not even a place I would go for a drink. I started to wonder how long it will take this place to go under. The Alamo Group sound like a greedy bunch of fools. I'm serious. C'mon man, Chow is not a good restaurant.

Dear Anonymous,
The first version was written before I was able to get in touch with Alamo Group. The new version is not sugar-coated, it tells both sides.

Thanks for your comments,
Dolores Fox Ciardelli
Editor

When I first ate at Chows in Lafayette, it was great! I couldn't wait to go back. My 2nd time, I brought a bunch of friends and it was disappointing (small portions). The 3rd and last time eating at Chows, we again brought friends. I was sooooo disappointed. The portions were like samples and the bill was enormous. I was so embarrassed to have brought my friends there and they were embarrassed for me because of the huge bill. There's no way I'd ever go back. Lastly, for the Town of Danville to allow this to happen to two of Danvilles special establishments is just plain stupid....but then again, they don't seem to really care about keeping Danville a special "town" anymore.

When I first ate at Chows in Lafayette, it was great! I couldn't wait to go back. My 2nd time, I brought a bunch of friends and it was disappointing (small portions). The 3rd and last time eating at Chows, we again brought friends. I was sooooo disappointed. The portions were like samples and the bill was enormous. I was so embarrassed to have brought my friends there and they were embarrassed for me because of the huge bill. There's no way I'd ever go back. Lastly, for the Town of Danville to allow this to happen to two of Danvilles special establishments is just plain stupid....but then again, they don't seem to really care about keeping Danville a special "town" anymore.