Santana Row in San Jose, California is a high-end shopping and dining complex in the heart of Silicon Valley. It has upscale boutiques, luxury brands, art galleries, trendy bars/lounges, bistros and cafes. The center also includes 945 residences.
In 2002 Santana Row was built on a former brownfield site after years of battling with local business owners to ensure that it would not become an entertainment destination like Westfield Valley Fair or downtown San Jose’s retail areas. The developer envisioned the project as an urban village rather than a typical suburban shopping mall.
When walking around the three-block-long Santana Row one cannot miss the “piazza” which is a lushly landscaped showpiece of the project. It features a large fountain, lush grassy areas, and plenty of seating for visitors to relax while taking in views of the surrounding hillsides. It is also adjacent to several upscale boutiques, restaurants and bars. The piazza has become something that drew people into Santana Row, just one more reason why it became what it is today.
Social media has played an important role in how Santana Row interacts with its community. Since opening their Facebook page in 2011 they have received over 93,000 likes. Similarly, on Twitter, they have over 3,000 followers (@SantanaRow). They post daily specials including restaurant deals or information about what events are coming up at Santana Row so their social media pages are the go-to place for any updates.
One of the biggest retail draws at Santana Row is Tiffany & Co. It has one of only three TIFFANY ATELIER locations in Northern California outside of San Francisco. The windows are beautifully decorated with the iconic blue boxes and silver ribbons to catch the attention of store windows all around Santana Row.
For those looking for something more than just shopping, Santana Row also has several events throughout the year that they host at their outdoor venues which brings even more life to the center.