 The holidays are upon us, and there’s plenty of gifts under the tree! Here’s the TL;DR of this month's issue:
 
We were thrilled to join commercial real estate publication The Registry in hosting the 2024 Silicon Valley Industry Outlook on November 14 at Fremont’s Downtown Event Center. The event featured two dynamic panels of heavy hitters from the commercial real estate industry, including developers and office users, providing thought-provoking insights into the evolving urban development landscape. Notably, we were honored to have representation from planning and economic development staff not only from Fremont but also from other cities, underscoring the regional importance of this gathering. Stay on the lookout for future Registry events in Fremont!
This coming spring brings the highly anticipated 2nd Annual Fremont Restaurant Week. A partnership between the City and Fremont Chamber of Commerce, Restaurant Week is your chance to celebrate and savor Fremont’s diverse and delicious culinary offerings while showing our local eateries your support. Order from that new restaurant you’ve been meaning to try or reconnect with an old favorite while enjoying limited-edition menu items and exclusive deals. Visit fremontrestaurantweek.com and sign up to the Restaurant Week alerts to keep up to date with deals and added restaurants!
Fremont’s thriving semiconductor industry took center stage at the Silicon Valley Economic Development Association (SVEDA) Annual Conference, with executives from three Fremont semiconductor industry companies joining Shari Liss from the SEMI Foundation. Moderated by Fremont Economic Development Director Donovan Lazaro, the panel’s discussion spanned an array of topics including CHIPS Act, workforce training, domestic manufacturing, and maintaining California’s competitiveness. While challenges need to be addressed to keep this important industry strong in the face of global competition, we’re grateful that Fremont has cemented its seat at the table.
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While Small Business Saturday may be behind us, let's carry its vibrant spirit throughout the entire holiday season! Fremont small businesses are the backbone of our cultural identity, helping us create a sense of belonging and community. Shopping at these small establishments keeps the money you spend within our community, supporting a more localized, sustainable, and circular economy. Let's keep the momentum alive this December by choosing to shop small and infusing your holiday season with the joy of supporting your local businesses!
The annual Niles Festival of Lights Parade in Fremont took place on Friday, November 24, 2023. This historic event celebrated the festive season, highlighting Niles' unique character and community spirit. There annual parade featured balloons, creative floats, and live performances. Thank you to the support of the Niles Main Street Association and local sponsors during the event!
Fremont’s Pacific Commons Shopping Center, one of the top-visited outdoor malls nationwide, recently hosted a festive Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting on November 30th. Kids enjoyed photos with Santa and the Grinch, plus the company of merry elves!
Luckily for those who missed it, the fun continues! Don't miss the upcoming Holiday Concert on December 9th with local talent Andre Thierry, a Grammy-nominated accordion soul artist. You will also not want to miss the Holiday Craft Event on December 20th, where kids can paint their own wooden holiday trees—while supplies last.
In the most recent episode of our Shop Small Series, we had the delightful opportunity to engage in a conversation with Bill Sepehr, the owner of Ohlone Deli & Catering in Mission San Jose. We explored his venture into the food industry, discussed his relationships with customers, and gained insights into his experiences with the City of Fremont. Join the Economic Development team along this journey as we connect with numerous small business owners, unraveling their unique stories along the way!
Don't forget to catch Episode 8 of the Shop Small Series on YouTube.
Bill Sepehr (Owner of Ohlone Deli & Catering)
Q: What does a day as a deli owner look like?
Bill: Having your own business is 7 days of work. I start at around 8AM and go shopping for items and then open at 10AM and stay open until 7:30-8PM. It takes the whole day but I enjoy doing it. The customers are very rewarding, and everybody in Fremont knows me. If I go somewhere, they tend to know me because I have been here for so long. They are like my friends and even Ohlone College students come back and visit after 20 years of being out of school.
Q: What menu items does Ohlone Deli & Catering offer?
Bill: We have cold sandwiches, hot sandwiches, we have different kinds of burgers, (chicken, beef, fish and even veggie burgers). We have French fries, salads, soup, ice cream, milkshakes, and even cheesecake. We have all kinds of food and you can enjoy any kind you would like.
How do you approach maintaining a high quality of food and ingredients?
Bill: The food I make is real fresh. In the morning, I shop for groceries, which includes, bread, vegetables, and meat. Everything I make is made fresh daily.
Q: How has your experience been working with the City of Fremont?
Bill: The City of Fremont has been very helpful with business. They help us all the time with videos or advertisement. They are really good, and I like working with the City of Fremont.
 
In an effort to effectively respond to the housing and homelessness crisis, the City is gathering feedback and concerns from Fremont stakeholders to develop a Homelessness Response Plan. If you or any of your corporate neighbors would like to share how homelessness has impacted your business operations, please fill out the Community Survey. More info can be found here.
Separately, Fremont’s Police Department recently received a $2.5 million grant to combat organized retail theft. FPD intends to use the funds to enhance its ability to use advance intelligence-led and data-driven methods to better prevent and respond to crimes. This funding will improve community safety and support multiple strategies to alleviate the significant impact theft has had on our valued retailers.
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Off The Couch (Escape Room)
Coming soon! Off The Couch
555 Mowry Ave, Fremont, CA
Work together as a team to find your way out of these fun “escape rooms.”
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