Bread, Milk and then a Root Canal

The video store and bookstore next to the two Safeway stores at opposite ends of Clayton Road are long gone and are being replaced by dental offices. It's a great idea if you think buying a loaf of bread or gallon of milk and then going next door to sit in a dentist's chair is a smart way to combine errands, but not so great if you prefer browsing stores that rely more on foot traffic — such as video stores, bookstores and restaurants.

Blame Netflix and Amazon for the loss of Safeway's neighbors.

Bradley Video left the shopping center at 4305 Clayton Road, at the corner where Treat Boulevard turns into Denkinger Avenue, a year ago, leaving the 6,600 square feet of retail space next to Safeway vacant. Once Netflix gained steam, that video store and others have closed shop.

At the other end of Clay, Clayton Books is long gone, another independent bookstore that lost customers to online giant Amazon.com.

While city zoning laws don't prohibit offices — dental or otherwise — in shopping centers, as a frequent shopper of both sites it seems odd to have such large and prominent spaces next to a grocery store used for businesses that aren't normally associated with walk-in clients. If you have dental insurance, I'm guessing that most of your dental appointments are scheduled and that you rarely need to walk in off the street for an emergency root canal.

A restaurant seems like a much more neighborhood-friendly business to open, although the Japanese restaurant at the other end of where Bradley Video used to be is out of business, so maybe it isn't the best option. Still, a dental office? Two dental offices next to grocery stores?

When I go to a dentist, I want it to be in a professional office building where other trained professionals are working. I don't want to go where I can run a few errands afterward or have passersby watch me through the window as my teeth are cleaned.

Tina Haley, an assistant planner for the city of Concord, told me that the Treat/Clayton shopping center is zoned for office space, but the city limits it to 25 percent in a shopping center. It's difficult for landlords to get tenants in a recession, and a dental office is better than being empty, Haley said.

Cardoza Properties, which owns the site, was happy to get a dental office because it will cater to pedestrian traffic by offering teeth whitening, cosmetic work and other services for walk-ins, said Kelly Klingler, who represents the landlord.

"A dental office is a good tenant for the center" and provides an important service, Klingler said.

Concord Dental Group, owned by Cheema Dental Corp., will rent 2,360 square feet, leaving 3,300 square feet empty.

Property managers for Clayton Station didn't return phone calls for comment.

David Wortering, the community development director in Clayton, said the city doesn't have a cap like Concord does on how much office space can be in a shopping center. But if an empty bookstore were being replaced by a dental office in downtown Clayton, it would need a use permit from the Planning Commission to be on the ground floor, Wortering said. The city encourages retail and restaurants on the ground floor of businesses downtown. Offices and services such as nail and tanning salons must have use permits to be on the ground floor.

I don't know if there are any dental offices in downtown Clayton, but if there are, I hope they didn't replace a video store or bookstore. It would be sad to see the chance to buy a book or rent a movie replaced by getting a cavity filled.