Calling all nostalgia aficionados … for in San Juan Bautista, so steeped in history, a mere flick of the fading light is sufficient to open the gate down memory lane.
Thinking back as far as my memory allows, I recall a vibrant town where numerous restaurants, shops and services co-existed in the bustling inner city. There was our very own volunteer fire department and every year during the Fiesta Days—which included a rodeo, beer booths and a parade—the oldest known (at least in my young, impressionable mind) active fire truck in captivity would be hauled out and, yes, paraded out for all to see and witness and to realize how fiscally prudent our tiny city east of The Gabilans was compared to others.
There was this restaurant called the Cutting Horse. Actually, I believe its correct name was Al Maida’s Cutting Horse specializing in American and Continental Cuisines. The steaks were very good and he [Mr. Maida I presume] stocked an adequate variety of wines. I was very young so I did not drink wine or eat at the restaurant but my relatives imbibed and dined there regularly. But, alas, it is gone. Out by the fault line where the San Andreas periodically dances there was Cadamatori’s Casa Maria specializing in Northern Italian, which was critically acclaimed, and that too is finito. My personal favorite was the chili relleno dish made with freshly seared, dark-green Mexican poblano chilis. The real deal, as it is often stated but rarely done from Felipe’s Mexican & Salvadorian restaurant.
If food doesn’t transport you to that space of bliss, then one could consider the many shops and antique vendors. There was Paloma Paloma’s, which carried “affordable Latino goodies” and had no relation to Paloma Picasso that I am aware. The store [Paloma Paloma] also became an exorcised ghost dispatched to the other end of the universe.
Another San Juan gem was John Cravea’s combination dry goods store; he sold 100 percent wool Pendleton’s and difficult-to-find trousers for the discriminating “gentleman of the house”. I was but a wee lass then but Mr. Cravea was in full business mode selling those unique items and housing solid, heavy-looking, stout machinery for he was a cobbler as well. My father tells me he had been in the war and as a veteran he was a member of the Leslie L. Garratt Post 6359. I don’t recall if his pronounced limp was a result of his service. I was still very young and had not yet acquired the temerity needed to ask those types of questions. He, his brother and a few other locals wearing their Pendleton’s (one of which I wore throughout my high school years), and pressed khakis would routinely gather by the bench on the sidewalk right outside his store. To us young ones the bench and its denizens were the very stuff of grown-up life, and so with matching poise we referred to that cultural nexus of San Juan as the “Liar’s Bench” for it even had seatbelts. There was some correlation between the seatbelts and the intensity of the stories, no doubt.
I do like and eat regularly at some of the restaurants and shops in our little pueblo. The problem is the lack of variety and the four (give or take) vacant storefronts. Let’s not forget the two buildings for sale on 3rd Street (also known as Main to some).
We know what happened with the economy in the 1930s or think
we know in retrospect, but what’s the problem today? Do we need sufficient time and distance from the events in order to reflect with some degree of accuracy and answer the nagging questions?
My husband and I were wine tasting at Aimee June’s when we spiritedly prepared our own strategic plan for San Juan.
The rolling hills of the valley are filled with new wineries, and to some new opportunities. We realized it would be intriguing if several of our local wineries leased or purchased one (or all) of those vacant store fronts to offer locals and visitors a unique wine experience. Consider the success of Napa Valley, Anderson Valley or even Paso Robles. Another bubbling idea was for some venture capitalist to invest in a seafood restaurant in San Juan proper. We have our very own Pacific Harvest Seafood wholesale distributor on Salinas-San Juan Grade Road. Why not?
Part of the answer to our struggling economy (improved by our proposed strategic plan) may lie in doing the unexpected and the unorthodox. A thriving town to emulate is Murphy’s, Calif. Rich in history, art galleries, bars and saloons, music, antiques and fine dining. Reminiscent of our very own San Juan, don’t you agree?
Of course there are differences between the two mighty, historic, tiny cities but the differences are definite pluses for the San Juan side of the equation.
San Juan Bautista is home to El Teatro Campesino (The Farm Workers Theater) which recently entered into its 50th anniversary as a theater group; it [El Teatro Campesino] was founded by Luis Valdez in 1965 in the midst of the Delano Grape Strike. Throughout the year these Chicano thespians perform original works written by Mr. Valdez and just recently performed “Valley of the Heart” touching on the tragic experience of Japanese-Americans at the beginning of WWII.
And of course the California Mission of San Juan Bautista founded in 1796 as part of the De Anza expedition though they were lured by the scent of gold and searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola so they could all retire wealthy, healthy and wise.
A revitalized San Juan Bautista? Definitely some self-effacing humor for my husband and I. Although in retrospect our vision does not seem farfetched at all. Perhaps Léal Vineyards or the like would consider the investment … artisan products, olives, mustards and fine cheeses. The flickering light need not fade. What say you?
Aimee June’s tasting room, located at 106 3rd Street near Mission Gallery and Dona Esther’s Mexican Restaurant, is open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sundays.
