5 days ago
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Downtown San Leandro: Accessible, enjoyable, livable
Downtown San Leandro is a vibrant and diverse community with unique restaurants, places to pamper yourself, and a wide variety of shops and services. Just three short blocks from BART, Downtown San Leandro is easy to access — with a walkability score of 97 and ample surface and garage parking. Young people and families meet up for lunch, boba, and casual outdoor dining. Public art and flowers brighten the landscape, and free public Wi-Fi lets visitors stay in touch.
'The diversity in our community is off the charts,' said Executive Director of the Downtown San Leandro Community Benefit District, Morgan Mack-Rose. 'And downtown is where it all comes together.'
CENTRO CALLAN CREATES NEW DOWNTOWN DESTINATION
The newest transformation in Downtown San Leandro is Centro Callan, a mixed-use development that has turned the former CVS/Longs Drug property into a showpiece for the neighborhood.
Centro Callan's developer, The Martin Group, worked closely with the City throughout the project. It embraces San Leandro's vision for transit-oriented development by situating a combination of retail and high-density residential housing just a 10-minute walk from the San Leandro BART station.
The development is adding 196 new residential units, 30,000 square feet of retail and a new public plaza at the busiest intersection in San Leandro. Tenants began to arrive in June 2025. A Sprouts grocery store is slated to open in the third quarter of 2025, and Philz Coffee will open in the coming months.
The Martin Group Co-Managing Principal Justin Osler anticipates that more development will come come to Downtown San Leandro by 2030. The Town Hall Square development is approved for 180 residential units directly across the street, and hundreds more units are approved near BART.
'We expect to see fully activated retail and additional housing driven by the rapid expansion of San Leandro's hard science start-ups that are making San Leandro the place to be for emerging technology,' Osler said.
BUILDING AN EXPERIENTIAL DOWNTOWN
The City also is heavily involved in promoting Downtown San Leandro and creating opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the neighborhood's vibrant culture and character.
Every Wednesday from April through early October, the parking lot of the San Leandro Public Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue becomes a bustling hub of activity as it transforms into the Downtown San Leandro Farmers' Market. Featuring up to 30 vendors, live music, and an inviting atmosphere, the market isn't just a place to shop for fresh produce; it's a space where the community comes together to connect and celebrate.
The second Friday of every month brings another lively event as the Downtown San Leandro Community Benefit District teams up with West Coast Makers for a vendor market that blends food, unique goods, and cultural experiences, infusing the area with energy and creativity.
Seasonal celebrations further enrich the downtown calendar. Signature events like the It's a Wonderful Night holiday celebration, San Leandro Cherry Festival, MexiPino Fiesta, Okdroberfest, and San Leandro Pride offer something for everyone, drawing residents and visitors alike into the heart of the city.
It's all part of a community-wide effort to position downtown as an ideal gathering place. Public art is abundant — with bright art on utility boxes, mosaics on planters, and bold murals on buildings. Recent improvements include turning breezeways and small plazas into inviting places to relax and socialize. Safety ambassadors are on hand, providing support for merchants and visitors while ensuring the area is easy to explore. Looking ahead, downtown will soon showcase augmented reality art installations, inviting people to engage with interactive works that come alive through their mobile phones.
'Shared experiences create community, and that creates resilience,' Mack-Rose said. 'If we come from different backgrounds but we're experiencing the same physical environment or event, that gives us something that we can connect to each other on.'
YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO TASTE THE WORLD
Downtown San Leandro is home to approximately 60 eateries representing a wide variety of cuisines. Visitors can explore authentic dishes from different cultures or enjoy a comforting favorite — from a Hong Kong-style café, to Korean wings, to taquerias and vintage diners.
Downtown San Leandro is also the place to check out popular California-born restaurant concepts that are growing across the country. Some of the newcomers include:
Dave's Hot Chicken (1495 E. 14th St.), Nashville-style hot fried chicken, from a chef and his childhood friends in LA
Ike's Love and Sandwiches (155 Parrott St.), a varied sandwich menu with vegetarian, vegan, halal, and gluten-free options, from a sandwich lover in San Francisco
Nick the Greek (1509 E. 14th St.), a modern take on Greek street food, from three cousins in San Jose
Slice House by Tony Gemignani (135 Parrott St.), four styles of brick oven pizza, from the pizza champion in San Francisco
Smack Burgers (160 W. Juana Ave.), smashburgers, fries and milkshakes from a popular Bay Area popup that is moving into permanent storefronts
With San Leandro known for making 'Sausages and Suds,' Downtown San Leandro is also highlighted by its brewery-inspired dining. The Sons of Liberty Alehouse, located at 150 W. Juana Ave., offers beer, cocktails, and elevated pub fare (think duck carnitas tacos) in a cozy rustic dining room and outdoor patio. Fieldwork Brewing Company's San Leandro Taproom & Beer Garden, at 100A W. Juana Ave., offers over 20 beers, craft non-alcoholic beverages, pizzas, and small plates in a bright indoor/outdoor space.
'Fieldwork has such a unique space with the roll-up doors and outdoor seating,' said Emily Griego, president and CEO of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce. 'It's been a great hotspot, and the fact that it's right next to Sons of Liberty, which also has a really cute patio, has been a game changer. Everybody loves being in that area.'
