A former Regal theater space sits empty in Davis. What should go there?
Also, tributes to Bill Roe and Jerry Paiz, an update on Calicraft Brewing, and news about a salon closure
Regal Davis Stadium 5 closed in May 2023, after its parent company Cineworld, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Today, it’s a large piece of prime downtown Davis real estate that sits empty.
Since then, Yackzan Group, the Davis company that owns and manages that block of properties at 420 G St., has been looking to fill the vacancy.
In June 2023, one of the Yackzan partners, Gregg Herrington, submitted plans to the city for a seven-story apartment complex with retail on the bottom floor. That application was later withdrawn. Partner Lynne Yackzan said it was too expensive.
On Thursday, Yackzan gave me a peek inside the demolished theater space, which is nearly 17,000 square feet. Broker Gallelli Real Estate offers the option of breaking the spaces into two – at about 11,000 and 5,800 square feet. The smaller one could have access from a Fourth Street entry.
She said they are willing to consider all kinds of uses for the space. She thinks it’d be perfect for a HomeGoods or small Ikea, saying Davis needs a home furnishings store. There’s a mezzanine where the projectors were, which would accommodate a partial second floor.
“It has a lot of exciting potential. It’s just finding the right user,” she said.
The high ceilings would work for events or a sports facility like Hardwood Palace in Rocklin, which has several basketball courts. “It just lends itself to be some kind of event space,” she said.
Yackzan Group redeveloped the block in 1998, adding the theater, the USDA office building that includes Mars Wrigley research labs, a parking structure, and retail spaces including Sit Lo Saigon, Good Friends Hawaiian Poke, Wingstop, and the office of state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon. The theater space is the only empty one.
Yackzan said the parking structure is well used in recent years, especially as downtown parking spaces become more precious. Two of the floors are for tenants and those who lease spaces by the day or month. The other two are available for free three-hour public parking.
What do you think should go there? Comment below. If you know someone interested in the space, contact Kevin Soares at Gallelli Real Estate.
→ Remembering Bill: The community is in mourning after losing one of their best. Bill Roe died Monday following a bicycle accident in El Macero. He was 83.
He was a businessman (Tandem Properties), philanthropist and community volunteer who made Davis a better place. Many of my subscribers also receive Bob Dunning’s The Wary One columns. Bob wrote an epic tribute to Roe that he posted yesterday. If you missed it, read it here, without a paywall.
I have a few things to add, from my interviews and interactions with Bill and his wife, Nancy.
I was impressed when early in the pandemic, the Roes’ $15,000 donation triggered the launch of Gifting Stimulus Program for Davis Downtown Business Association. That fueled donations from others, funneling thousands of dollars into struggling local businesses. I wrote about the program many times in this column.
In 2021, their $60,000 donation helped guide the Davis Centennial Seal project. It’s a 6.5-foot circular bronze seal designed by Davis artist Susan Shelton, surrounded by landscaping and commemorative bricks (organized by Bill). It’s in front of the Dresbach-Hunt-Boyer House at 604 Second St., and celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 1917 incorporation of the city. I wrote a freelance story about it in June 2021, where I interviewed the Roes in their North Davis home. Read what I wrote here.
Those are just a couple of instances that demonstrate their generosity. I know they gave to the UC Davis Mondavi Center and many other deserving causes.
In 2018, Bill invited me to speak at his Rotary club about my longtime Davis Enterprise column. He was kind and reassuring, despite my reservations about public speaking.
→ Another big loss: Jerry Paiz, longtime owner of The Style Lounge, died April 10 after a stroke. A two-part celebration of life is planned on Sunday. The first part will be from 2 to 5 p.m. at Tres Hermanas, 805 Second St. (Style Lounge began in a space in that Chen Building.) The second part of the celebration will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at G Street Wunderbar, 228 G St.
As of early Friday afternoon, a GoFundMe fundraiser had more than $14,000 in donations, surpassing its $8,000 goal.
“This fundraiser will support the logistical costs of returning Jerry’s body to the earth, preparations for a Celebration of Life … and transition expenses for Christine Hoffmann (Jerry’s longtime friend and business partner) as she takes on sole ownership of Style Lounge at 227 E St.,” the fundraiser page said.
“Any remaining funds will be donated to programs that support the unhoused population of Davis. Jerry was a friend and light to many local residents, including a Sunday outreach program supporting those in need of food and shelter.”
I covered The Style Lounge as it moved around town. And just two months ago, Jerry was the first stylist my older son trusted to color his wavy, shoulder-length hair. The result was a vivid blue.