Well, Im not much for beauty supplies, but both WFB and B of A have branches on Castro. The only thing I see that dt MV lacks that can be found in LA is a full service market, which would certainly be nice, but since one would usually have the car when doing major grocery shopping, the Nob Hill a few block away suffices.

I find downtown more valuable for the overall environment- the library, performing arts center, lots of nice places to eat, both high-end and quick. I cant think of many reasons to spend much time in dt LA, though, I agree, there are some good destination shops. Bottom line is that I spend more $ in both downtwon MV and PA because I have reasons to spend time there beyond the specific shops

If the motto is Dine Mountain View, than yes, Castro St. has that covered!

A few years ago when the City Council was trying to decide where to build the efficiency studios, the majority of the public comments favored the downtown area rather than it's eventual location off of San Antonio. The City Council's reasoning for placing the housing off of San Antonio, the residents would have more access to shops and services there! The City Council knew then that downtown MV was lacking in services...so why didn't they take steps then to solve the problem. Okay, I digress.

Just one request to the MV Voice: Can we have a "Mountain View Shop Talk" feature like the one that appears in the PA Weekly. This would really help the "Shop Mountain View" efforts.

and how, observer, would the council 'solve' this?

If PA and Los Altos can attract businesses such as Chico's, Apple, and Restoration Hardware (just to name a few) to their downtown areas, than why can't MV? Long's is a good step in the right direction. Now maybe I can buy greeting cards and wrapping paper without having to get in my car and drive someplace.

Not sure who would be responsible for attracting business to downtown...the city council or a city department. But it really says something's wrong with downtown if the city council doesn't think it a good place for people to live if they don't have a car.

City government didnt attract Restoration hardware, etc, to PA/LA. Good demographics did.

Local pedestrians dont make a downtown work, people from the broader community do.

Curious Observer, Therapy on Castro Street does have greeting cards and wrapping paper, just FYI. It's a fun store. The book stores also offer some cards.

How funny, I always get the comment how downtown Mountain View is so much more lively and better designed than any other nearby city-with an amazing city hall & civic center & 2 parks nearby. Full of great eateries, coffee hangouts and bookshops. Have you noticed downtown Los Altos is like an elitist ghost town?