When it comes to famous shopping streets in San Jose, Santana Row, affectionately known as SR or The Row, tops the list. 🌟
While Santana Row stands apart, sometimes I wish Americans would tone down their love for abbreviations. It’s been a source of stress for me, especially when these acronyms, meant for internal use, spill over into external documents. You can’t keep asking what they mean all the time, and staying silent only leads to frustration. Even research papers, which are already complex, become more challenging, making me want to shout, ‘Please, just make it simple!’
To get to Santana Row, you can hop on the Caltrain from San Francisco and ride for about two hours, then grab an Uber or Lyft from Santa Clara station. I traveled from Sunnyvale, which was just a quick ten-minute drive. This shopping street stretches over four blocks, lined with charming restaurants and stores on both sides. Nowhere else in the world have I come across such a quaint yet pristine street. If San Francisco’s chilly summer has left you disappointed, this slice of quintessential California weather will lift your spirits. Just walking down the street will make you feel good. 🌞
As you stroll past the array of restaurants and shops, you’ll come across the familiar Paper Source, among various eateries and bars, but the main attraction is undoubtedly the fashion stores. 👗👚
A little further down the road, you’ll find a small plaza hosting a Smitten Ice Cream shop, where you can enjoy the fun of watching your ice cream being made with the Brr Machine. This machine, invented and patented by Stanford graduate Robyn Sue Fisher, uses liquid nitrogen to whip up ice cream on the spot. 🍦
You’ll also encounter a Tesla store offering custom electric car orders and the increasingly popular ‘Amazon Books’. These stores aren’t a common sight, even in the U.S., so take a closer look to grasp the offline strategies of online giants. Although, to be honest, I didn’t delve too deeply… 🤔
At the end of Santana Row, there’s the pride of offline digital stores, Best Buy. Cross Stevens Creek Boulevard, and a large mall awaits, its entrance like a wide-open mouth inviting you in.
‘Come on over! That was just the intro!’
Personally, I’m not into shopping, so I didn’t cross the boulevard. But if you love shopping, you’ll find department stores like Macy’s, Westfield, and Nordstrom, along with many fashion malls. Make sure you have plenty of time and energy for a visit. 🛍️ However, if you’re like me…
‘Nah, I’d rather soak in the California sun than shop!’
If that’s you,
Oh my, that’s exactly what Santana Row is for!
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