Town Square

Proposed redevelopment could replace Tied House, Chez TJ

Original post made by Max Hauser, Old Mountain View, on May 2, 2017

Owners of two venerable downtown-Mountain-View hospitality businesses would partner in a proposed new building project under review by the city for some weeks now. The proposal would replace Chez TJ restaurant and the Tied House brew-pub with a new 4-story building (working address: 950 Villa St.) with upper-floor office space (some 39,000 aquare feet) and a 2922-sq-ft ground-floor restaurant, managed by current Chez-TJ owner George Aviet. That's according to an overview last night presented by Aviet, project developer Daniel Minkoff, architect Rob Zirkle, and consultant Ellis Berns at a neighborhood meeting.

As outlined by Aviet and Minkoff Monday, the new restaurant would offer "contemporary" cuisine, "more like TJ than Tied House." Not a replacement for Chez TJ, but informed by the TJ history and at a lower price level -- in Aviet's words, intermediate between a typical downtown-MV restaurant experience and "fine dining." ("Not another hamburger restaurant," Minkoff quipped.) Lunch and dinner service seven days a week, underground parking, and about as much outdoor plaza seating as indoor seating. The prospect of a "green roof" including herb garden for the restaurant was mentioned (Chez TJ has a history of growing its own herbs), along with some architectural details of the new building, including keeping the two old magnolia trees now present on the Chez-TJ site.

A more complete presentation to the local community, well advertised, is promised for later. Participants have indicated that even in the event of approval by the city, neither restaurant now on the site would be affected for perhaps the next year or more.

Comments (2)

Posted by Max Hauser
a resident of Old Mountain View
on May 3, 2017 at 11:29 am
Max Hauser is a registered user.

By the way, this is not the only potential redevelopment project on the City's radar that would replace current restaurants or other street-level retail. An April-4 City report on downtown development prospects included, in "Informal application" status (i.e. not yet specific proposals), a possible residential project with ground-floor retail that would replace Bierhaus at 383 Castro, and a possible office building on W. Evelyn on land now occupied by Subway and other retail businesses.

Along with the office-infill construction underway since January at Fu Lam Mum (153-155 Castro), and the proposal to replace Tied House and Chez TJ, these may represent a new trend of office space and larger buildings replacing existing restaurant and retail businesses in downtown MV. I understand City Council will examine some of the new development prospects, including parking implications, at an upcoming study session, possibly June 13.

Report Objectionable Content

Email Town Square Moderator

Posted by Juan
a resident of Rengstorff Park
on May 3, 2017 at 3:13 pm
Juan is a registered user.

Tied House needs to stay, otherwise NO DEAL. City Council needs to stand up for local business. Save Tied House and Sports Page!!

Report Objectionable Content

Email Town Square Moderator

Don't miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.

Town Square

Proposed redevelopment could replace Tied House, Chez TJ

Stay informed.

Index