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Business First
City of Campbell Economic Development Newsletter
| | Campbell Celebrates Small Business Month | | |
May is National Small Business Month, when we recognize the role small business plays in local economies. Small business helps to define the city's character, create local jobs, and keep our commercial and industrial districts active and vibrant.
In Campbell, small business makes up the vast majority of establishments; in fact, companies that employ 15 or fewer workers make up 2,400 of our 2,700 businesses. Together, they employ 7,640 workers. That's 36% of the city's total employment!
Running a small business has never been easy. One of the goals of Economic Development is to help connect businesses with practical resources that can support their growth. If you're a small business owner looking for support, here are a few trusted local organizations and resources worth knowing about. Many of their services and trainings are available at low or no cost.
The U.S. Chamber also has a few useful Small Business Month reads for owners looking for practical ideas and tools:
Image: Ray Sliter, owner of Travieso Winery on Cristich Lane, is one of Campbell's 2,400 small businesses. Staff photo.
| With Library's Reopening, a New Chapter for Campbell | |
After nearly four years out of circulation, the Campbell Library is back -- and the reopening celebration brought big crowds and a lot of activity back to Downtown Campbell.
The newly renovated Campbell Library reopened May 9 following the soup-to-nuts modernization project. The updated library includes expanded community and study spaces, new technology and meeting amenities, dedicated youth and teen areas, and significantly more natural light and open gathering space.
The project represents one of the largest public investments in Downtown Campbell and reinforces Downtown’s role as a civic and community gathering place. The renovation was funded primarily through Measure O, the voter-approved $50 million bond measure that is also funding Campbell’s new police station, which is expecting its own ribbon cutting in a couple months.
The City of Campbell owns the library property and managed its construction, but the library is operated by the Santa Clara County Library District. The District also operates libraries in Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Saratoga.
📌 Did you know? The new library offers 3-hour laptop rentals, and your library card also grants you access to high-quality streaming media at home. Learn more.
Image: The new library features the "Dreamy Downtown" early learning play space. Photo by Sheldon Chang, downtowncampbell.com.
| World Cup is Around the Corner. Campbell Businesses, We Want to Hear from You! | |
With FIFA World Cup matches coming to the Bay Area next month, the City of Campbell is reaching out to better understand how Campbell businesses may be planning to participate — whether through viewing parties, specials, themed events, extended hours, or other activations tied to the tournament.
The Economic Development Division has launched a short survey to help gauge business interest, identify potential promotional opportunities, and better understand how businesses are thinking about the event.
| 📌Did you know? The complete list of World Cup matches, along with country profiles, is available from the Bay Area Host Committee's Public Viewing Playbook. Download your free copy here. | New Business and Investment Roundup |
- A long-vacant Denny's on a key Campbell commercial corridor is about to get a new act. The Campbell Planning Commission on May 12 approved plans for a new 3,600-square-feet Chase bank building at 2060 S. Bascom Ave. The site has been vacant since 2022, with Denny's moving to another nearby location. Expect to see changes later this year.
- The wait is nearly over! At press time, Sultan's Kebab Mediterranean Cuisine at 278 E. Campbell Ave., and next-door Elia at 276 E. Campbell, were preparing to open within days. Sultan's Kebab offers a selection of juicy kebabs, wraps, salads, bowls, and tasty mezes in a casual atmosphere. Its fine-dining sister restaurant, Elia, specializes in Greek cuisine with classic and modern entrees. Keep up to date on Sultan's Kebab and Elia via their Instagram.
- One of Campbell’s better-known office properties has a new owner. Peninsula Land & Capital has acquired Lincoln Court, a 125,000-square-foot office campus at 2105 S. Bascom Ave. The new ownership is expected to re-energize leasing activity at the property. The building features great natural light, updated common-area finishes, and a serene courtyard and is home to a variety of professional and tech firms. A $6 million renovation in 2021 gave it a modern shine.
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Tesla has opened one of the nation’s first and fastest Supercharger sites -- right here in Campbell. Classified as a "V4" site, it features 16 charging stalls capable of speeds up to 500 kW. Located at Kirkwood Plaza (near the Walgreens), the location is reportedly just the second such site in California and one of only a handful currently operating nationwide. It is also Campbell's first Tesla Supercharger site at any speed.
- Speaking of charging speeds, Campbell's own EV-charging powerhouse ChargePoint has announced a new fast charger that can achieve speeds even higher -- up to 600 kW. The Express Solo DC is said to be the world's fastest mass-market charger, and is designed to support both NACS and CCS charging standards, while allowing sites to dynamically distribute power across multiple vehicles depending on demand. Learn more.
- Who says brick-and-mortar retail is dead? Campbell’s own Heroes comic book shop is leveling up with a move to a larger space down the road. The longtime business at the entrance to Downtown Campbell has signed a lease for a 3,600-square-foot storefront at 1501 W. Campbell Ave., formerly home to Kelly-Moore Paints. The expanded space is expected to open in June. Follow their progress on Instagram. (Heroes' old space is destined for a redevelopment into a small mixed-use project.)
| | Business Resources and Training | | |
Running a business means wearing a lot of hats — marketer, recruiter, accountant, operator, and occasionally amateur lawyer. For Small Business Month, here are a few upcoming workshops and on-demand resources focused on legal issues, marketing, tariffs, and other topics impacting small businesses right now.
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Navigating the Supreme Court’s Tariff Decision: What Small Businesses Need to Know (Small Business Majority) — On Demand: A recently recorded webinar breaking down the recent Supreme Court ruling related to federal tariff authority, what it could mean for future trade policy, and how changing tariffs may impact small business costs and supply chains. Watch online.
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Protect Your Business: A South Bay Know Your Rights Webinar (Small Business Majority, CAMEO, Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative & Public Counsel) — May 19, 5:30 p.m.: A virtual workshop for small business owners and employers focused on immigration-related legal rights, local business resources, and new grant opportunities. The session will also include a live Q&A with a Public Counsel attorney. Register online.
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10 Common Marketing Mistakes to Avoid (SCORE) — May 22, 10 a.m.: A free online workshop covering common marketing pitfalls for small businesses, including defining your target audience, prioritizing marketing efforts, improving website effectiveness, and converting customers into action. Register online.
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Legal Issues for Small Businesses (SBDC) — June 9, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.: A webinar covering key legal topics for startups and small businesses, including business formation, contracts, intellectual property, employment practices, and strategies to help avoid litigation as your company grows. Register online.
All sessions are free and held online. Don't forget to check out SCORE and SBDC Silicon Valley for other useful classes for your business.
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Boogie Music Festival — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 16 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 17: The two-day festival returns to Downtown Campbell with live music, food vendors, beer and wine, artisan booths, and a kids' zone. Info.
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Historic Downtown Campbell Car Show — 9 a.m. Saturday, June 6: You won't want to miss one of the region's best family-friendly classic car shows, now in its fourth year. Downtown restaurants will be offering drinks to go (just stay within the event zone). Info and pics from last year.
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Stayin’ Alive: One Night of the Bee Gees — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 13: Dust off the disco attire. The Heritage Theatre hosts “Stayin’ Alive,” a Bee Gees tribute concert featuring classics like “Night Fever,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “Jive Talkin’,” and “How Deep Is Your Love.” Info and tickets.
This is just a sampling of events in Campbell. For more great community and business events, check the online calendars of the Downtown Campbell Business Association, the Campbell Chamber, and the Campbell Heritage Theatre.
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The BIG Number
Each newsletter, we take a look at a different economic indicator in Campbell. This month’s BIG Number: 24,000 square feet.
That’s the largest single retail vacancy currently available in Campbell: the former Dollar Tree space at San Tomas Plaza, 140 N. San Tomas Aquino Road.
Campbell's retail vacancy rate has been declining, and is now around 2%, with most larger spaces being filled over the last year. The old Dollar Tree space became available after the retailer relocated within the center. Click here for more information on the space.
| | | | Forwarded this email from a friend? Get your own newsletter! Sign up here to get updates from Campbell Economic Development. Comments, questions or concerns: Please reach out to Economic Development Manager Nathan Donato-Weinstein at nathand@campbellca.gov. | | | | |
