If you were to think about all the businesses that have ever existed, you'd never be finished. The same is true for Davis. However, there are a few well-known institutions that are still remembered fondly by longtime Davisites. Feel free to add any that you remember to this page. Old telephone books and the City of Davis Planning Commission ![[WWW]](http://wikispot.org/wiki/eggheadbeta/img/sycamore-www.png){kind=small}
agenda/minutes archives are good research sources.
Restaurants
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Abe's Cafe & Grill (- 2006-02) was one of Davis' two non-chain diner-style restaurants
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Andrade's Mexican Restaurant This was a Mexican taqueria-style place replaced by, you guessed it, another Mexican taqueria-style place — El Mariachi.
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The Antique Bizzare was a bar and nightclub on the first floor of the Terminal Hotel. They regularly booked live music. It started "around 68" and closed around 1980 or '81. It was replaced by the downtown La Esperanza.
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Antonio's Take and Bake was a pizza place near the police station. Huong Lan Sandwiches took over the spot for a while, but also got replaced.
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Bakers Square was a restaurant specializing in pie, replaced by Black Bear Diner.
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Beau Bagels & Bakery was in Davis Manor. Replaced by Shangri-La Restaurant.
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Bebop's a 50's-themed restaurant. Replaced by Boston Market.
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Big D's Essentially an ice-cream restaurant.
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The Blue Mango (-<2000) was a vegetarian cooperative restaurant on G Street, where Little Prague is now. They often featured live entertainment and made fantastic baked goods and jarred salsa. They were closed Mondays, for team and general meetings. Rumor has it that this business was embezzled to death by their bookkeeper.
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Boston Market (1994-2001) replaced a 50's-themed restaurant called Bebop's. It was replaced by Original Pete's.
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The Brewery on Second Street was supposed to be the first "brewpub" in Davis. They built a small stage for live music in one corner. But the laws didn't yet permit selling beer brewed in the building, and as a regular bar it lasted for about two years before being replaced by Cafe California.
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Bruegger's Bakery & Cafe (alive 2002-08-31) was replaced by The Posh Bagel.
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Cafe California (d. 2005-12-17) A small, upscale, restaurant and bar near the Amtrak station. It replaced Cafe Callatti and was replaced by Aioli Bodega Espanola.
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Cafe Callatti was replaced by Cafe California. It replaced The Brewery.
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Cafe Deluchi ("Authentic Italian Pastas & Creperie") was replaced by Thai 2K.
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Cafe Panini was replaced by Tapioca Express in Mansion Square.
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Cafe Roma closed in 2007, replaced by 3rd & U Cafe
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Cafe Tutti A "neon-type coffee and pastry house". Replaced by Allure Beauty Salon.
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Caffe Breesie was replaced by Cafe Bernardo.
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Cantina Del Cabo closed down June 2007. Building owner sold building to Hallmark Inn, which plans to use the space as a convention center. Owner decided not to relocate.
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Casa Hernandez used to be in Westlake Plaza. Prior to it's move in 1990 to Westlake Plaza, it was located on Olive Drive across from Public Storage.
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Cheezer's Pizza (-<2000) located where Kathmandu Kitchen presently resides.
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Chef's Market (-December 2006).
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Chico's Tacos (circa 1997) Mexican restaurant at 425 2nd St.. Became Tecate Grill.
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China House (-June 2004) It was at 229 G Street where Sunrise Restaurant is. The food was great, but it was always empty. *sigh*
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The Club was the famous G Street blue collar/college kid bar, pool hall, and card room that served the coldest Coors beer and the best pizza. Replaced by Woodstock Pizza in early 1980's.
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Coffee & Classics was a small bookstore and coffee shop in Mansion Square. It changed owners and briefly became the Capitol Crimes bookshop. It then closed and was replaced by American Graffiti.
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Colleen's Creamery an ice cream store that was on 3rd St. at A St. It had a second location at 2nd Street next to Togo's.
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Colette Restaurant "The Duck Stops Here" was a "French-accented California Cuisine" restaurant. Urban Body now does the French accents here.
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The Crepe Bistro was a great crepe restaurant, and had pretty good fondue too. It was in the E Street Plaza business section, which suffered in a fire a few years back, temporarily closing most of the businesses in this block. The Crepe Bistro was ultimately a victim of this blaze. Now Thai Bistro.
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Davis Saloon & Billiards was replaced by the G St. Pub.
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Denny's was replaced by Abe's Cafe & Grill.
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Distler's Rafters/Rafters Restaurant is now Davis Mitsubishi???
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Dominic Cafe is now Boschken Properties?
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Domino's Pizza on L Street where Pizza Guys is now.
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Dragon Gate Restaurant became The Paragon and then Froggy's???. (Or the name of the restaurant in Froggy's?)
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Duke's (-December 2006).
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The Farmer's Wife was(?) a bakery inside Little Prague. The original Farmer's Wife was located where E Street Roma is now, and for a while relocated inside Farmtown Market on Lake Blvd.
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Fresh Blend (-circa 2000?) Smoothie & Juice Bar was at The Marketplace #115A. Replaced by Jamba Juice.
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Fun and Games—Was an arcade in the County Fair Mall but closed sometime in 2005. Timeout replaced it.
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Fusions Asian Bistro (-June 31, 2005?) Asian/Californian fusion (seriously). Replaced by Duke's.
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Gardenia (-spring 2005), a Mexican restaurant was located in Mansion Square and was replaced by New Delhi Chaat Cafe. They occasionally had "DJ" nights with two dance floors. It was after Friday nights at Delta of Venus stopped being so awesome, so it was much appreciated.
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Green Planet Juicery was a pretty good juice place although their menu and decor were very similar to Jamba Juice. Bought out and closed by Jamba Juice when they moved into town. Ciocolat currently resides in this location.
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The Gypsy Crow Cafe was a vegetarian restaurant located in a ground floor suite of the Parkside Plaza office building at 260 Russell Boulevard (corner of Russell & B Street). It closed in the late 1990's after only a year or two of operation. Caroline, the founder, said four better capitalized restaurants opened right after hers. She never was able to attract a breakfast crowd. Before the Gypsy Crow Cafe there was actually a
La Bou restaurant in that space. No restaurants use the space anymore.
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Hibachi became Burgers & Brew
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Hing's (-spring 2005), a downtown Chinese food restaurant now occupied by Kabul Afghan Cuisine.
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Hong Kong Garden became Wok of Flame
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Hometown Chinese Restaurant (-2004?) Replaced by Shanghai Town. Returning in early 2006 in the former location of Norm's Pizza.
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Hong Kong Restaurant (-2002?) Chinese fast food. Replaced by Mr. Chan's.
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Honorable Gee's A Chinese restaurant on G[ee] Street. It was replaced by The Library (see below).
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Huong Lan Sandwiches, also known as HL Bakery, closed in 2006. Huong Lan was replaced by Stone's Cafe & Catering.
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Ichiban Restaurant possibly became Education Abroad Center??? (Just a wild guess)
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Jade Cafe was a brief coda to Shangri-La Restaurant in early 2008
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Jimboy's Tacos closed sometime in 2008
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Joaquin's Taqueria II possibly became Education Abroad Center??? (Just a wild guess)
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Joe's Kitchen became Mr. Chan's
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Julie's Healthy Cafe was located at 207 3rd Street #?. Fresh-baked breads and smoothies made it a great lunch spot. The space is now occupied by UC Davis Temporary Employment Services.
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Jun's Barbecue House was located at 409 2nd St. They were known for their lunch specials, especially the Korean BBQ short ribs, hence the restaurant's name. Manna Korean Restaurant has taken over the Korean cuisine niche. The building was absorbed by Lyon Real Estate.
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Kamon was a Japanese Restaurant where Davis Noodle City is currently located. They had killer Miso Soup, and were famous for Chicken Namban which was a killer brandy roasted chicken dish, that while not really pure Japanese, it was darn tasty. It is not related to the sushi restaurant by the same name in Sacramento.
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La Bamba "Burrito's as Big as Your Head" is their trademark and large neon sign. (Where downtown were they located?)
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La Bou restaurant was at 433 B St., at the southwest corner of B and Russell. Replaced by Gypsy Crow Cafe.
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La Brioche Restaurant possibly became Sophia's Thai Kitchen??? (just a wild guess)
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La Esperanza - their original location was in the Terminal Hotel before it was torn down and replaced by the Chen Building. Their second location was located in the University Mall on Russell Boulevard ("LA ESPERANZA II" is on the back door, I think they were open concurrently?). Closed September 2009.
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The Lantern was an eat-in/takeout hamburger/pizza joint on 2nd Street just west of where de Luna's Jewelers is now. Closed in early 1970's.
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Leatherby's was replaced by Marvelli's.
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Little Caesar's Pizza used to be in The Marketplace, where the UPS Store is now.
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Lyon's Restaurant at 102 F Street was replaced by Seasons. Lyon's was perhaps the only 24-hour restaurant in Davis when it was open.
Some websites still don't know that the Lyon's in Davis doesn't exist. When Seasons came to Davis The Aggie's review was practically an obituary for Lyon's.
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Marrakesh (? - 1995) was a Moroccan restaurant that occupied for several years the space that is now the restaurant portion of Sophia's.
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Marvelli's was an family owned old-fashioned ice cream parlor, which had a neat mural of Davis landmarks on its south wall. It was located in the G Street shopping center.
Leatherby's was the immediate predecessor in this location, but was as equally short-lived. Ken's Bike & Ski is located here now, including the old mural.
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Mr. B's was a watering hole/restaurant that was behind Winger's for many years, where the Great Wall is now. It was very popular after the football games. This pub moved across the parking lot to the spot occupied by Soga's and then Chaat Cafe on E Street.
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Mr. Chan's (2002?-2006) Chinese fast-food restaurant.
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Mousey's, Miss Em's and the Columbian occupied what is now Tower Records on G Street from the mid-1960's to the late 1970's. All three places featured a bar and a dance floor where live bands appeared over the years including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Stoneground, Little Roger and the Goosebumps and the Four Skins.
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Murder Burger b. 1986, d. 2001-05. Is now Redrum Burger (murder spelled backwards).
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Nation's Giant Hamburgers will be missed, especially their breakfast menu. It was formerly located in University Mall in the string of stores facing the parking lot. It closed when the U mall was remodeled.
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New Delhi Chaat Cafe (2005-04-15 - 2007) An Indian restaurant, was replaced by Indyna Bistro.
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Norm's Pizza (-2006-02). It is being replaced by Hometown Chinese Restaurant.
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Original Pete's (-early 2004), a North Davis pizza/pasta/burger place. The original is still on J Street in Sacramento. It replaced a Boston Market. It was replaced by a Panda Express/Hibachi-San.
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Papa's Pizza (-?) Replaced by Norm's Pizza.
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The Paragon (-2001) (Bar with awesome wooden patio) — mixed reasons. They served a newly 21-year-old enough alcohol to kill him. Hence: Froggy's sans patio.
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Pizzeria Grazie was replaced by Pizza Guys.
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Plumshire Inn (>2002-02-01) was a fancy restaurant where Osteria Fasulo is now.
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Professor Pizza was located on the 700 block of 2nd Street in the early 90's.
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Ramen House was first businesses to take a stab into being an open-late eatery. They had genuine Ramen dishes, not like the crap you get for 15 cents. They were replaced by Thai Nakorn.
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Ray's Coffee & Tea Roastery and Pastry Cafe became Mishka's Cafe.
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Rico's Italian Pizza used to be located in Oak Tree Plaza. They had video games. I was 7 and it was great. Closed down to make room for the North Davis Nugget
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Ristorante Mangiamo served authentic Northern Italian cuisine in the current location of the Mustard Seed at Park Place on D Street. Owner Cathy Hunt had the only vintage copper and brass espresso machine in Davis. The restaurant was notable for being the only place in Yolo county to get traditional Northern Italian food. The restaurant was previously called Park Place.
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River City Bakery was at 1420 East Covell Boulevard, what's there now?
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Rosita's Cocina was a Mexican restaurant and cafe in Mansion Square owned by Rosa Contreras. They claimed both "Authentic" and "No lard used". They also said "We cater to meat lovers and vegetarians". They were replaced by Gardenia.
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Rubio's (-2002) was a Cabo-style fish taco restaurant that was located in the stand-alone building on the northeast corner of Russell and Sycamore. Being that it was the only fast food in the West Davis vicinity, it was often a great alternative to the DC for Cuarto residents. It replaced The Wherehouse, which replaced Blue Heron Video, which replaced... That location now houses the RAS (Radiological Associates of Sacramento) MRI center. It's a cursed location for restaurants to be sure.
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Saigon Cafe Vietnamese cuisine. 129 E St. #? Occupied the location which is now Sophia's Thai Bar. -see Kevin Wan's comment.
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Shangri-La Restaurant was a restaurant featuring a fairly typical Chinese food menu with reasonable prices and large portions. Now a shabu shabu/dim sum restaurant called Red Orchid Restaurant
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The Sub Shack apparently became a Subway. (Can anyone verify this place existed?)
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The Sunshine Cafe was located inside the 620 G Street building that was & is the home of the Davis Food Co-op. The Cafe space was where the checkstands are now.
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Superb Sandwiches at 620 4th St. possibly became Farmer's Kitchen Cafe.
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Sweet Temptations was a frozen yogurt shop located in the U Mall
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Tammy's Cafe Vietnamese cuisine. 129 E St. #? Occupied the location which is now Sophia's Thai Bar.
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Tapioca Express (-spring 2005) was in Mansion Square across from Thai Recipes. They were replaced by Zen Toro. Formerly, it was Cafe Panini. They left for reasons unknown, but it might have had something to do with the stabbing incident (April 12th, 2004) that is mentioned on the Tragic events page, their crappy location, or perhaps the Dance Dance Revolution finally got to their heads and they went nuts. Some eyewitness accounts claim that in the months prior to closing, it was a place for dealers to sell drugs and that that contributed to their closing. StevenDaubert notes that while Chris and Kathy Fabros originally managed it they sold it to Lux and his crew. They had a really hard time dealing with the summer months when no students were in town.
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Taqueria El Portal probably become Taqueria Davis.
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Taqueria Super Tamale (-January 31st(?), 2006) replaced by Chuy's Taqueria in Westlake Plaza.
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Tecate Grill (-2003) Mexican restaurant at 425 2nd St.. Previously Chico's Tacos. A larger taqueria-style place on the corner of 2nd & D that was busted for serving liquor to minors, lost their liquor license, and soon went belly up. Early supporter of the Aggie Pack. The location is now a financial services place.
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Temptations Gourmet Cafe & Catering used to be in University Mall.
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Teriyaki Express was in University Mall next to GameStop.
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TCBY Was at The Marketplace next to Dos Coyotes. Replaced by Cold Stone Creamery
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Togo's used to have a location at 715 Second Street in the Anderson Bank Building. This was the original Davis location.
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Tokyo Japanese Restaurant (Japanese/Mongolian) restaurant, added a Sushi boat in 1998. They had Bento and other standard fare. What made them great was their Mongolian BBQ line which was a great value. The Lunch special was around $6.00 for one time through, and roughly $9.00 for AYCE anytime. Mirai now occupies this location.
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The Velvet Elvis was a bar that shut down, and Woodstock's Pizza expanded into the space.
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Wok'N Roll was a family-owned-and-operated Chinese fast-food establishment in downtown. The restaurant closed as of September 2007.
Shopping
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Accents A boutique? Was at 213 F Street, where Just KIDding is now.
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Adventureland Video Only video store in South Davis until 1993.
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Africa Adorned (-1996???) possibly at 144 or 444 G Street? A boutique?
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Ag Access - a progressive agricultural book store at the corner of E & 4th Streets.
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Alpine West snow sports and rock climbing and general outdoor gear G Street
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Army/Navy Surplus - In Woodland. Was a good place to go to for cheap camping supplies, uniforms, and hats.
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Art Related Things was at 203 G Street in 1993. Apparently similar to The Artery.
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Artistic Touch Gallery at 205 G Street was alive as of 2002-07-23.
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B-Y's Furniture & General Sales was at 421 L Street on 1989-08-19. Replaced by L Street Furniture.
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Back Porch at 132 E Street in Mansion Square existed 1989-04-28.
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Barney's was a record store on the north-west corner of 2nd and G Street until maybe the mid-80's.
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Black Market Fish was a short-lived vintage clothing store located in the E Street alleyway by Cafe Roma. It was around for about four months sometime around 2002, and Dean O'Neil ran the place.
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Bogey's Books was a fantastic used book store.
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Bower Bird (2000-2008) was a gift shop that sold trinkets.
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Brew-It-Up was a home brew supply store. Moved to Sacramento.
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C.C. Dude's Family Footwear was at 605 2nd Street, where The Naturalist is now.
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Capital Crimes was a bookstore. Formerly Coffee & Classics, replaced by American Graffiti.
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CD Research was a music store where you could listen to the CDs before you bought them. Located on G Street north of 4th Street, it was in the same building as Supercuts. Closed around 1998. Armadillo Music used to/still has (?) some of their old CD player for shoppers to use.
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The CDealer was a one man operation that ran for years in Davis. With erratic hours, it was a bit odd, but one of the first places to get CDs in Davis.
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Chris' Fuller Paints was at 638 G Street, replaced by The Open Bible. The business was renamed Davis Home Trends.
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Constantly Growing a hydroponics supply store
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DeVon's Jewelers used to be located in Davis Commons. Shortly before the closing, an employee left to open his own store, 3rd Street Jeweler.
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Discoveries was the definitive place to buy gifts in Davis. It took up all three floors (including the basement) next to what is now Watermelon Music. The woman that owned it sold the business and it was moved to the new Davis Commons for a while before going out of business and being replaced by Bath and Body Works.
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The End Zone (-2005-09-25?) a sports card and gaming shop at 222 D Street. Same addr as Aesop's Room???
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Farmtown Market was the original supermarket in Westlake Plaza — which was originally called Farmtown Center or Farm Town Center.
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Food Fair (2005-2006) replaced Ray's Food Place in yet another failed attempt to bring groceries to Westlake Plaza
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The Game Preserve owned by now-Davis Enterprise Entertainment Editor, Derrick Bang. It was located in the complex on D Street (behind what is now The Mustard Seed) and sold all sorts of games.
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Gayle's Books was a pretty good independent bookstore until The Avid Reader came along and gave it a run for its money but Borders was the final straw that made the owners decide to close the store.. The The Avid Reader for Younger Readers occupied the space for a while after Gayle's closed, but it later consolidated back into the The Avid Reader's main store again and the location became Outdoor Davis.
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In Sheep's Clothing (-June 2007) was a yarn store at 219 E Street, Suite A.
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J. Tingus was a menswear store and popular with high school guys renting tuxes. It later became the location of Bogey's Books, which has since departed as well. This store was run by the Tingus family, their son is the amazing Steven James Tingus who currently serves as the director of the
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
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Jeff's was at 404 2nd Street as of 1989-10-16.
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Jeff's Objet d'Art was at 624 4th Street and shared space with JGlenn Gallery.
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JGlenn Gallery art gallery. Replaced by Michel-Novelozo Gallery.
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Kristi's Office Supplies was in University Mall circa 1991.
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La Mariposa was a Thrift Store in Woodland. Closed as of January 2008.
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Lucky's (supermarket) used to anchor the Lucky Plaza at Covell and Anderson. Albertsons bought and absorbed the Lucky's chain, and the shopping center is now known as Anderson Plaza.
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Merle Norman Cosmetics was at 241 F Street, perhaps also in University Mall.
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The Next Chapter occupied 255 G Street until the arrival of Borders forced it out of business. They relocated to Woodland, and were replaced by Ground Zero.
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Omega Gallery (-2004?) was at 714 Second St. This was a fine art & framing place. The
web site is still up.
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Rainbow Records was replaced by Tower Records in the mid-90's. It was the first record store in Davis that didn't sell mostly LP's.
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Ralphs (supermarket) (-April 2002) at Davis Manor. It was an Albertsons before becoming a Ralph's, and a Safeway before that.
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Ray's Food Place (-2004) succeeded Farmtown Market, and became Food Fair, also a supermarket. There was a period in the winter of 1993 when it seemed possible the Davis Food Co-op would open a second store in Westlake Plaza. The landlord had signed a contingent lease with the Co-op, but then signed a lease with Ray's while the Co-op membership was voting whether or not to finance the deal.
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Recycle Records was a CD and record store that started on the lower level of Mansion Square and moved to the 200 block of F Street (currently occupied by Armadillo Music) before closing in the mid-90's.
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Re-Runs Thrift (-Spring 2005) moved to Woodland in Spring 2005
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Salvation Army Thrift Store was next to Little Prague in an older rustic-style building. The space became a separate bar, but still operated by Little Prague.
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Savvy Shoppe (2003-12-11 - December 2006) A boutique.
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Scrapbook Alley was located in Mansion Square. It closed in late 2006.
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Sears (-2006)
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Star Pharmacy This was Quessenberry's main competition for a long time. Was located at 2nd and D where Chico's Tecate Grill was.
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State Market AKA Harvest Market. They were originally in the location where Rite Aid is now, then moved to University Mall where they would eventually be replaced by the current Cost Plus World Market. Previously there was a Safeway at this location.
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Street Savvy (April 2005-December 2006) A men's clothing store with a bar and 42" plasma TV.
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Tarika, a unique clothing store run by Joan Callaway (Where was it located/what's there now?).
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Terry's Hallmark (-2005?) a greeting card store in The Marketplace, replaced by The Hobby Craft.
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Tower Records (-2006) The Sacramento-based record store chain went bankrupt in August 2006. The Davis location closed in late November.
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Travel 'N Tails (-August 2005) replaced by Just KIDding.
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The Wine Lush Replaced by Tucos Wine Market and Cafe.
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Unique Couture (2005-2006) Moved to 210 Main St., Woodland. Replaced by Pinkadot 2
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Winger's An honest-to-goodness junior department store. Yes, you could buy socks in Davis (and, of course you still can)! It was housed in the building on the southwest corner of 3rd and F, and several businesses now occupy the space.
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Yesterday's Books and Records was in Orange Court behind London Fish'n Chips in the 80's and possibly some time before that.
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Zweena Imports Replaced by Pinkadot
Services/Other
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All Around Auto Repair (alive in 1983) was at 212 I Street. Replaced by Cricket Construction.
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Alternative Taxi (-2003?)
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Alternative Universe was a video store with anime, foreign, and underground films. "A film geek's dream." First located towards the back of the alley next to Downtown Roma, then moved to the basement of where Davis Mattress and Futon Outlet is currently.
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American Graffiti was a tattoo parlor formerly located in Mansion Square. According to one of their tattoo artists, the store relocated to Roseville, and there is also another location in Sacramento.
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Animal Kingdom offered supplies for small critters, fish, birds, dogs & cats, including premium foods and a section of bulk foods & treats. If you could not find a specific product for your pet, they could special order items for customers at no extra cost.
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Autohouse Davis became Davis Auto Works.
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Cal-Davis Auto & Truck Parts (-2004ish). Renamed Napa Auto Parts since they were already a dealer.
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Cinema II (-1998) a movie theater at 207 F St. It closed in 1998 when the Stadium 5 Theater opened. Watermelon Music is now in this space.
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The Computer Guy Suspended activity in Davis indefinitely.
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Davis Bike Repair was a mobile bike repair service
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Davis Laundry and Dry Cleaners, 302 G Street. (Davis Enterprise press building now) -Anyone remember them?!
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Davis Taxi was owned and operated by Jeff Gilstrap, who previously started AM-PM Taxi. He passed away August 2007.
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Davis Free Clinic was at 414 E Street; replaced by the Davis Psychic. The phone book redirects to CommuniCare Health Center.
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Davis Fuel Stop (-April 2005) replaced by Quick Stop 2 then Valero.
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[Davis Laundry and Dry Cleaners at the northeast corner of 3rd and G.]
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EP Copier or EP Copier Cooperative de Alley (d. 2005-09-01), this business had a couple of copy machines and sold Chinese newspapers and purses.
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Help Computer Services was replaced by Cybershield
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G's European Auto Service was replaced by Triple A Automotive.
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Highlander Center a retro laundromat in the G Street Shopping Center
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Hunt Wesson Plant industrial rather than commercial.
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Lewis Cleaners (What's there now?) Nothing except toxic waste.
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The Library was a deceivingly named (as in "hey mom, I'm going to The Library!") video arcade joint known more for its urine smell, poor selection and surly service rather than a cornucopia of good games. It was later taken over by The Velvet Elvis.
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Lightwave Video used to occupy the site where the downtown Blockbuster is.
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Oak Tree Computers (1991-1998?) Computer sales and service, run by a well-meaning high school teacher in his spare time. Located in the Oak Tree Plaza. First place GrahamFreeman ever worked, when he was 12 or 13. He hereby apologizes to his then-customers, on whose 8088's, 286's, 386's, and (later) 486's he learned about computers.
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Pet Cetera was a small, privately owned pet store that primarily stocked fish and aquarium supplies, though some smaller animals and reptiles could be purchased as well.
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PC Dimensions (1996-1999) Started and staffed by former Oak Tree employees. Located at 229 F Street for most of its life. Built and sold the highest-quality Pentium-I and Pentium-II PCs a Davis business ever put together. Factors contributing to PC Dimensions' non-profitability: Inexperienced management; hands-off hobby ownership; low margins; stiff competition: Dell improved its product and service quality (reducing demand for PC Dimensions' custom PCs), OfficeMax opened in South Davis (competing for high-margin printer cartridges and computer cables), and Incredible Universe-turn-Frys used newspaper adverts and loss leaders to lure unsuspecting locals into purchasing overpriced garbage. So, after briefly running a service-only operation out of owner Bob Schultze's then-vacant medical office building at 765 W Covell Blvd, its few remaining assets were liquidated and its customers and warranty obligations transferred to an IT consulting company run by its former largest customer. A teen-aged GrahamFreeman first encountered salary, all-nighters, the joys of assistant-management, and his first post-high-school girlfriend while working at PC Dimensions.
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PC Game Arena was a cyber cafe of sorts for LAN and online gaming
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Slender Lady of Davis (-2006?) Women's weight loss, nutrition, and fitness center.
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Supercuts—The Style Lounge appears to have expanded to this location from their second-floor salon in the Chen Building.
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The Pottery Place closed down in early 2005.
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US Bank used to occupy 620 W. Covell Blvd., which is now the home of Chamonix Coffee. Maybe they decided to move after being robbed three times.
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Vevey Confections made many of the local chocolate confections served in cafes.
Comments, questions, research
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I propose that right after the business name we list the "born - died" dates, like tombstones have. —SteveDavison
Wasn't there an "ecology bookstore" downtown, on 3rd? 4th? and D? E? What was it's name, etc?
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Are you talking about the store that was Above Soga's or whatever was there before? I think that was called Pheasant Run or something and sold a lot of nature books plus other outdoorsy/nature type things, sorta a local proto-Nature Store. Is that the right one? - RogerClark
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It sounds like you are talking about The Naturalist - they moved over by the The Avid Reader. - CathyWoolery
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Yeah, I had noticed it wasn't where it was, I guess I just didn't look for it after that. I don't know if that is what they were asking about though. - RogerClark
*The two older bookstores I remember in Davis were Orpheus and agAccess. -DonShor
I've heard several rumors about a vintage (read: used) guitar shop somewhere in Davis years ago. I don't even have a name - just rumors. True/False? - BigDave
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Yes, it existed. It was located where the knick knack store is next to London Fish'n Chips in the late 90s. A friend of mine thinks it might have been called King's Guitars, but I don't have any more info than that.
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It was called King's Guitars. I believe they sold amps and cables as well. —KevinWan
Discrepancy to solve some day: The Gypsy Crow replaced La Bou, yet their addresses are different. Also, EVERY online map says 260 Russell shouldn't be at B St., yet I verified they are ALL WRONG. —SteveDavison
2006-02-24 16:28:09 Does anyone remember the A&W Root Beer that was in Davis years ago? I used to stop there for lunch on my trips from the East Bay to Sac. I think it was located about where In-and-Out is now. —GrumpyoldGeek
Yep, A&W was where In-n-Out is now— It closed sometime in the late 1970's/early 1980's and was abandoned for quite some time before In-n-Out took over, demolished the old stand, and rebuilt the property. —CentralDavisite
2006-05-16 17:26:40 Wasn't there a Moroccan restaurant where Sophia's now is? Anyone remember the name? —JimEvans
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2007-01-07 03:35:03 Well Sophia's immediate predecessor was Vietnamese food, but perhaps there was a Moroccan place prior to that. —JaimeRaba
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2007-01-07 18:15:04 The front part of Sophia's use to be a Vietnamese restaurant (Tammy's), but originally when Sophia's moved to that shopping area it was just in the back where a Moroccan restaurant use to be (I think). —JimEvans
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2007-01-11 12:15:13 There was indeed a Moroccan restaurant before Sophia's Thai Kitchen. Sophia herself got her start running the kitchen component of what was then The Paragon (now Froggy's). A little over a year later (1995), she and her husband took over the space that the Sophia's restaurant portion now occupies. The name of the Moroccan place was Marrakesh. For a while, there was a sign hanging in the kitchen from the old restaurant. From what I'm told, the Thai Room is a remnant of the old Moroccan place. Prior to its opening, the bar portion of Sophia's was Saigon Cafe, and before that Tammy's Cafe—both Vietnamese restaurants. Before that it was a deli/sandwich shop called Orange Court Cafe. The wooden-doored cold storage lockers on the north wall of the bar where the bartenders change kegs and retrieve extra beer are the original lockers from the deli. The couch in the bar that rests under string lights is where the stove used to be, and you can see there is now a small skylight where the exhaust system used to lead to the roof. In fact, the entire area where there is low seating (behind the fishtank) was a closed off kitchen. —KevinWan
2007-03-24 15:47:16 Wasn't there a XXX drive-in where the corn fields are East of Davis near the causeway? I remember seeing it as a kid when we drove through the area. Westland I believe was the name, or something close to that. —DavidGrundler
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Pretty certain it was Westlane. —EdHenn
2007-05-23 19:37:22 The xxx theater is a soccer stadium now. Would that be ironic, or no? —Davidlm
2007-06-01 14:42:57 There used to be an ice creamery over in the G Street Shopping Center—it wasn't Colleen's, was it? Or was that more downtown-ish? —KevinChin
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That location had Marvelli's / Leatherbys (documented above), but I think it was a Vic's even before that. I remember the name Colleen's but not at that location. —EdHenn
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Colleen's was just west of the downtown Togo's (and across from Professor's Pizza), I believe. —JimEvans
2007-06-27 20:31:13 Anybody remember a very small bookstore in a house on the west side of D street between 3rd and 4th, like a long time ago? My wife and I walked by there tonight and thought of it, but couldn't remember the name. —EdHenn —agAccess? —DonShor
Does anyone remember the breakfast place in Albertson's plaza perhaps where Guadalajara is now or perhaps where McDonalds is? It was open in the early 90s and seemed like a family business. —JimEvans
2007-08-24 02:42:22 also on that same note, i'd like to see this page more "timeline"-y, with most recent closures at the top and oldest at the bottom. . .maybe separated by years instead of business category? —KellyCorcoran
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Excellent idea. If you do that, it might be a good idea to mix the categories as well. —JabberWokky
2008-04-25 13:52:26 There used to be a place on olive drive called "Bikes and Brews" it was a pub and bike repair shop, I think it was there in 1999 in the location that is now a martial arts studio and was a PC game store before that. I never went here but I always wanted to. It souded like a very nice thing for Davis. Does anyone remember? —DagonJones
Was that related to Real Bicycles? —NickSchmalenberger
2008-08-14 16:20:01 Did there use to be a Larry Blake's in Davis? And if so what or is it still a place of business today? —perleystone
Yes, roughly across from where the log cabin is downtown. —DonShor
2008-09-09 01:34:55 Bogey's Books deserves a tombstone in the Departed Business cemetary. I'd move it myself but I'm not sure how. —SteveGreen
Yep, it does. Added! — WesHardaker
