Post Street’s Big Day: San Jose Celebrates a New Pedestrian Haven
On a crisp Wednesday afternoon, downtown San Jose buzzed with excitement—not for a groundbreaking or a grand opening, but for a “closing” celebration that drew nearly half the city council. The event marked a significant milestone for Post Street, a narrow strip between First Street and Lightston Alley, where the council had voted the previous day to transform it into a pedestrian-only zone. While the decision won’t be official until a second reading on March 11, the festive atmosphere that unfolded felt like the perfect capstone to years of planning and dreaming.
Blair Carson, the owner of Pageboy salon on Post Street, couldn’t contain her enthusiasm. “Today is huge for us,” she said, her voice brimming with pride. “This hasn’t just been in the works for months—it’s been years.” For Carson, the closure is more than a logistical change; it’s a symbol of the community’s dedication and shared vision. She envisions hosting a music festival on the street someday, turning it into a lively hub where people can gather and connect. Collaborating with folks like Eric Nielsen, co-owner of 55 South cocktail lounge, Carson has poured countless hours into meetings with residents, business owners, and community leaders. “It’s all been worth it,” she said, “to create a space that’s safer, more vibrant, and welcoming to everyone.”
That sense of inclusivity lies at the heart of Post Street’s modern identity. Back in September 2020, Project MORE reimagined the street as the Qmunity District, a haven for San Jose’s LGBTQ community. Home to LGBTQ-friendly spots like Mac’s Club and Splash, the street now boasts rainbow-themed crosswalks, colorful lighting, banners, and murals that reflect its welcoming spirit. Nathan Svoboda, president of the Project MORE Foundation, is already looking ahead. He’s eager to partner with the city and the San Jose Downtown Association to spruce up the area with a new street mural and updated lighting. “Give it a few years,” he promised, “and this will be a bright, colorful, and clean spot that everyone will love visiting.”
Post Street’s charm comes from its eclectic mix of old and new. Nestled within the city’s Historic District between First and Second streets, it’s a place where history and modernity collide. Once known as El Dorado Street, it was San Jose’s original red-light district, teeming with saloons and gambling dens. By the 20th century, it had evolved into a bustling part of downtown’s business scene, hosting everything from pawn shops and dry cleaners to restaurants and a recording studio for KLOK radio. Today, the street is home to a diverse lineup of businesses—Pageboy, 55 South, the Club on Post restaurant, Splash, and Velvet House boutique—plus a new pop-up retail space, Moment at Post Street, introduced by the Downtown Association last year to fill vacant storefronts with three fresh merchants.
The push to close Post Street to cars isn’t entirely new. During the pandemic, it was temporarily shut off to vehicles, giving bars and restaurants extra room to spread out. (Who could forget 55 South’s pirate-ship-shaped seating area?) It reopened to traffic in 2022, but since then, temporary permits have kept it car-free on most weekends and during events like Silicon Valley Pride. To make the closure permanent, the city turned to the Pedestrian Mall Act— the same tool used last year to close a section of San Pedro Street.
Mayor Matt Mahan sees the change as a game-changer for San Jose. “By closing Post Street to cars, we’re making it a lasting symbol of vibrancy, walkability, and community,” he said. “It’s not just about shutting down a road—it’s about opening up a space for people to come together.” For Mahan, Post Street is proof that San Jose is shedding its old reputation as the “less cool” cousin to its flashier northern neighbor. “The days of being overshadowed are behind us,” he declared. “This is a city ready to shine.”
Beyond Post Street, other local happenings are keeping the region lively. Over in Los Altos, the History Museum teamed up with Hidden Villa for a family-friendly scavenger hunt on March 1. Titled “Rooted in Time: Journey through Hidden Villa,” the event offered a picture-based hunt for little ones and a trickier version for older kids, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meanwhile, Campbell is gearing up to revamp its skatepark at the Campbell Community Center, with a public meeting set for Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. Pro skaters Cody McEntire and Julia Brueckler will be on hand to share ideas for the upgrade. The Campbell Library is also getting a facelift, with hopes of reopening later this year, thanks to a $250,000 fundraising push by the Friends of the Campbell Library.
This transformation of Post Street could have ripple effects for San Jose Property Division Lawyers, too. As the area becomes a more vibrant pedestrian zone, property values and business opportunities may shift, making legal expertise in property division increasingly relevant for residents and business owners navigating these changes.
