by Gwen O’Neill

Granelli & Cook Building circa 1990. Photo courtesy of Dave Worden.

July 1, 2010 — Let’s be honest: creating a magazine has not always been easy! Twenty years ago, when I was living in La Honda, someone suggested I start a publication to promote South Coast businesses; that sounded like it would be fun, and beneficial to the community. I had no idea how much work it would involve, but in the last 20 years I have had some interesting experiences and met a lot of great people.

For CoastViews Magazine’s 20th anniversary, let’s take a look back at 1990, the year CoastViews came into being. For readers who like history in numbers, here’s a big one: According to the 1990 census, the population in Half Moon Bay was 8,886 and by 2000 it had grown to 11,842 — a 33 percent increase!

Granelli & Cook Building today. Photo courtesy of Whitney Merrill.

Anyone living here at the time will remember the real estate building boom that was going on. Many of the homes in Ocean Colony — as well as the Amesport Landing condominiums just off Purissima St. and the Miramontes Point Corner condos on Highway 1 in the southern part of Half Moon Bay — were built in 1990.

There are more than 50 historical homes, churches and commercial buildings in Half Moon Bay and much of downtown Main Street remains unchanged. Here is just a peek at a few of the businesses that were on Main Street at the time.

The Granelli & Cook Building, built in 1938, was a Chrysler dealership and also housed an automobile repair shop, a tractor and diesel repair shop, and a blacksmith and ironwork shop. In the early 1990s it was in a state of disrepair and the owner, Ozzie Cardoni, developed the space as a mini mall. It now has several thriving businesses sharing the space known as La Piazza at 604 Main St. at Miramontes St. “The merchants are encouraged to let their wares spill out of their front doors to create a village marketplace environment,” said Dave Worden of Windward Commercial Real Estate Services, leasing agent for La Piazza.

Half to Have It today. Photo: Gwen O’Neill.

Across the street from La Piazza, Half to Have It, a popular place for locals and tourists, invites exploration of the constantly changing inventory of antiques and memorabilia. It has a great history. Owner Melissa Manson said, “I am only the third renter in my area of the Manual Bettencourt building in roughly 100 years. Paul and Mary Bettencourt still own the building and Mary is a member of the Spanishtown Historical Society.

Big I’s was an old-fashioned hamburger and ice cream parlor started by then 19-year-old Cameron Palmer in 1983, near Strawflower Village. It was a favorite place among local residents as well as tourists passing by on Highway 1. It is the site of BK Motors today. The hamburger and ice cream tradition continues today at Cameron’s Inn, also on Highway 1, at the south end of Main St. Photo courtesy of Cameron Palmer.

“One of the reasons I love doing business in Half Moon Bay is my big rustic warehouse — I love this space! At the turn of the century it was The Produce Exchange, and my lot — the outside area I’m in now — was a smithy shed. On warm days … we have mushrooms poking up through the asphalt; apparently spores from stored produce still working their way up. … When the produce exchange moved to where Cetrella’s restaurant is now, Half Moon Bay Lumber yard moved into this space and I took it over from them 16 years ago.

“Some people may remember I was in a tiny Main Street spot for two years, so I have been operating Half to Have It for 18 years. Wow!

“We still feel a presence in the building — definitely a protective male, who occasionally does something mischievous to get our attention,” said Manson. “But that’s another story!”

The Debenedetti Building where Main Street Goldworks started, behind the white door on the left. Photo courtesy of Whitney Merrill.

Main Street Goldworks had been in business for three years in 1990. Owner Patti Warshauer said that her business moved into the Debenedetti Building at 422 Main Street immediately after it was renovated, and occupied 180 square feet; it was a “closet-sized store.” Coastal Gallery also moved in at the same time. Coast West Sports and a flower shop called Main Street Florist were across the street. Main Street was much quieter then, with fewer tourists — and fewer locals.

Warshauer reminisced about how she and husband Jay came to move their business to a larger shop: 400 square feet in the 500 block of Main Street. “Johnny Evan, who had started the restaurant called Original Johnny’s, owned the building. When Jay spoke to him about renting the property, Johnny just shook his hand when they made the agreement. Being a new business owner, Jay asked if he needed to sign anything and Johnny just said, ‘You shook my hand, that’s enough.’ Things were different then.”

Formerly the Hollywood Hotel, Plum Tree Court apartments in downtown Half Moon Bay, circa 1990. Photo courtesy of Dave Worden.

Warshauer also mentioned the memories of getting her ads ready back then. “None of them were done on a computer but were laid out by cutting and pasting artwork, text and pictures. Remember those days?”

Countless stories could be told about the past two decades on the coast. We’ve been asked by readers and advertisers to continue to reminisce about events — in the various communities along the San Mateo County coast — that are connected to the “birth” of CoastViews Magazine. Stay tuned to future issues!

Plum Tree Court complex today. Photo courtesy of Dave Worden.