Whenever I see the word “gourmet” my mouth involuntarily begins to salivate. Coupling “gourmet” with “alley” conjures up the good eats offered at our annual Gilroy Garlic Festival. Especially the undeniably delicious calamari and pepper steak sandwiches that festival worshipers travel to our charming town from all over the nation and world to enjoy by the tens of thousands.
So when I learned that downtown Gilroy has its own designated Gourmet Alley, my mind immediately began to imagine ways of using this already well-loved and established concept to revitalize our downtown by enticing local families to enjoy the area. At the same time, it could be advertised as a year-round destination to entice tourists.
“Drive a little and save a lot [the slogan of Gilroy’s car dealers], and then take a little adventure to enjoy some tasty morsels at beautiful, historic downtown Gilroy’s Gourmet Alley.”
I envisioned artistically designed billboards located at the transportation arteries, east and west, north and south, that feed into Gilroy, advertising “Beautiful Historic Downtown Gilroy’s Gourmet Alley” with the cartoon character of the little man dressed in the garlic toga with a garlic braid around his forehead, holding a glass of wine to celebrate our local wineries.
These cartoon signs could be posted all over the outlets. They could be posted at the places where the tourist buses park at the outlets, and we could even designate downtown parking areas for the buses.
For those who don’t know, the boundaries of Gourmet Alley runs between Monterey and Eigleberry streets, from 3rd Street to the north to 7th Street to the south.
Gourmet Alley is currently at the concept stage. The city council recently approved the appropriation of funds to draw up conceptual designs and make improvements needed to beautify the alley as part of our downtown revitalization plan.
A few downtown business owners have already taken advantage of Gilroy’s reputation as the world’s garlic capital.
These include; Garlic City Café, Garlic City Mercantile, Garlic City Shirt Works and Embroidery Studio, Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, Ashford Heirlooms’ section that includes “Garlicky Specialties” and 5th Street Coffee that offers garlic ice cream.
During this period of conceptual planning, the city is encouraging other potential partners to provide input by joining the project. These include the Downtown Business Association, Gilroy Chamber of Commerce and other interested citizens and groups.
While our downtown is still a work in progress, progress is being made. Concepts for more revitalization are under way and will be accomplished as funding becomes available.
In the meantime, I will continue to salivate over the idea of a robust “Beautiful Historic Downtown Gilroy Gourmet Alley” for the gastronomic pleasure of residents and visitors alike.
Ronald L. Kirkish is a retired semiconductor engineer and 31-year Gilroy resident. He can be reached at (408) 309-9390 [email protected]. He wrote this piece for the Dispatch.
