Campbell, California Since 1999
Cover Story
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Campbell wakes up at night, after a long sleep 
Photograph by George Sakkestad Turning Left: Tammy Roberts (left) celebrates her 28th birthday with her friend Vern Ramirez at Left at Albuquerque in the Pruneyard, one of the many nightspots in Campbell. By Kate Carter, Shari Kaplan, and Gloria Wang Campbell isn't just a sleepy little town any more. Those who visit the city might be sleepier, though, as more and more of them head to Campbell to enjoy its options for evening entertainment and indulgence. For the patrons milling about downtown Campbell in the evenings, going from bar to restaurant to bar again, to the crowds gathering at the Pruneyard's evening hot spots, to those choosing to head straight for a favored destination, Campbell's nights are full of life. "There's a lot of night life in and around Campbell," says Betty Deal, executive director of the Campbell Chamber of Commerce. "Campbell has a good variety of good entertainment to offer to a variety of different age groups." But that wasn't the case even six years ago, she says. Then, one would be hard-pressed to find signs of life after stores and businesses closed for the day. "After five o'clock ... there wasn't anybody in town," she says. "That has changed dramatically. Campbell has become a destination area, whereas before it was sort of a bedroom community. Now, the night life is coming back." Night life isn't making its first appearance in Campbell, though. About 30 years ago, Campbell was where many nocturnal types liked to be into the wee hours. Calling them "animals" might be going too far, but the scene, generally concentrated in the area south of First Street, could be a little intimidating to those not familiar with clubs and illicit substances, says Lloyd Taylor, owner of In the Cup, located in downtown Campbell. "There were tremendous problems," he says. Taylor is one of the few on Campbell Avenue who remembers those years in the early 1970s. "There was an awful lot of live music, and about 13 clubs around. It started causing problems." Taylor says the police had to handle individuals, mostly college-age youths, doing drugs and driving under the influence, and finally they started forcing clubs to close. Others went out of business. The only two left from those times are the Cardiff Lounge on Campbell Avenue and Khartoum on Orchard City Road, he says. Since then, the city has required entertainment venues to offer more than just alcohol, he says. "It was just decided that there had to be some sort of food service," according to Taylor. Things stayed quiet downtown for about two decades after that, but the Pruneyard remained a popular place to spend an evening, he says. And then new downtown restaurants started to pull people back. "The restaurants are instrumental in bringing people back to downtown," Deal says. 
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer In the Neighborhood: Randy McCurdy (left) and Mark Samuel enjoy alfresco dining at Mio Vicino on a warm spring evening. Mio Vicino and Guiseppe's, which offer your basic restaurant experience, are often springboards for people to visit Katie Bloom's or the King's Head Pub for an after-dinner drink. Or one can have a post-work cocktail at the two pubs and then stay for a traditional pub meal. And with the recent arrival of Stoddard's and the near-completion of a 300-space public parking garage, large parties or couples can find places to park and to be downtown. 
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer Extra Dry, Please: Ann Morrison, head bartender at Katie Bloom's, mixes a martini on a lively Thursday evening. Deal says that extra foot traffic brings more people into the downtown stores, and also encourages retailers to stay open later. "It's obviously picked business up - people see the downtown stores and they're willing to come back," she says. And she expects the Heritage Theatre, to be completed in about a year, to join the Gaslighter Theatre in continuing a trend in Campbell of providing something for everyone after the sun's gone down. "People enjoy walking around in the evening," Deal says. "There are not a lot of places around where you can feel safe to do that. You have a lot of safe, honest choices in Campbell." For the festive crowd Downtown Campbell, though small, seems to have something for everyone. There are the comfortable, unpretentious bars that have been around even before Campbell became fun again. There are the hip joints that cater to young Silicon Valley-ites. Some serve food; some don't. Some have live music; others rely on a jukebox. At any rate, Campbell has become the place to hang out, for the stylish, mid-20s crowd to the almost-retired folks who just want somewhere to relax. As popular as those establishments are, however, they're never so packed that the patrons have no room to breathe. With an entire evening to spend downtown, one can start off by sampling dinner at the new Stoddard's Brewhouse & Eatery, stopping off at the Cardiff Lounge afterward, then heading east to Khartoum and King's Head Pub, and ending up back on Campbell Avenue at Katie Bloom's, which closes late and serves food. Stoddard's is the much-anticipated restaurant and brewery that finally opened early this year. The spacious, airy building, combined with the modern, art deco interior and exposed ceiling pipes, lends itself to the sense of "cool" among the customers. Despite being open a mere four months, groups have already made Stoddard's a common meeting place, whether it's to eat or drink. "It's cool, 'cause even though we're new, we're not known as the new kid in town,' " one of the bartenders says. "We're known as the 'bar you go to.'" Stoddard's clientele is pretty diverse - ranging from business people to first dates to regulars who sit at the bar downstairs, watching (but not hearing) the television or gazing through enormous glass panels behind the bartenders to watch the microbrewery at work. After hanging out at Stoddard's for a bit, one might move along and sample the other watering holes the city has to offer. Cardiff Lounge is almost next door and is drastically different from Stoddard's. The bar is heavily decorated with beer advertisements and features a motorcycle theme. The worn and cracked leather seats lead to visions of a small town in the 1960s. This is a place for casual conversation, where the locals play darts or shoot pool or bet on the video lotto machine. Patrons are generally not dressed to impress - they wear whatever's comfortable. One of the bartenders, with flowing locks and body tattoos, pours the beer wearing a simple black tank top. Khartoum is a similar sort of place. Diagonally north of Cardiff Lounge, it's the same kind of crowd. On weeknights, folks in their 20s and early 30s like to kick back after work, but on the weekend, it seems to be an older group. Khartoum looks like an old-fashioned saloon. There's an intimate feel in the way small groups of overstuffed couches are gathered together, while in the middle there are tables and chairs. Looking around is almost literally like wearing rose-tinted glasses, since there seems to be red velvet everywhere. Along the entire perimeter of Khartoum, between the television monitors and the ceiling, is a panel of bright stained glass. And right above the bar is a giant deer's head. Artificial or not, it adds to Khartoum's charm and uniqueness. For live music, head across to the King's Head Pub, which also serves food. The theme here is Europe - which country is unclear, since the pub has a British menu, Celtic artifacts and German furniture. What's interesting about King's Head is that the restaurant is divided into several levels, each with a different feeling. Closest to the door, and on the bottom floor, is the bar. Next to the bar are some booths and high tables with bar stools, an area that leads to a feeling of intimacy. The next level up is where the stage is, with a couple of tables. Most people avoid sitting there on evenings when a band is playing, since it's quite loud and conversation is impossible. But higher up, where it's solely dining tables, customers can enjoy some food, listen to music and have plenty of space to spread out. King's Head also differs from other bars and restaurants in that it has a huge outdoor dining patio - which is, of course, extremely popular during the summer. There's never a dull moment at King's Head. Almost every night, there's something going on, from karaoke to the pub quiz to live music. At around midnight, head over to Katie Bloom's, where most people end up after other establishments have closed. Small but cozy, this popular joint is friendly and social without having a "meat market" atmosphere. Like Stoddard's, this place is popular with the upper middle class, and most people appear to be in their 20s or 30s. Inside, Katie Bloom's is clean and homey, with comfortable booths and a shiny, dark wood bar. The walls are adorned with pictures of well-known Irish writers. Outside, there's a small patio section that's almost always crowded. It's a great place to people-watch and hang out while the weather is warm, and it's what sets Katie Bloom's apart from other places in town. A real hot spot It's a hot spring night in Campbell - but that's not just because of the weather. In fact, according to the hungry, thirsty and friendly folks who convene at the 15-plus eating and drinking establishments at the Pruneyard, this little corner of Campbell definitely has some hot spots of its own. More people are discovering what many others already know: The Pruneyard has a flavor and a flair all its own - and it's definitely more interesting than the dried fruit whose name it bears. By far its oldest place for eating, drinking and making merry is El Burro, in business since the early 1970s. Its age has nothing to do with that of its clientele, however. Although regular Mike Oxford says it lacks the party atmosphere of fresh-Mex restaurants, he enjoys it that way. In fact, this is the Mexican restaurant where he and his friends usually end up, he says. "It's solid food and a relaxed atmosphere - definitely worth visiting again and again!" adds Oxford, whose favorite drink is El Burro's frozen margarita. Other patrons say they enjoy the live mariachi band that plays on the occasional weekend, as well as the outdoor eating in the summertime. Oxford also recommends Boswell's, an English-style pub whose darts, video games, live bands and dance floor provide something for everyone. Sometimes, it's so crowded, though, that there's barely room for dancing. Rock Bottom Brewery is another perennially packed Pruneyard spot - and that goes for weeknights as well as weekends. In fact, many folks say they witness - or listen to, depending on their vantage point - at least one birthday party every time they visit the restaurant and brewpub. Kendall Willis of Mountain View is one such patron. The 32-year-old electrical engineer likes to visit Rock Bottom with co-workers for eats or after-dinner drinks. Willis says he likes the warm, dark wood with which the bar is decorated - it gives the place a pub-like feel, he says. "The bar gets crowded, but it feels like a hip place to party," says Willis. Oxford, who also goes there sometimes, doesn't care much for beer, but he agrees that the place definitely has an "after-work hangout atmosphere." Willis also likes the way the huge copper brewing vats are on display - proof that Rock Bottom's half-dozen or so signature ales, beers and stouts really are made on the premises. Some bar patrons have even been overheard using the house brews as conversation starters, but Willis and his friends don't come here to hook up with people - just to have a good time. 
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer Library Zone: Johan Ericsson (center) helps host an Italian wine with hors d'oeuvres evening at the Wine Library in downtown Campbell. A retail outlet for international wines and for all things related to wines, the Wine Library, 379 E. Campbell Ave. is open days for wine tastings and Thursday and Friday evenings. There are occasional special events, and the facility is available to book for meetings and special events. One of Karrie Colette's favorite places to have a good time is Left at Albuquerque, another Pruneyard venue nearly always crowded with people chowing down, drinking up or hanging out. A 33-year-old payroll administrator from Milpitas, Colette finds herself turning left at Albuquerque about once a month. She's making up for lost time, since she only discovered the place in the spring of 2001, when she was visiting Trudy's Brides - a longtime Pruneyard tenant - with her good friend Sharon Eames Thomas of San Jose, who was getting married. "It's a great atmosphere for a one-on-one conversation," says Colette, who is passionate about her strawberry daiquiris. "Quite often there are large groups when I'm here, but the tables are spaced far enough apart to allow for quiet conversations to still be heard while the parties are going on a couple of tables away." Always ready to toast her favorite sporting teams and events and vociferously encourage her friends to do likewise, Colette finds one part of Left at Albuquerque particularly appealing. "Since I'm a huge sports fan, I love the layout of the bar with the televisions! The service, pricing and selection of alcohol are above average. I like having a full bar in a casual dining establishment," she adds. Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo couldn't be much more casual, what with its family-style service and eye-catching decor - don't take the Catholic Church too seriously while there, because its decorators sure don't. A fun place with a large group, the atmosphere is raucous and friendly and makes one feel like, well, one of the family. Mangia! Mangia! Although Outback Steakhouse isn't within Pruneyard's shopping center area, it certainly isn't forgotten by meat-lovers and their ilk. The deck surrounding the white, house-like building on Campbell Avenue can be full of hungry customers just waiting for a seat. Vegetarians can also enjoy the experience and sample the restaurant's yummy salads. Off the beaten path It isn't necessary to hassle with the crowds downtown or at the Pruneyard if one is still looking for a Campbell night on the town. But although the crowds will be less spread over an area, there will be no lack of them - show up and be prepared to stay awhile. 
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer Celtic Mood: Every Thursday evening at the King's Head Pub, an informal Celtic jam session takes place, much to the delight of the crowd. Spoons restaurant and bar on Bascom Avenue near Hamilton Avenue is a family-oriented place serving typical American fare. One server says the place is hit-or-miss in terms of crowds, but one popular time is Sundays after church. Who knew? Grandparents, parents and children, couples young and old and parties come for the burgers, shakes and fries, but stay for the deadly desserts. It's a crowd-pleasing type of place, with top-40 strains of 'NSYNC, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Vanessa Carlton playing in the background, while after-work crowds hang around the bar watching the game or playing video trivia, which attracts a number of regulars. Spoons offers relatively cheap eats and drinks in an unpretentious setting not too far from downtown Campbell. For better people-watching, one might choose to visit the Elephant Bar, further west on Hamilton Avenue. One might also choose to allow a little time, a wing and a prayer, to find a place to park - the restaurant-bar is definitely a popular joint from happy hour through the dinner hour and up until the bar closes at 11:30 p.m. weeknights and at midnight on weekends. The wait to be seated can be long, too, and patrons are issued beepers to call them when their tables are ready. But to really see and be seen, one can head to the venue's central bar, a circular one surrounded by glass windows looking into the seating areas on either side, which really emphasizes the "fishbowl" feel. Murals of aquatic animals and plants on the wall complete the image, while business sharks turn into guppies scoping out the possibilities of meeting someone new. The safari theme is carried throughout the rest of the place, and no one can forget the enormous - and one hopes fake - elephant head hanging from the restaurant wall that entertains children while their parents try to enjoy a quiet, quality meal where no one has to fight over doing the dishes. Less overwhelming is Hawg's Seafood Bar in Kirkwood Plaza off Campbell Avenue, west of downtown. It is a clean little place with white walls and a white bar, where one can watch the catch of the day prepared for prompt enjoyment. One hostess was distracted by several regulars who walked in for hugs and chats, but she was off-duty, anyway, and enjoying a salad with shrimp. She says plenty of people come in for the good food, affordable prices and friendly atmosphere, and come back either in groups or alone, as anyone can pull up to the bar and talk to neighbors or the chefs as they work. But it's not really a late-night place, with the kitchen closing at about 9 p.m., and without a full bar, most patrons head home after about 10 p.m. Or they head next door to Capers, an upscale bar whose kitchen closes at 11 p.m. on the weekends, earlier on the weekdays, but whose bar stays open as long as people want to stick around. One bartender says Capers is often a gathering place for people to start their evenings, and most of the clientele are in their middle years, enjoying bistro food and unique drinks in a tasteful atmosphere - in fact, it's probably one of the most tasteful sports bars around. Capers and Hawg's, while they operate individually, work together to keep their patrons happy, the bartenders says, some people ordering food at Hawg's for eating at Capers, to take advantage of its full bar. |
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