As Santa Cruz County trudges towards another month of shelter-in-place mandates, many local businesses are working to stay open. While gas stations and grocery stores are essential services, other companies need community support, particularly those locally owned and operated. This includes pet supply stores, food services, and bike shops. Many bikes are the only mode of transportation for some customers.
More Santa Cruz Small Business to Support During the Pandemic
Bicycle Trip
1001 Soquel Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 427-2580
www.bicycletrip.com
A well-respected name in the local community, the Bicycle Trip had to temporarily close after the March 17 shelter-in-place order. However, the flagship Santa store has reopened for curbside pickup and home delivery. Current hours are 10 am to 4 p.m10 amsday4 pmurday. Bike Santa Cruz County members can receive a discount on parts, accessories, and clothing; additional discounts and sales are available online. Always known for providing competitive pricing for its quality service and retail bikes, Bicycle Trip hopes to reopen its other location near Trader Joe’s in Capitola, which has similar services and hours. The Bicycle Trip is locally owned and operated by Berri Michel, longtime store manager Aaron Jacobs, and his wife Rachael.
Cilantro’s Parrilla y Cantina
1934 Main St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-2161
www.cilantroswatsonville.com
Operating on Main Street for over 20 years, Cilantros Parilla y Cantina is currently open for take-out orders. The sister restaurant to the very popular El Palomar on Pacific Avenue, customers can message Cilantros to place an order. Cilantros offers menus for lunch, dinner, and brunch and features authentic Mexican dishes like enchiladas, tacos, and tortas. Owned and operated by the Espinosa family, Cilantros and El Palomar were recently named the Best Mexican Restaurant in Watsonville and Santa Cruz by the Good Times weekly newspaper.
Related: Support Santa Cruz County Businesses Now
Current eBikes
585 Pacific Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 621-2309
www.currentebikes.com
eBikes is a full-service shop not far from Depot Park. It sells premium-quality electric bikes and also services conventional bikes. Located in one of the newer local development complexes, the immaculate store has made some operational changes in observance of the current county mandates. This includes allowing no more than one or two customers and curbside drop-off/pick-up service. In addition to top-flight service, the store carries an excellent selection of high-quality bikes and accessories, which are also available online.
Earthwise Pet Supply
266-T Mount Hermon Road
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 708-1016
www.facebook.com
Earthwise Pet Supply has had to make several adjustments due to the stay-at-home order. While regular business hours are still in place for essential supplies, the Self-Wash facility is temporarily closed, and walk-in nail trims for dogs and cats have been halted. However, Earthwise Pet Supply Scotts Valley will continue to provide essential dog grooming services by appointment only. Opened in 2013, the Scotts Valley Earthwise Pet Supply franchise store is led by the sister and brother team of Santa Cruz County locals Zann and Brett Aeck.
Epicenter Cycling
8053 Soquel Drive Ste. 23
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 662-8100
www.epicentercycling.com
With two locations, Epicenter Cycling is offering curbside pick-up and free local delivery service. Customers are welcome in the Aptos and Mission Street stores, although only one person or household/family is invited in. Epicenter Cycling is a full-service shop with a large inventory of e-bikes, city and mountain bikes, clothing, parts, and accessories. Founded in 2009 by Santa Cruz locals Shawn Wilson and Kazia Pennino, the business takes its name from the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in Nisene Marks Park, whose entrance is just steps away from the Aptos store.
Malone’s Grill
4402 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 438-2244
www.facebook.com/malonesgrill
One of Scotts Valley’s most popular restaurants reopened this week for take-out service. A mainstay on Scotts Valley Drive since 1980, Malone’s ‘sGrille’s current hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday to Sunday. A menu is on its Facebook page and DoorDash. Orders can be placed by phone or through DoorDash, and draft beer, cocktails, and fries are also available. Under the ownership of Taylor Fontana since 2017, Malone’s Grille has a vastly improved look and revamped menu compared to its earlier days.
Pet Emporium
1501 41st. Ave., Ste. M
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 476-9552
www.petemporiumsc.com
In Kings Plaza near Cinelux Capitola Theatre and Palace Arts, Pet Emporium is Santa Cruz County’s oldest full-service pet shop. The small, family-run store carries supplies for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and small animals, in addition to live freshwater fish and small live animals like parakeets. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pet Emporium is also booking dog grooming sessions by certified groomers by appointment. Long-time owner Warren King, who still comes in daily, established his business inside the Capitola Mall in 1976.
The Penny Ice Creamery
913 Cedar St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 204-2523
www.thepennyicecreamery.com
The Penny Creamery is one of the great success stories for small businesses in Santa Cruz County. But like many others, the famous ice cream shop has had to adjust its hours of operation and services. Known as the only ice cream shop in Santa Cruz to make artisanal ice cream from scratch in-house, the downtown store is open daily for walk-up service from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. At this time, the nationally recognized ice cream shop is not accepting cash.
Penny Ice Creamery Pleasure Point
A second location on 41st Avenue in Pleasure Point is accepting online orders on weekends only from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Penny Ice Creamery was founded in 2010 by Zach Davis and acclaimed chef Kendra Baker, whose impressive resume includes work as the pastry chef for Bar Tartine in San Francisco, with David Kinch at Michelin-starred Manresa and Jim Denevan at Gabriella Café. They own two other local businesses – The Picnic Basket and Snap Taco.
Related: More Santa Cruz County Businesses To Support
Watsonville Cyclery
25 E. Fifth St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 724-1646
For many who grew up in Watsonville, Watsonville Cyclery was the store where they got their first bicycles. Nearly 14 years ago, Watsonville Cyclery was re-established as a different full-service bike shop, but it performs quality bike repairs and sells affordable new bikes. Currently, owner Julian “Jules” Mandujano only allows one customer at a time in his store and only for essential items. A well-respected supporter of the local community, Jules Mandujano helped organize Watsonville Bike Party, a series of neighborhood rides in conjunction with Bike Santa Cruz County.
Wishbone Pet Company
1994 Freedom Blvd.
Freedom, CA 95019
(831) 722-9474
www.wishbonepetco.com
Family-owned and operated, Wishbone Pet Company is open for local deliveries and curbside pickups. Known for providing high-quality products for dogs, cats, birds, fish, and small pets, the store carries extensive wide leading brands like Primal and Zignature, which offer grain-free and limited-ingredient pet foods. A second location opened by company owners Justin and Susanna Furlong can be found at the Almar Shopping Center on Mission Street in Westside Santa Cruz.
Related: Ways You Can Support Local Businesses
About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget and Radio.com. He earned a media fellowship from Stanford University in 2012.
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