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Photo Cathy Tyson
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New paint, new windows, and new front facades are obvious at first glance at the busy intersection of Plaza Way and Moraga Road. It is just shy of a year since the Poy family shuttered beloved eatery The Squirrel's at Plaza Park; the last pancakes were served on Aug. 15, 2013. While the family still owns the building that housed several other businesses as well, they have engaged a developer, Lafayette's own Main Street Properties, to bring new life into the spaces.
The closure is part of an effort to revitalize the historic storefronts that used to include The Squirrel's, along with Handlebar Toys, Plaza Tailor and A-1 Photo Lab, while keeping the original historic character intact. The Poy family, which has owned the now updated buildings for close to 30 years, originally slated approximately $1 million for the improvements.
The City of Lafayette played a role in the project, updating parking regulations for the block that held the Pioneer Store, which was established before cars were invented. The city developed a consolidated parking plan as part of the Plaza Way Overlay District that is available to property owners along Plaza Way. To date, there are a handful of new spaces in the rear of the building, but the final vision of completely connected parking that runs behind the shops to the rear of the Park Theater isn't a reality, due to neighboring land owners not opting in, at this time.
Look for the green fence to come down in the next few weeks. Main Street Properties didn't respond to requests for comment. Information on future tenants wasn't immediately available.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA