The City of Santa Cruz has a prime retail space located on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, one of California’s most visited coastal destinations. This exceptional location offers unparalleled exposure, steady foot traffic, and breathtaking panoramic views of Monterey Bay. With over a million visitors annually, this highly visible space is ideal for retail, gift shops, or other specialty goods.

Lease snapshot:

• Availability: February 2026
• Address: 57 Municipal Wharf
• Lease Term: Flexible, 1-5 years preferred
• Renewal: 1-2 options to renew 1-5 years
• Square footage: Currently the space is 1,030 square feet. The space may be reduced or modified during the lease term, to accommodate an upcoming expansion of a adjacent Wharf restrooms. Future plans for square footage and layout will be available in Spring 2026.
• Rent: The greater of $3,090 or 10% of gross sales
• Capital Improvement Fund: 1% of gross sales to provide funds for the costs of additions, replacements, renovations or significant upgrades of or to the improvement of the premises
• Security Deposit: $6,180

Application details forthcoming. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Dave McCormic, Development Manager- dmccormic@santacruzca.gov

The City of Santa Cruz is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the lease of a newly developed retail space located at 810 Pacific Avenue in Downtown Santa Cruz. This unique retail opportunity within the new Metro Pacific Station South project offers approximately 3,688 square feet of prime commercial space available for innovative restaurant or retail concepts designed to serve both the local and regional community.

This is a direct lease opportunity. Interested parties must submit their proposal through the OpenGov platform.

Lease snapshot:

Term length: long-term; based on experience and proposal

Rent: Market rate

Existing Condition:

• Electrical – Sub-panel w/ 600A, 3 Phase power
• Telecomm/TV – 2” conduit serving unit
• Fire Alarm – 1” conduit serving unit
• Sanitary Sewer – 4” Grease Line with 3,000 gallon trap
• 6” Domestic Sewer Line
• Water – stub out in unit
• 16 ft tall max ceiling height

The retail space is located within the first phase of the transformative Pacific Station project and adjacent to the future regional transit hub at Pacific Station North. The project is a seven-story mixed-use building that includes 70 affordable rental apartments, ground-floor retail and amenity space, and a second-floor medical clinic. As the project continues, it will revitalize over two acres of Downtown, offering new amenities, green spaces, and direct access to the Riverwalk, local beaches, and the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail. The new Metro station adjacent to the retail space will provide easy transit access and a steady flow of customers.

The retail space at 810 Pacific Avenue offers flexibility, as it may be leased in its entirety or divided into two smaller spaces to meet varying business needs. The location comes as a “cold shell” with essential infrastructure, such as electrical and plumbing hookups, including a grease trap, and will allow the right tenant(s) to build out the space to fit their vision. Responsive proposals should include a budget for tenant improvements (TIs), and any request for cost-sharing with the City should be detailed within the submission.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit proposals that meet Santa Cruz’s retail needs and foster community and economic development.