Colfax Avenue: Grass Valley’s own “Midtown” for shopping and dining

NEW ORLEANS IS KNOWN FOR ITS Garden District—laid out in 1832 and home to Commander’s Palace, a culinary superstar.

More contemporary “midtowns” are bustling in Sacramento and Reno. “A half dozen new gastro pubs, craft breweries and cocktail bars have recently opened” in Reno’s midtown district, as the New York Times wrote.

Midtown is Sacramento’s hippest neighborhood, drawing nightly crowds to art galleries and restaurants such as Mulvaney’s, The Waterboy and Biba, owned by celebrity chef Biba Caggiano. Midtown’s 58 Degrees & Holding Co. wine bar is one of the best in our region.

In the foothills, we often think about visiting the historic downtowns—in Auburn, Grass Valley, Nevada City and Truckee. But off the beaten path, Grass Valley has an up-and-coming neighborhood called “The Avenue.” Nevada City’s district is called 7 Hills Business District.

Located a few blocks east of downtown Grass Valley, the Colfax Avenue corridor is walkable, architecturally intriguing and dog friendly.

It has plenty of parking but also is near a new $800,000 bus transfer hub, the Tinloy Transit Center. It also is next to tree-lined Memorial Park, with picnic tables, a playground and other features.

“The Avenue” is generating buzz with an eclectic mix of restaurants, cafes, eco-friendly stores, salons, a day spa, a B&B and a food and wine market. The latest excitement surrounds Summer Thyme’s Bakery & Deli.

It has other popular businesses, including Diegos Restaurant, Goomba’s Italian Family Restaurant, Green Light Restoration, VJ’s Salon & Day Spa, Back Porch Market, Beam Easy Living Center and Prosperity Lanes, a bowling alley redolent of “American Graffiti.”

The merchants are friendly, innovative and civic minded, offering memorable shopping and dining experiences. They also support one another, lending a hand to Summer Thyme’s project, for example. A “Colfax Avenue” Facebook page can be found at Facebook.com/TheAvenue174.

“The Avenue” includes some notable architecture, including Victorian and Craftsman-style buildings. One example: Elam Biggs B&B, a Queen Ann Victorian built in 1892 and named after one of Grass Valley’s most successful merchants.

Like most ”garden” or midtown districts, Colfax Avenue has been revitalized. “The Colfax Avenue corridor was once part of the historic town center that became severed from the downtown with the construction of Hwys. 20/49,” states a study for the City of Grass Valley in 2006. “This contributed to the economic decline of the area.”

The city, state and feds have helped spur redevelopment, with state and federal money for the Transit Center and small-business loans from the city for restaurants such as Goomba’s, for instance. But private, local funding and community collaboration, a hallmark of Nevada County, has been instrumental to “The Avenue’s” growth.

The area has benefited from new construction. In 2009, Goomba’s restaurant opened a 4,400-sq.-ft. space across from Memorial Park.

More than three years ago, Diegos Restaurant created a new expanded dining area and patio, an artistic design with a colorful mural that is popular and fitting with its Central and South American cuisine.

“The Avenue” also has benefited from some national visibility. In 2010, the first leg of the Amgen Tour of California, a Tour de France-style cycling road race, sped along Colfax Avenue. Along with Summer Thyme’s, here are some of the businesses:

BEAM EASY LIVING CENTER Beam is a one-stop shop for “easy living”: home theater and televisions, home security systems, vacuums, outdoor living. “Our prices are lower than the big retail discount stores,” says vice president Brian O’Brian. We bought a new Miele vacuum at Beam and enjoyed the personal shopping experience, without a visit to a mall.

GREEN LIGHT RESTORATION The store specializes in artful and “upcycled” products, including lighting and accessories. Owner Corisa Cobden has worked at an interior design company and co-founded a studio and gallery space for artists.

DIEGOS This restaurant is a popular neighborhood cafe offering Central and South American food, with fresh, local ingredients. We like the “Lomito sandwich,” which includes roasted, shredded pork topped with guacamole and tomato.

GOOMBA’S FAMILY RESTAURANT Goombas plans to open for lunch, add new menu items with fresh, seasonal ingredients, including a Cobb Salad, Cioppino (with Dungeness crab) and grilled Panini sandwiches. A new bar area is opening upstairs.

MITCHELL REAL ESTATE Agent Terry Ann Ferguson is a veteran real estate agent who is a Nevada County native. She has an in-depth knowledge of the area and is detail-oriented and resourceful.

VJ’S SALON & DAY SPA Owner Virginie Cayer has helped unite the “Colfax Avenue” merchants, and her salon and day spa is artful and progressive. “I love making you look great and feel great,” says Virginie.

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