5 New Businesses Open in Watsonville

WATSONVILLE, CA - From the City of Watsonville: The City of Watsonville extends a warm welcome to five new businesses that recently opened, relocated or will be expanding in Watsonville.

Harbor Freight Tools will be expanding to Watsonville in the later part of summer 2018. They will occupy 15,000 square feet of the former Orchard Supply Hardware building. Harbor Freight Tools is a leader in providing high quality tools at the lowest prices in the industry. Founded in 1977, the company currently operates over 800 stores nationwide, offering a wide breadth of tools and related items in automotive, air and power tools, shop and items for the home. Harbor Freight has been successful in competing with the growing e-commerce market. Harbor Freight lease agreement is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

Corralitos Feed and Pet Supplies recently opened its second location at 1486 Freedom Boulevard, formally the Valley Feed store. They specialize in pet and livestock nutrition and offer a wide variety of natural pet foods. They also sell a variety of birds, reptiles, and have everything you need to keep your pets happy and safe!

Coffeeville is moving from its Santa Cruz Ocean Street location to Watsonville when its lease expires in August. Their new location in the East Lake Shopping Center will be twice the size of their current location and will include two patios for outdoor seating. They recently received the “People Love Us on Yelp” 2017 award. They offer a great selection of locally roasted coffee and artisan pastries. "This is really the next step for us, it is twice the size and Watsonville is really up and coming," says Kendra McQueen, who owns the business with her husband and another couple.

Beer Thirty is expanding to Watsonville and will be the anchor tenant of the new commercial project at 45 Aviation Way, being developed by Brian and Kevin Dueck with EKB Partners. Beer Thirty is set to open in early 2018 and will occupy 4,031 square feet of the existing 8,640 square foot warehouse, with plans for three to five retail tenants to take the remainder of the space. In addition to a wide selection of craft beers, they will serve food and include outdoor seating and fire pits. The 45 aviation project, “The Hangar”, will also include a collection of six shipping containers converted into food, beverage and ice cream stalls, adding to the overall experience. “It’s very exciting to be a part of creating a community based space for families and friends to gather and for small businesses to collaborate and thrive. We know Aviation Way is going to be a South County hub for an incredibly talented and diverse group of passionate people. We’re passionate about craft beer and bringing people together to have fun!” Kym DeWitt, Beer Thirty.

Hope Services recently announced that they will be expanding to Watsonville and will occupy part of the former Orchard Supply Hardware building, which will be divided and shared with Harbor Freight. They plan on opening their doors in the summer of 2018. The store will have high quality, name brand merchandise, in a well-lit, clean department store environment. They will also have new furniture, HopeCRAFT (high quality hand crafted knitted goods under the supervisor of a Master Weaver) and HopeBIKES (high quality refurbished bike department). Hope Services will be investing $1 million into improvements at the shopping center and will create over 50 local jobs.

The City of Watsonville has made economic development a priority. These new businesses build on our investments in Watsonville to create a new gateway to all that Watsonville has to offer. "We're excited that these high quality businesses are investing in Watsonville. Harbor Freight is known as an 'Amazon buster', competing with the growing e-commerce market, and Beer Thirty, with a very successful location in Soquel, will provide a terrific experience for locals and visitors," said Matt Huffaker, Assistant City Manager. Our goal is to continue to enhance the quality of life for our residents by providing an attractive and desirable place to live, work, and play.

Image via The City of Watsonville