Old City Hall, the 1906 Flemish-style Baroque architectural
treasure in downtown Gilroy at the corner of Monterey and Sixth
streets, will have a new life at the end of this month.
Old City Hall, the 1906 Flemish-style Baroque architectural treasure in downtown Gilroy at the corner of Monterey and Sixth streets, will have a new life at the end of this month.
Thanks to the vision of Glen Gurries and Daniel Barduzzi, the building will be home to dual new complimentary restaurants: the casual Courtyard Grill and the upscale, fine-dining Clocktower Restaurant.
Given the history of success these two men have had with restaurants along the Central Coast, there’s plenty of reason to be hopeful that their downtown Gilroy venture will also be a big hit. And, in the bigger picture, a thriving Old City Hall is a key piece in the challenging puzzle to reinvigorate our city’s “soul.”
The fact that Gurries and Barduzzi seem to have done their homework adds additional hope for long-term success. They’ve carefully taken stock of the project’s negatives – parking, safety and pricing – and turned them into positives.
To address parking and safety, they’re providing valet parking service.
To address pricing, they’re including two venues. The more casual Courtyard Grill will feature lower prices and a drop-in-anytime atmosphere, while dining at the Clocktower Restaurant will be upscale.
Add those “turn-lemons-into-lemonade” features to the project’s built-in positives – experienced entrepreneurs, a fantastic location with nearly finished streetscape improvements, a beautiful building oozing history and a community hungry for a vibrant downtown – and you’ve got what looks like a recipe for clear success.
Gurries and Barduzzi say they want to create a downtown Gilroy hangout, where people can feel comfortable just grabbing a drink and an appetizer, or can come to enjoy fine wine and a gourmet meal.
We’re thrilled with the prospect. Besides decades of experience in the food and hospitality industry, the partners bring an ingredient that’s critical to the success of our downtown: a can-do attitude.
Fortunately, the message to City Hall regarding downtown is becoming loud and clear. The community is tired of the big box store and cookie cutter restaurant parade that has marched over Gilroy for the last decade. We want a downtown core that’s attractive, vibrant and compelling. We want our elected officials to create policies that will facilitate new businesses moving into and succeeding in our downtown. We want a plan for a downtown square – a central gathering place where we can have a farmer’s market or an art show or a holiday sing along. And we don’t want to wait decades for these improvements.
The city, which owns Old City Hall, demonstrated flexibility and creative thinking when it negotiated the lease with the new restaurant owners. The contract allows for a graduated payment. It’s one example of how the city can give those willing to locate downtown a helping hand.
We’re raising a glass now, toasting years of success for the newest tenants of Old City Hall – and hoping the venture serves as a blueprint for creative, profitable ventures for a revitalized downtown Gilroy.
Our community deserves nothing less.
