Shops @ The Dunes

Scott, persuade Joey Nguyen to open his next Poke Lab at The Dunes. http://www.thepokelab.com/ http://www.montereyherald.com/article/NF/20160126/FEATURES/160129829 http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/food_blog/much-awaited-poke-lab-opens-in-downtown-monterey/article_aef663b2-bee9-11e5-bf4e-7b29a37b002c.html

First off the design the existing Dunes shopping center is idiotic. It is car and parking lot centric. To walk from REI to Best Buy is rarely done because it is not pedestrian friendly. And when one does walk on the sidewalks at The Dunes there are large expanses of walls with no store front, eg the hundreds of feet of Target. In comparison walking within Delmonte shopping Center is enjoyable and safe. Scott Negri's plan to incorporate a parking lot and two drive-thrus amoung the restaurants and shops of his design isn't pedrestrian friendly. His design is an island in itself. There appears to be next to no effort to provide a friendly pedestrian passage from the existing stores to his new complex. The only exception to this is a side walk that runs along 2nd Avenue from REI to Scott's development and in the process of getting there a pedestrian must walk across the driveway at the entrance to REI then has to cross General Stillwell Drive and then either one of the two Drive-thru's. And why is ther no sidewalk on the south side of Scott's plan. Yes we need restaurants but Scott's Development plans needs to be redesigned!!!

I've owned a home in Marina since 2005 and I shop at the Dunes - REI, Kohl's, Bed, Bath & Beyond. What on earth is going on with the Marina City Councilmembers who denied this project???? Why would they vote down a project that was 80% leased and will meet a need that has been neglected way too long. We need restaurants in the Dunes area…we needed them years ago. The businesses at the Dunes need them, the theatre needs them, the customers (voters) want them. C'mon Council - support Marina business and approve this project.

Cheesecake Factory please!!!!!!!

My understanding is that Starbucks, the current anchor tenant, demands that there be a drive-through. I'm still hesitant on drive-throughs (particularly for Starbucks) just from my experiences with how much additional congestion they create in parking lots. It would be great if Peet's Coffee & Tea could be approached as an alternate anchor tenant. They might be fine opening a new store without a drive-through. Peet's could use another store along the coast and The Dunes would be a prime location for them.

My wife and I shop frequently at the Marina Dunes Shopping Center. We like Target, Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond and Kohl's. We plan on patronizing Century Cinema as well. There have been many times we have been shopping there and wished that there was a good place to eat. But, there is no such thing. A nice restaurant and a Fast Food place would be great. We also like the idea of a Barnes & Noble Book Store. We have to drive all the way to Gilroy in order to go to Barnes & Noble which we do quite often. I am really puzzled at the thinking of the Marina City Counsel's decision not to allow restaurants in the Marina Dunes Shopping Center. No matter where you go, if there is a shopping center, there is at least one restaurant. C'mon Marina City Counsel, get off your high horses, get your heads out of the clouds and do something good for Marina and quit being such spoil sports.

Dave & Busters Cheese Cake Factory

IN N' OUT!!

As a young adult/ college student, I would like to expect something to be modern, comfortable, and an awesome place to hang and spend money at. having a bookstore, such as Barnes and Noble is not a bad idea. Very convenient for resources and probably have a place to study. There are some students that want to get away from the school and want to find themselves a great place to relax and eat. Having a lounge (gaming lounges), cafe (deserts cafes), bar, and popular foods (Korean BBQ) is a great way to catch a lot of business. Referencing off of San Jose, they seem to get a lot of young adults/ teens very interested in it real easily. Modern architecture with spectacular lighting has to be a must in order for it to be very eye catching.

I myself would like to have a Barnes & Noble which would complement the university. Additionally, I think having sit-down places to eat would benefit the community.

I read that one of the City's issues is having two drive-thru lanes. I don't think that's really necessary and if that is one of the holdups on this project I'm sure citizens wouldn't mind having to get out of their car and walk a little bit. Restaurants and walking or no restaurants and...

I just read your replies about being restricted from having a grocery store in the center. But still I am hoping you and your team keep moving forward on this investment.

Don't give up. I suggest a Barnes & Noble, a large Asain Supermarket (Nijiya, Mitsua, Seafood City, or Zion Market), as well as local and chain eateries. Smashburger would be a good get, but a book store would be tops and a definite anchor. I understand the General Plan's FAR concept, and in the end whatever retail will be built there will be a success. Regroup, replan and bring in that business so we can keep moving forward. All those who worry that this will turn into San Jose crowded conditions are off point. Monterey County will never develop that far. But we do need to make use of what was Fort Ord, so don't give up on the people who also want a good place to go, have fun, spend money and drive.

That is excellent. I think they should plan on launching it as a Starbucks Evenings store rather than converting it down the road (assuming that they could get the permits submitted and approved). I might be mistaken, but I thought that one of the Evenings stores in either Lake Oswego or Tigard was notably large and a bi-level structure. I'm not suggesting that we have a bi-level Starbucks (unless that's what the city prefers), but the store impressed me as appearing more like a sit-down restaurant than a fast-casual eatery (even if the distinctions may be vague).

Thank you for your comment. At the September 1 City Council meeting, the representative from Starbucks announced that this store is designed for their "evenings". The store is about 400 square feet larger than their typical unit to accommodate additional people inside the store.

i would like to see another "grocery store like (food co.)" and maybe an "olive garden or wendys or churches chicken" in fort ord or on 12th street gate!!!, here's something to note for the city MORE LOW INCOME HOUSING FOR SECTION 8 PEOPLE!!!!!

Scott, I wasn't at yesterday's council meeting but I followed it via live Tweets from local reporters. I'm sure that you're feeling both frustrated and exhausted, but I would encourage you to take this as an opportunity for a broader redesign. Don't give up. Given that Starbucks is likely an "anchor tenant", one thought that crossed my mind was to see if they would be willing to modify their space into a Starbucks Evenings (where alcoholic beverages and small meals are offered after 4pm). I've seen these in the greater Portland area and two were very much welcomed in what I felt were restrictive affluent neighborhoods. Starbucks has submitted permit applications for 15 locations in Napa and the Bay Area, but none (yet) in Monterey County. http://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/starbucks-stores/starbucks-evenings http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_28124245/starbucks-applies-serve-beer-and-wine-at-15 It would certainly be something different from the ones in Target and at CSUMB. It would be an absolute first for this area. It may also better fit into the Council's and the Planning Commission's vision of how they would like to develop The Dunes. If Marina is going to become a gateway to Monterey County, I'm thinking that a Starbucks Evenings might even become a gateway to Monterey County's wines. This petition was helpful in soliciting feedback and ideas. Take a rest and come back strong.

Jim, please check out "skn properties monterey" on Facebook. We have a wide variety of restaurants, all but two of which are brand new to the Monterey Peninsula. We are restricted from having a grocery store. Please come to City Council on October 26 at 5:30pm and show your support. Thank you

We have no fast food restaurants. I am restricted from having a grocery store in the center. Please come to City Council on October 26 at 5:30pm and show your support. You can find more info at skn properties monterey on Facebook. Thank you

Thank you for your comments. We do not have any fast food joints. But, we do have Smashburger!!! That should satisfy your burger palette! The sit down restaurants will follow the fast casual ones we hope to build. It is true that Marina has two Starbucks, but Starbucks wants to be here, and without Starbucks, you don't get Chipotle. Then without Chipotle, the others start going away. It is a domino effect (both ways). I am restricted from doing a grocery store, so that is a mute point for this project. Jamba Juice has turned me down, but I will go back to them if we get approved tomorrow. Please come out and show your support. You can find more info on skn properties monterey on Facebook. Thank you