Mission Bell, The Alameda, San Jose, CA
A surprise on my morning walk along The Alameda today: the Starbucks at The Alameda and Race Street has closed.
I’m not particularly loyal to Starbucks—I bounce between Starbucks, Peet’s and Crema—but I enjoyed this location. The staff was incredibly friendly, there were always regulars coming through, and mornings seemed especially busy. It was surprising to see it close after moving into this newly renovated space only a couple of years ago.
Opened 2002 Old Starbucks location before move
It’s part of Starbucks’ broader round of closures. Interestingly, this location was unionized, and union stores appear to be disproportionately represented among the closures.
The Alameda itself has been evolving for well over 200 years. Its origins go back to the early days of San José and Mission Santa Clara, when Native Americans from the Mission helped establish the route connecting the two communities. It became a tree-lined avenue and, over the generations, carried everything from horse-drawn transportation and streetcars to the traffic we see today
One of the reasons I’ve been photographing and documenting this street is precisely this: places that feel permanent can change surprisingly quickly. It’s another small chapter in the continuing story of The Alameda.
Originally shared on Explore San Jose · October 17, 2026