Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes in Nevada County

The last year (and I suspect this year as well) has brought amazing changes to Nevada County. While lots of businesses closed their doors, some brave souls started new ventures. Change is in the air.

Whether it's the Board of Supervisors consolidating or privatizing -- or coming up with new ventures like the business and convention bureau, the staid halls of government are flexing and bending. The city of Grass Valley is looking at consolidation of some services; Nevada City is getting a "local food marketplace"; and the friendly folks at the management company that oversees the Pineless, Creekless Center have evicted yet another tenant: this one Fashion Bug, a good source of serviceable inexpensive women's clothes.

Bel Capelli Spa will be opening soon on Broad Street and Culture Shock Yogurt in GV seems to have a following -- even in these cool months.

It's going to be more expensive to launch a boat or visit Scotts Flat Lake, and the annual pass has gone up as well.

There is no earthquake, but the county is changing and shifting as surely as if there had been one. Doctors and dentists come and go, but neighbors stay the same because no one can sell their house.

Are the changes good? Necessary? Or are some robbing the county of some of its funky rural charm? Have any changes impacted you?

Comments

[Eleanore MacDonald]

On Broad St - besides Alpha Hardware there was Dickerman's Drugs, with it's passel of helpful old white haired folks, a real, small town drug store... We paid our PGE bill in the Broad St Office...Got waited on by Madge at the Copper Penny...got parts for the car... but also great health food at Good Morning Health Foods... Utopian Stone is still around... got copies made at the Button Works where Asylum Down is... had beers and a few games of pool (and great music) at Duffy's Success... and got harassed by Bill someoneorother, the police chief of the 70s who hated us hippie kids (who, yes, hung out in Calanan Park)... even then, the kids were marginalized.

[Michael Anderson]

When I first moved here in '88, Alpha Hardware made my world stand still. Such a sad thing to have went away. I understand why. But why?

[Mike Drummond]

And if you are really an old timer, remember when SPD used to be in the building where Hospice Thrift Store is (and the Coachhouse Restaurant was). Baby boomers who grew up in Nevada County have probably seen the most change here since the Maidu.

[Dixie Redfearn]

Opps, I mean Main Street, where Carlos' used to be!

[Dixie Redfearn]

Who remembers Humpty Dumpty being where Maria's is now in GV?
How about Cowboy Pizza in Nevada City?
How many times have you given directions by saying something like, "It's on Mill Street, where Carlos' used to be?"

[Eleanore MacDonald]

Commercial St., N.C.- from Union to York, mid 70's on... B of A, Uncle Rumples, The Herb Shop, The Nevada City Post Office (USPS), Alpha Hardware, Alpha Furnishings, Chief Crazy Horse Inn/Saloon, The Leather Shop, NC Postal Service,The Gray Goose Antiques, The Gray Goose (Stui) Scotch Broom, Gold hmmhmmmm Records ??, Pete's Place, Framastanyls Restaurant and Bar, Coopers, The Rainbow Mtn. Inn (Eddie Falick), Rainbow Mt. Inn Japanese Rest., Sushi Q, Magic Theater (upstairs) Grimblefingers Books, The Goldsmith, JJ Jacksons, Cafe Mekka, Crystal Shoppe, Friar Tucks, Country Rose, Off Broad St Theater, Little after hours rest. in '80s, Sierra Mt. Coffee Roasters, Dream Cafe, Tyler Micoleau's studio, Rainbow Crystal Shop, Sopa, Baroque Music, Enchanted Forest?, Spirithouse, Mexican Inn, Ikes, York St Blues, York St Market, New Moon... argh, there's more, but it's lost in the fading memory!

[Mike Drummond]

Start a new game. Take a block of Broad St, Nevada City or Mill St, Grass Valley and name all the businesses that have occupied each of those spaces over the past 25 years. Like roadside wildflowers, new businesses spring up and die every year here in Nevada County. ;-)