CASTRO VALLEY NEWS YEAR 1, NUMBER 5
WWW.CASTROVALLEYTV.COM
MARCH 2014
Castro Valley’s Love-Hate Relationship with Fast Food What
the late 90’s, Castro Valley was awarded a Guiness World Record for the most fast food restaurants within a square mile.
is up with the seemingly endless profusion of fast food restaurants lining the streets and thoroughfares of Castro Valley? “The attraction to fast food is all about convenience,” said CVN Magazine Restaurant Reviewer Ashley S., who says she believes Castro Valley is definitely over-saturated by fast food restaurants. On the boulevard alone we have offerings from Mc Donalds, Wendy’s, Quizno’s, Burger King, Togos, Jack In The Box, Kentucky Fried Chicken and two Starbuck’s coffee-houses. Opening soon on the boulevard will be a Nations Burger and Panda Express. A long running rumor in town is that in
Despite the endurance of that legend, a simple search through the Guiness website reduces the claim to mere conjecture. It’s source is most likely a tongue in cheek way to poke fun at Castro Valley’s “fast food problem”. “There are so many fast food places here, it does not give our real restaurants here any kind of chance to compete,” added Ashley, who says for the most part she steers clear from fast food. “When people say ‘lets go to Castro Valley for food’ they think Jack In The Box and not Portales or Palomares Cafe.”
Above: As you enter Castro Valley from the west, you are greeted by “burger island” that is home to Wendy’s and McDonald’s . Bottom Left: An undated photo from the grand opening of the original Taco Bell on Redwood Road. Bottom Right: One of Castro Valey’s most remembered boulevard fast food eateries known as“Frank’s Footers”.
Certified personal trainer and business owner Pam Ben-Rached says she feels we have far too many fast food restarurants because Castro Valley wants food quick, convenient and on the cheap. -Story Continues on Back Page of this Magazine