This page is a list of things Davis either sorely lacks or that certain wiki users are demanding be supplied. Something like Target is debatable whether or not most people in Davis wish for it or not; then again, the debate occurred and the Target arrived. But as for this list, wiki users can hope that businesses and/or the City Council will take note of our suggestions. Also see I Love Davis, I Hate Davis, and Plethora vs. Dearth in Davis.

Davis has great homemade ice cream at the Davis Creamery, but why doesn't it have a sit-down restaurant where you can get a big drippy sundae like these from Leatherby's?

 

Affordable Gigabit Internet Speeds

It would be awesome to get modern download speeds for less than $70/month. Fingers crossed for DavisGig.

Water Fountain for Kids

We used to have one in Central Park, what happened? Meanwhile, Woodland installs an awesome water park for kids in Slaven Park. We need a free, safe place to cool off in the summer!

Fondue Bar

I think a good fondue bar would be cool. Kinda like what a hookah bar would be like but fondue. Like dessert and stuff.

Art

You know what we need to do in this town? Something along the lines of http://www.cowparade.com. Because if any town can do weird public art, involving cows, it's us.

As the Payphone Project has shown, there are protected posts all around Davis. Re-purposing them to a community shared library would be awesome. In April 2012, the East Davis Library in a Box started showing it can be done.

Music Studio / Practice Space

If you need to rent a place to practice with your band, where can you go? I'd rent one if there was one available locally, and I know other musicians who would do the same.

Coffee

Also see Cafes.

Late at night

  • I know this is a pipe dream, but I'd love to have a place in Davis where I could get coffee at practically any hour (that isn't AM/PM). It was so nice when Cafe Roma stayed open for 24 during that one finals week — oh, such a taste of what was possible! I hear that it isn't worth it to keep a coffee shop open that late at night, and it's likely not, but it'd still be cool to have a place to get coffee. - PhilipNeustrom
    • Ahh, such a sweet, sad dream. Coffee at night. It's pathetic that a college town of this size can't support an all night coffee shop. When I'm up at 4 am and need coffee and a quiet place to study, I have to go to Dixon, which can be a real pain when I only have my bike available. How can Davis have 25K students, and not enough late-nighters to make it worthwhile? What is wrong with everyone? Ok, I think I'm done ranting, but I too dream of a 24-hour Roma. - EricKlein
    • I would waaaay make use of an all night cafe (especially one with free wireless Internet). - DougBarbieri
    • Let's just start our own student-run 24-hour coffee shop. Most likely stupid and infeasible, but can't hurt to look at the costs. - JeyKottalam
    • I wholeheartedly agree. I have often commented that if I had money and any business skills at all, I would open one myself. I miss the warehouse-style coffee shops where I grew up. Crappy couches, customer drawings and poetry slapped on the wall, and open past two a.m. -JanelleAlvstadMattson
    • Is there some sort of city ordinance against (or unofficial discouragement of) late-night/24 hour establishments? I really can't believe that the reason there isn't even one (barring drive-thru fast food, which doesn't count) is lack of interest, given the crowds that descend on non-Davis establishments after Davis shuts down. —JessicaLuedtke
    • I'm not convinced that a 24-hour coffee place would make enough money to stay open for long. What they would have instead is a shop full of students too cheap to purchase anything beyond the bare minimum (with rare exceptions, of course). That said, the likeliest place (imo) would be locally-owned Delta of Venus — has anyone brought up the 24-hour request with the owner there? I usually drive to Java California when I need a 24-hr spot, I assumed the rent there is cheaper than in Davis, but that's just my speculation. —IrenePark
    • The argument (from a business standpoint) of extending business hours to 24 is the loyalty it will build. People will come because its the only place open, then come back during the day because its where they are comfortable. Treat it like advertising, even if the additional hours cost more than they bring in, the net result is increased revenues for the business. Its just the same as coffeeshops that offer WiFi. We should be able to convince a local shop to at least test it out with that argument. —PatrickRogers
    • I agree that, especially with Davis' high rent and real estate prices, it's not very lucrative to have a 24-hour business when your clientele spends only about $5 yet occupies a seat for a few hours and sucks off your wireless access. Yet I can also appreciate the desire for late night/all night coffee. Perhaps somebody with ASUCD connections could suggest they buddy up with the Silo folks and extend hours during the academic year for those people who don't own coffee makers or just don't want to host a coffee house in their living room. Since students are already paying for the Internet access on campus, a small business owner wouldn't have to carry that burden as well. Though the Coffee House might be the first thought for a location, the Silo might be better because it's cozier/smaller than the CoHo.
    • I don't know if this would satisfy all you coffee-hounds out there, but what I'd like to see is a 24-hour doughnut shop. I've seen them in the Bay Area, even in the less densely populated South Bay. The shops that are dedicated to doughnuts (Fluffy Donuts and Variety Donuts... throw in Konditorei if you like) aren't even open in the evenings, much less for all night.
    • You didn't hear it from me, but La Quinta has a 24-hour coffee station (really basic stuff, not quite what you're asking for but always well-stocked with hot coffee and a variety of teas) and if you're really nice and obviously not a bum you might be able to mooch some off the night workers.

More Coffee

  • Not only does Davis need late-night coffee, it needs more coffee. I just know that someone out there has a couple of hundred grand to spare and is just looking for a place to invest it. So here's what you do: find a good location somewhere with the 2 mile vicinity of campus, and open up a new coffee house. I get sick of going to the same crowded places, seeing the same people! No? Okay then, when I come up with two hundred or so thousand, and open up a new coffee shop, complete with wireless access, and get a return on my investment, you'll wish it had been you! Right. -AnnieSirrah
    • Unfortunately, your wish was granted and about 3 new cafes opened up in the last year or so (Pachamama, Cloud Forest, and Barista Brew). Pachamama doesn't have any space to sit, it's just a counter in the Co-Op. The other two emphasize food, not coffee. My hopes for a serious coffee cafe are low since the perceived cafe saturation is extremely high. —CoffeeSnobDavis

Good Coffee

Consideration

  • It seems that many people, not just in Davis, are far more concerned about bettering themselves or their personal environment than how they impact others. Whether it be passing judgment on others or driving carelessly, these incidents cause us all to wrinkle earlier and generally become a bit meaner. Oftentimes it's better to let things go or compromise for the sake of peace than fight to the bloody end, whether your issue is politics or a rude store clerk.

Democracy

Choice Voting

  • Choice Voting should be implemented for Davis City elections. See Davis Citizens for Representation.
  • I would like it if we could put forth referendums and vote on issues on the local level. Citizen Initiated Referendums = Direct democracy. - ConsciousConsumer
    • We do have this. Right now, people are trying to get referendum on the ballot to vote on the water rate increase. —CovertProfessor
      • Could we start a wiki on this with some more info on how to get them started and how to vote? I'm very interested, I knew that CA had stuff at the state level. Apparently you need signatures of 10% of the people who voted in the last Governor election to get it considered though, and even then they can be vetoed etc. - ConsciousConsumer

Entertainment

An All-Ages Venue

  • There are many all ages venues in Davis. Every house in this town has the capability of putting on a House Show but there are no official all ages venues in this town. The Coffee House has shows but it is not consistent. This town needs to do something about how half of its population i.e. Students don't have any real place where they can appreciate music that fits their needs. -RobRoy
    • I read something about the old Theater being taken over by new management and so forth, but that the Davis City Council had wanted to pass a resolution prohibiting it from being used exclusively as a (Hip-hop?) venue. My net is too slow, otherwise I'd check into this. - PhilipNeustrom
    • For years we've been needing this. Last year a poll was taken within DaVinci and it was found that a good percentage of the students here would love to have a place where local bands can play, and other bands coming through. The coffeehouse has been used for shows before but it's not really even a venue and if it's ever to rain you're basically screwed. There was a great thing going back when the Grad would play shows. that was probably the closest thing to an all age venue that i've ever seen working continuously in Davis, but I heard they didn't make all the payments to the bands and stopped booking shows as a result. A lot of us high school students don't like going to houses cuz it's one of those ahhh college students experiences where you're around a lot of people you don't know in a place you're not sure you're really allowed to go to... We need a place that's sole business is the promotion of music and booking bands for Davisite's musical yearnings. It's funny that most people come to Davis to buy tickets for shows in Orangevale and Roseville, and Sacramento... but none of the venues are in davis. There definitely needs to be a venue for college students and minors alike, because bars and coffeeshops don't cut it. —norabeth
      • You say "coffeeshops don't cut it," but I can only assume that you mean Delta of Venus doesn't cut it. I wonder why you think so. While it's certainly not the ideal choice as the "best" venue—which it is by default as there are no others—it's a really welcoming place, and the caliber and variety of bands and artists coming through there is pretty incredible, rivalling "prestigious" venues in the Bay Area like San Francisco's Hemlock Tavern and Oakland's Stork Club.—RickEle
      • In Fall 2006, Campus Unions Programs began hosting Pub Live at the Silo Pub. It's a consistent venue that hosts shows every Friday of the school year. We've hosted acts from all over the place including many local favorites, bands from the Bay Area passing by on tour, and even bands from as far as Brooklyn and Seattle. We're an eclectic venue, so contact us if you want to play, or know of a band that needs a little exposure. Importantly, Pub Live shows are always all-ages, free, and open to the public. Pretty cheap beer and great nachos, too! —AnneJuliaBaluyot

Comedy Club

  • Drop down off your high horse and pick up that microphone. That's right, Davis needs a stand up (open-mic) comedy club. Aggie columnist Michael Giardina mentioned this awesome-ass idea once, but nobody has started it up. What's the deal? Not convinced, read the this article.
    • Comedy at the Davis Grad-August 16, 2005 the Davis Graduate welcomes Comedians Rick Pulido & Shane Murphy to the stage. We started doing monthly comedy shows in June, making this our third event. It's a Tuesday night. Starts at 10pm. Yes, there are drink specials. No, there is no "drink minimum". We would like to move this from a monthly event to a twice a month event if it's supported. For more info go to http://www.davisgrad.com

Drum Circle

  • Maybe that is something that could suit the experimental college... or another venue, but this town is seriously lacking a drum circle: drummers getting together (with djembe and else) and playing, improvising, with someone with trained ear leading the way. -PassingThrough

Hookah Bar

Also see Smoking.

  • It is a matter of necessity. Davis needs a hookah bar. -MikeKayton
  • It seems like a "surprising" amount of people have their own hookahs. Actually, I don't know if they still do, but Sam's Mediterranean used to have several ornate hookahs on display. I was talking to Sam's daughter, and she said they were talking about having a hookah setup— but since Davis has so many anti-smoking ordinances, I bet they discovered it would basically be illegal to operate -jr
    • So many? What are they?
  • A large number of people in town have hookahs, myself included. Seems like this crowd would have access to one? Hookah/Movie nights were pretty popular with my friends. -KenNeville
  • Davis definitly needs a hookah bar. We finally got Dead Zone Novelties, the cool novelty store that sells smoking supplies, now we just need a chill place to enjoy them. It sucks that the nearest hookah bar is in Sacramento, and we have to drive a half-hour away to enjoy some good sheesha. City council needs to recognize that this is primarily a college town, and without us students, there would be no Davis. -CCTush

Hooka Bars can't be established in Davis because of a city ordinance that prohibits smoking within and around 100 feet of any establishment. - RobertBaron

Inexpensive Movie Theater

Also see Movie Theaters.

  • The city I used to live in has a $2.00 movie theater which shows second-runs, in other words, blockbuster movies from recent years. This way, if you missed seeing it the first time, or wanted to see it again, or wanted to see it but didn't feel like spending $6-8 for something you weren't sure about, this is the place. It immediately became the most popular theater in town. -SteveDavison
  • I whole-heartedly agree. I too lived in a place with a 2 buck movie theatre. It had all current movies, but about 4-6 weeks after they initially opened. It was awesome! -Janelle
    • It is very hard to run a movie theatre that can charge that low of ticket prices. Nowadays, the distributors charge movie theatres so much for licensing that almost all of the money made in the box office goes straight back to them, and paying bills. Yeah, I agree, expensive movies suck, but its really hard to operate that cheaply. Its not impossible though.. -JulienBiewerElstob
  • If we could get a new modern large movie theater built in Davis, the old Regal theaters could be changed to bargain theaters. However, where would we put a new theater? Perhaps when the old Toomey field closes, they could build a new Movie Theater, a new Parking Garage, shops, restaurants, and apartments. We could make that corner of campus a brand new Gateway to the Campus. You could eat, shop, and see movies all close to campus.

Oscar Party

  • Wishing for a fun spot to gather and watch the Oscars on big-screen. Seems like a great promotional idea for a bar or restaurant. Would settle for a community center.

Health Clinic (drop-in)

  • We just had one at Long's called the Wellness Express Clinic, but unfortunately they closed. It's too bad because it was the only place you could drop in for basic healthcare in the evenings and on the weekends. Most people probably didn't know they were there.
    • I'm not sure if this is what you mean by Health Clinic, but there is a free clinic in the city of Davis that is open in the evenings, its mostly maintained by UCD Med students, its open until around 10 p.m., and.. its free! —Carley

- What about the CommuniCare Health Center? -gurglemeow

Landscaping Bins

Instead of throwing landscaping junk in the middle of the bike lanes so that it can blow around the streets, the city should supply landscaping bins. It would be more aesthetically pleasing, and less hazardous for bikes. Keep the bins in your yard until garbage day. It's not exactly a novel concept, since many towns have already adopted this practice. Why Davis hasn't, I'm not exactly sure.

  • By using bins, there is an inherent limit on the amount of green waste one can dispose of in a given week. Speaking from experience, the bin is large enough for the grass clippings and some small pruning, but for the once or twice a year that a major cutting takes place, there is no way to fit it all in. I really don't have any sympathy for the people who complain about it being a hazard to bikes, because anyone who manages to hit a stationary pile of leaves and twigs probably should avoid being on a bike altogether. I have, in five years in Davis, only hit a pile once: It was night time, I was riding down a dark road, and I didn't have a bike light. It was dumb of me to be in that situation, so I really have no basis to complain about it. Also: Millions of towns? That number seems a bit high to me. —JoePomidor
    • It's not the hitting the pile that's the problem: it's the going around the pile and almost getting hit by a bus. Sure, YOU might have only had one negative experience, but I've seen this be a problem for many people. If you're putting enough greenwaste out that it won't fit into the large bin they give you, you're definitely creating a hazard. Not to mention the fact that the greenwaste blocks the storm drains, blocks parking spots, puts more dust into the air, and according to the Can the Trash! Coalition, "the city of Sacramento says billing rates are 22% less expensive for pick up using the containers." It might be somewhat of a nuisance to use a bin instead of casually throwing it all on the street, but so are lots of other things we do day to day. But we do it because it's better for everyone." —Jes
    • If it's only once or twice a year that there is too much waste for the bin, then on that once or twice a year, the household could put the green waste out over a few weeks. It's a small price to pay for having the streets clear for cyclists and parking all of the rest of the year. I'd love to see Davis start to use landscaping bins —CovertProfessor
    • One thing that makes the piles a hazard to bikes is that the material blows around. Even if the homeowner puts out a tidy pile that doesn't block the bike lane, wind can drag those stray branches and rose thorns into cyclists' way. Also, it's ugly, messy, and clogs the storm drains. It's ridiculous that we don't have green waste bins. Virginia

Open Space

  • Topography ie: gradient, vertical rise, a knoll perhaps?

Real British Pub

  • You read correctly. Calling G Street a "pub" is akin to calling Taco Bell a "Mexican restaurant". Nothing about G Street makes it a pub. No authentic decor, no obscure ales and lagers from various parts of the UK, no pub food (bangers & mash, chips, etc.), not to mention no trivia night (and before you jump all over me, I'm aware that there is a trivia night at several other establishments in Davis). If you're not sure what a "real" British pub is like, check out the Crown and Anchor next time you're in Monterey. http://www.crownandanchor.net. Why does he love British pubs so much, you might ask? I'll tell you why. Real British pubs not only boast great beer selections and charming decor, but the ambiance is unmatched. In addition, they seem to attract a completely different sort of bar-goer; people generally don't go there looking for a "hook up" from what I've noticed, and there is a distinct (and refreshing) lack of "bros". You know of whom I speak. With the large older crowd at Davis (5th years, graduate students, etc.), there is definitely an untapped market for a "true" British pub here. -CameronYoung
    • Your wish is (sort of) granted: de Vere's Irish Pub —OldDavis73
      • An (American) Irish Pub is closer to an (American) British Pub than many other kinds of bars (e.g. The Graduate is further). But British ≠ Irish! —DougWalter
        • Agreed, didn't mean to suggest that Irish = British in any sense. I guess I was just trying to read into the intent of the "Wish List" item, thinking more generally in terms of a "real pub" in Davis. —OldDavis73

Restaurants

Also see Restaurants.

24-Hour Los Angeles-Style Mexican Restaurant

  • LA-style restaurants do not use excessive "filling" (e.g., lettuce, beans, rice) in their burritos. Take for example the famous Alberto's mom-and-pop chain (each store individually owned). Their Carne Asada burrito is a model for all Taco Shop aspirants to follow. AND they're 24-hour. Where's the 24-hour authentic Mexican food? - JaimeRaba
  • a place in Davis without excessive filling is the Taqueria Davis on L St. next to Aggie Liquor. Their taco salad is a pile meat with some lettuce sprinkled on top!
    • I don't think of 24-hour restaurants when I think authentic Mexican food. And I didn't know they had a 24-hour Fitness around here... - MarieHuynh
      • "Mom & Pop" Mexican fast-food joints in SoCal are often open 24-hours. - JeyKottalam
        • I'm thinking of the incredibly popular Freebirds near UC Santa Barbara. - JamesDawe
        • Yeah, but Freebirds is mainly popular because it is always open, not so much because it is always good. Sometime about 1996 or so their quality took a nosedive. Odd fact about Freebirds: For a while (1998 or so I think) they were having a lot of trouble with drunk roudy frat guys late at night. As a result, they were looking at hiring a bouncer. That would make it the only burrito joint I've ever heard of with a bouncer. - EricKlein
      • Yeah, totally. And the 24-hour Fitness is basically next to Sudwerk, although on 2nd Street. - JaimeRaba
    • I hate all the filler in my burritos, like rice. Rice doesn't belong in there to me, but when you get it without rice, it's all empty. I need to get some of those LA burritos. - RohiniJasavala
      • I have seen the "California burrito" be the special of the day at El Mariachi. I believe it is filled with fries and sour cream? - MikeIvanov
        • Wow, that's something different. I guess it is like a potatoey burrito. Taco Bell added potatoes to their burritos to make them more "filling". - RohiniJasavala
        • A "California Burrito" typically includes french fries, guacamole, carne asada, and extra cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla. Most SoCal residents would consider this to be a dietary staple. Also, it must be ordered in Spanglish. They taste divine. - JillWeinstein
        • I actually like Baldo's in Vacaville. Granted, it is not in Davis...but it's pretty close, they're open 24-hours, and they DO serve a California burrito w/ potatoes, carne asada, cheese, pico de gallo, etc. Try their carne asada fries and tacos. YUM. Also, don't bother going if you have issues w/ hole in the wall type places. This place isn't exactly the cleanest, although it's gotten a lot better over the past few years. - AliceCheng
    • L.A.-centric student transplants, an S.F. Mission District burrito is plenty good, and it would be great if Davis had such a place that was open late. A perfect example of how this works well in a college town is Tacos de Acapulco in Chico (open 'til 4:00 a.m., and lines snake out the door in the middle of the night). You L.A. supremacists should transfer back home and quit pontificating about L.A.'s awesome food. Do cities of 60,000 in SoCal even have 24-hour restaurants like what you're suggesting? - RickEle
      • Not to my knowledge in any city in Ventura or Santa Barbara Counties, which are around 25,000 to 175,000 pop. There are, however, more restaurants of all types open to 10PM or 11 PM (at least in the bigger cities), which I think would really improve thin

gs in Davis. —BrentLaabs

  • In SoCal, a city of 60,000 would probably contain at least one 24-hour Mexican restaurant. My neighborhood in San Diego (one zip code) had 50,000 people, and we had not 1, but 4 24-hour Mexican restaurants. Two of them were a block apart, walking distance from my house, and packed at all hours of the night. There is nothing better after a night of partying than late night tacos with all of your friends.
  • Isla Vista, pop. 18k has a burrito place open late for all the drunkards and the line is horrendously long. The food is over-priced and mediocre, but they're open past two, goddamnit. - arlen
  • I like how it's written as LA style Mexican food, when it's really more Mexican style Mexican food. By the way, Alberto's is a company that started in San Diego, not LA.-RussellAnderson
    • Mexican food isn't even constant as you move around Mexico. It's silly to talk about what is "real" Mexican when you have thousands of variant traditions you can choose from in Mexico. SoCal has its own take on Mexican. It might be closer to what they do in Baja than what we have up here, but it is still distinct from what you'll find in Mexico. That's just the nature of food traditions.—WilliamLewis
  • I think we could use an al pastor taco shed. Just a guy in a shack, cutting meat off one of those spinning vertical sticks, and applying said meat to a tortilla for $1.75 per taco. I think that guy would do well. —["MikeyCrews]

Authentic Italian Food

  • Authentic Italian Food - While Davis lacks restaurants in a general capacity, there seems to be a complete lack of good Italian food. Pizza is not a substitute for a real Italian restaurant. - BrandonKeene
  • While I think Original Pete's and Caffe Italia do a decent job, I don't think they're quite up to North Beach standards. Could Davis support a true Italian restaurant? I bet it could.
  • Okay, here is one I really have to chime in on. I love Thai, Mexican, and deli food, of which we have plenty, but we soooo need a good Italian place. Shit, if I wasn't so lazy I opened one up myself, and I'm Eastern European. Wayne Schiller
  • I don’t know the name off the top of my head but there’s this little Italian restaurant in Village Homes its in the little office section by the commons area the food is absolutely fabulous its possibly the best Italian food I’ve had since I went to Italy proper.

Authentic Irish Restaurant

  • Ever been? Davis could use an infusion of REAL traditional Irish food/culture (outside of st. patricks day). Why not go Irish?

Barbecue

  • Straight-up, no nonsense, slow-cooked meat!
    • I second that! I've been craving barbecue ever since moving to Davis, and biking to Woodland or Sacramento seems a bit too far for such an American culinary staple. -TomNelson
    • Just across the causeway in West Sacramento, JR's Texas Bar-B-Que just opened another location off the Enterprise exit from I-80. -Scott Wong
    • You just got my mouth watering... please please please bring a GOOD BBQ place into town, maybe take over a sushi, thai, pizza place? —geezlouisexyz
    • I wish I could get brisket in Davis. MikeyCrews

Buffalo Wings

  • I have yet to find good spicy buffalo wings in California, much less Davis. This area needs a restaurant that specializes in Buffalo Wings, like http://www.buffalowildwings.com. I can't even find sauce I like at the grocery store. If anyone knows of good wings in town, please let me know. - JanelleAlvstadMattson

- You can order Buffalo Wild Wings sauces online at their website. I grew up eating their wings in the east and brought some Parmesan Garlic sauce with me when I moved here from Florida. :) inu

  • In addition to not being all that good, the few places that have wings in Davis serve only the ball-and-socket part of the wing. What's up with that— what do they do with the other half?!? CraigBrozinsky
  • Oh dude...then you haven't tried Original Buffalo Wings in San Rafael. It's about an 1:15 trip from Davis, but I'll be damned if it isn't the best buffalo wings I've ever had. I've made a special trip just to have them. And yes, they have both halves of the wing. =) JulieEickhof
  • See the Chicken Wings page. Nothing has the variety of BWW, but for straight up hot wings, check out Sudwerk, which has excellent sauce and excellent breading. The Graduate also has pretty fair ones. —TomGarberson

Dim Sum

  • Dim Sum! There are enough Chinese people around aren't there? Why don't they stop doing Japanese food and start selling some real Chinese food?
    • Maybe we need some real Asians ;) - ScottBiggart
    • One of the current restaurants needs to try a dim sum menu on weekends. I'd go just to avoid driving to Sac for it. Good dim sum? Even better! - KevinChin
    • I'm yet to go to dim sum in Sac and enjoy it. I recommend sticking with SF for that. No doubt. - SamanthaSpada
    • I'm new to Davis and i definitely want to have dim sum on sunday morning, or just some dim sum to go as lunch!! btw, where to go dim sum in sac? —waimeiYEUNG
    • Technically Red Orchid is a dim sum restaurant. I can't speak for authenticity because my experience with dim sum is rather limited, but it was tasty. —KBathory
    • My wife echoes this sentiment as well. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but per the above statements, and given the popularity of Dim Sum (particularly on weekends), wouldn't some restaurant do really well with this? Hard to understand why no one has even tried (please correct me if someone has tried in the recent past).

Ethiopian/Eritrean

  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_food I desperately want someplace that does injera and stews. It doesn't even have to be stand-alone... - QuercusLover
  • strongly, strongly seconded. it looks like there are a couple in sac, but to have it in davis would be amazing. - MiranPark
    • If you do go to Sac for Ethiopian, check out QueenSheebas. It's very good.
      • Queen Sheba also has discounted gift certificates on [www.restaurant.com Restaurant.com]. If you google "coupon restaurant.com" you'll find some massive discounts. Normally a $25-off-$45+-order gift cert for is $10 on there, and there's always a 60-80% off coupon code floating around on the internet (they change every couple of weeks, look for a current one). —TomGarberson
    • An Ethiopian restaurant is opening soon on E St. in the former Pita Pit location. Wishes can be granted.

Mongolian Barbecue

  • I know Tokyo Japanese Restaurant used to have one. Sounded like a good place, sorry I missed it. -SteveDavison
    • The Segundo Dining Commons has a "Mongolian Wok" that's available for both lunches and dinners. In case there's any confusion... it's a giant heated griddle on which the chef throws ingredients you've chosen. Perhaps not the extensive selection that was available at Tokyo, but you should probably check it out. —AlphaDog

Korean Barbecue

Restaurants that deliver!

  • Late-night delivery would be even better. Yes, several pizza places and one Chinese restaurant have delivery (with exorbitant delivery fees), but it is absurd that, in a college town with so many of these restaurants, it is impossible to have sushi, Thai food, or burritos arrive magically at your residence when you have late-night hunger. Even the non-pizza restaurants that do deliver (Kathmandu Kitchen, Ketmoree) stop delivery at 9 or 10pm. Unbelievable, Davis!
  • This is going to sound like a commercial but... I would love if the restaurants in town would participate in campusfood.com. This website is HUGE on the east coast and obviously you don't have to be a student to use it. Restaurants in the area can be sorted by type of cuisine, average cost of a meal, whether they deliver, etc. All of their menu items are online and you can place an order for pick-up or delivery. Not only that, but the website will save your past orders, so say you order the same items every time from your local Chinese place, or have a build-your-own pizza with the perfect combination of toppings, you can click a button and order it again without having to go through the menu and put your order together from scratch each time. While the Wiki is a great place to read reviews (and sometimes menus), campus food provides a centralized tool for menus, sorting restaurants, ordering, and paying if you don't want to eat in the restaurant. It's probably targeted toward students who don't have transportation to pick up orders, but it is also super useful if you don't feel like waiting on the phone, risking a miscommunication about what you want to eat, or giving your credit card info to a stranger. —MeggoWaffle
  • I agree this would be really great to have here. I've used this elsewhere and it really is convenient. —CovertProfessor

Sit-down ice cream restaurant

  • A place where you can get breakfast, lunch or dinner, but where the emphasis is on the ice cream, with many options for sundaes and shakes. Fentons Creamery is a good non-Davis example. —CovertProfessor
    • Agree totally! See my rant in the "Departed Businesses" section (for Marvelli's/Leatherby's). One would think this would be a winner in a family/campus centric community, but I guess the closest thing we're going to get are the smaller places and frozen yoghourt shops. I think if done properly, this type of establishment would do extremely well. —OldDavis73

Steak House

  • I swear that there is no place in Davis to get a decent steak. How 'bout a nice steakhouse with (if this isn't too ironic) vegetarian options? —CovertProfessor

5 Guys

*The way they're expanding, it's possible. But I hate having to go to Vacaville or Natomas to get a burger from here. Almost as good as In-N-Out, but very different. - —sba

UCD Coffeehouse

  • I want pancakes, bacon and fries at the Coffeehouse. - JenndelaVega
  • I agree, why don't they serve breakfast? They would make mula! - AnnieSirrah
  • I was thinking that the CoHo needs to expand and just take over The Silo and sell the same sort of food they sold, but a little better for you. - PhilipNeustrom
    • I'm with Phil on this taking over the silo talk. ASUCD should just take over Sodexho's contracts on campus completely. - DanMasiel
    • Sodexho is horrible—foodwise, and ethics-wise. I mean they were the company sued for providing food to prisoners that was so nasty and unhealthy that it allegedly violated prisoners' civil rights. I think the Coffeehouse should run all food on campus. They run a surprisingly tight ship, good food, good prices and are extremely responsive to student needs. Sodexho is a shover robot. - JaimeRaba
    • The revenue generated from students running the DC's and the Silo would be more than enough to greatly expand UNITRANS service and operating hours. I am going to have to talk to the FUCKers about this. -DanMasiel
    • I agree and I really like the Burritos at the MU. I'd like to see that kind of quality carried into other meals. However, I'd like to point out that Sodexho hires many homeless and mentally ill people who would otherwise be S.O.L. (That's an acronym for something that basically says that they'd have nowhere else to go) - DanielDeisenroth
    • The Breakfast Burritos are good, but kind of expensive. I would like an affordable breakfast entree at the CoHo!! ArianeMetz
  • Cell Phone reception inside the coffee house itself. It really shouldn't be that hard. The Mall here in Reno had a big problem with it, but then Cingular/ATT installed something and inside the mall you had perfect reception. I dunno, everyone has a damn cellphone on this campus. -Matty
    • New cell phone towers are supposed to be put in the coming year. A new Verizon tower got put up near the MU parking structure/Toomey Field just recently. - AliceCheng

Vegan/Organic Foods Restaurant

  • My sister works at a raw, organic and vegan foods cafe in several locals in the Bay Area and they are looking to expand further. Davis would be the perfect location for something like this and I am hoping to generate some interest. http://www.cafegratitude.com - myabrn
    • Great idea. My partner and I would love a place like that - CindiDrake-Martinez
    • My husband and I will definitely support this cafe. Especially if it is brought in by the creators of Cafe Gratitude, which serves excellent food. - Lisa A.
    • I'd love this, too — minus the names for the dishes, which I find very distracting. —CovertProfessor
    • I've been to Gracias Madre in San Fran and they were great! Nut cheese? Who woulda thought it would be so good! Just emailed them to express our interest. Fingers crossed! - ConsciousConsumer
  • You should definitely come and check out Monticello Seasonal Cuisine! It is located on G Street next to the Co'op! They serve local organic food and always have a lot of vegan options! —KaitDancer
    • When I went there, there was a vegan option or two. Not even close to the same as having an entire vegan restaurant. —CovertProfessor
  • A Loving Hut! Please, hurry! A Loving Hut Is Needed In Davis This wish is expressed on September 24, 2013 at 4.15 PM —ConstantiaOomen

White Castle Burger

  • I want some new fast food here.
    • The westernmost White Castle is in the central timezone, so keep wishing. Furthermore, White Castle is gross! I ate at one in Baltimore and felt sick all the next day.—RickEle
      • White Castle for all it's bad points seems to have discovered the tastiest configuration for dispensing fried poultry products, I am of course refering to the elusive Chicken Ring. —DavidReid
      • I have a feeling your reaction was at least partly cultural. Plenty of people who grow up in regions where sushi is uncommon complain of the same sickness when they first try sushi. (Or, as they call it in many areas, bait). On the other hand, plenty of people who are used to Krystal or White Castle see it as comfort food (or, as they call it in other areas, crap on a tile). —JabberWokky
        • Good thought...but you'd be wrong to say my tastebuds and digestive system aren't acculturated to East Coast and Ohio Valley grease, or to call me a sheltered Californian. I try new restaurants almost weekly, and I've traveled all over the place, including extensively in the deep South. Moreover, Long John Silver's fried foods soak through four napkins no matter where you are in the USA. And the Arthur Treacher's (r.i.p.) that I ate at in Baltimore was no less nasty. Of any place I've been to, the place where restaurants require the more iron digestive system is Klamath Falls, Oregon. Eat at Mollie's, Polly's, Starvin' Marvin's, David's Home of the Brawny Burger, and Sam's Place all in two days' time and tell me how you feel.—RickEle

Lee's Sandwiches

  • As of Fall 2013, we have a Lee's Deli in UMall, so this is more or less resolved.
  • Am I the only one who wishes we could have a Lee's ? I miss so much the 2 dollar sandwiches made from fresh french bread, veggies, and good Vietnamese style meat that could stuff me. I think with the amount of people who love that sort of food, and the very cheap price of the sandwiches, Davis could support a Lee's, or something like it. —ascapoccia
    • Sunrise Restaurant has Vietnamese sandwiches for $2.50 ($2.72 with tax) each. —["Users/hankim]
  • Actually, I would like better serviced Vietnamese pho places ::cough: pho bac:: But yeah, cheap Vietnamese sandwiches, do you think the CoHo will add that on their pho menu? That would be nice. —geezlouisexyz

A bar with decent cocktails

  • Considering the current cocktail renaissance and the fine offerings available in nearby cities, the dearth of well-executed, mature cocktails in Davis bars and eateries is something that should be addressed. The fact that a search of Davis Wiki page on cocktails largely plugs the Wicky Wacky Woo speaks volumes. If this town treats wine and beer well, why can't we get some decent cocktails in town?

Bring back certain food(s)

Old Froggy's burgers

Old G Street Menu

  • G Street Pub used to have a great "pub grub" menu that was made all the better by having half-priced apps from 3PM-7PM everyday. Now the menu has been upscaled to Enzo's fancy tastes. Bring back the Buffalo Wings and fries. Artichoke spinach dip just doesn't mix well with PBR on tap... -TonyMagagna
    • There is definitely a lack of good happy hour food specials in town. Right now the best thing going is Little Prague, oddly enough. The $2 sausage or the $6 sampler are both awesome, but it feels a little too elegant for my simple pub-food tastes. -jr

Panaderia

We need an authentic panaderia. I have to go all the way to woodland or west sac to satisfy my cravings. aren't there enough davis residents with a taste for Hispanic breads and pastries to support a locally owned panaderia?

Shopping

Men's Clothing Store

Also see Clothing Stores.

  • Even I, a girl, have noticed the lack of guys' clothing options here in Davis. Let's have at least one male-themed clothes store. - TerryCliff
  • James Anthony and the Gap both sell men's clothing. - JackHaskel
  • This is seriously a considerable problem for all of Davis— men in this town are in serious trouble when it comes to clothing! While The Savvy Shoppe has offered a small step forward with their singular rack of Paper Denims and t-shirts for guys, there is a ridiculously disproportionate number of Riki-esque 30+ women's boutiques. - GrahamKolbeins
  • Savvy Shoppe is currently building a men's only store next to their current location. Rumors have it there will be something in the store to do with alcohol. - TracyPerkins
    • Street Savvy has been built, however, you won't find much there besides polo shirts, t-shirts, and jeans.
      • NOTE: This is one example of a wish from this wish-list that was actually granted. But wouldn't you know it....The wish was un-granted within a year's time as these stores already went outta business. I don't think that there's enough brodawgs and hoochie-mamas to keep clothing stores open for people who wanna dress like Elimidate contestants. This redeems my faith in Davis! —RickEle
  • What we need is a Buffalo Exchange or another comparable second-hand store. People could buy and sell their old clothes. - IanRamsay
    • I agree very strongly that a Buffalo Exchange could succeed in this city. If a city of 60,000 has a very low per-capita rate of thrift-stores but a rather high proportion of hip indie-rockers, there is a market untapped. Somebody write the Buffalo Exchange people. Propose that they move into the former Savvy Shoppe and Street Savvy, and that they hire a contractor to knock out part of the wall between the two. It's a no-brainer! —RickEle
  • Real Men don't need clothes. Neither do Real Women.

Plus-Size Women's Clothing Store

Also see Clothing Stores.

  • Of course we know that everybody in Davis is physically fit, but on the off chance that there might be someone larger than a size 3 wandering around the streets, it's too bad that they have to drive in to Woodland or Sacramento to find clothes.
    • Although, ANY clothing would help. Okay, now Davis has a few more "fashion boutiques." But aside from Gottschalks and the Gap, there's nowhere for guys really to shop at all. Davis has a zillion trinket stores and "Chinese" restaurants. It even has an automall.
    • Samira's is one of the few places in town that I know of that carries non-tiny (women's) clothing sizes. - JevanGray
      • Even Samira's tops out at a 12 or 14. I know I'm not the only 18/20 in town. ;-) - ErinManley
  • Five Figs Couture touts sizes up to 16.

Real Asian supermarket

Also see Ethnic Markets.

  • Davis needs a real Asian food store, like the ones you find on Stockton Blvd in Sac. If there are enough Asians here to support the Old Teahouse, there's enough to support such a store. Cheap fresh seafood, cheap shitake mushrooms, chili sauces...drool...speaking of which, Davis also needs a gay dance club because you can't dance in coffee shops - GaryMa
    • Gary, have you been to that Korean place next to Silver Dragon? - PhilipNeustrom
    • Yeah, but that place's selection is actually inferior to the former Harvest Market. And the prices are EXTREMELY high. The Asian markets on Stockton Blvd and also Broadway are BIG stores that are full service. I'd be all for a true Asian super-market. There used to be a Ralph's near 8th and L streets, and it's a supermarket that is _completely_ empty. This would be perfect for an Asian store. - jr
    • Davis used to have a much larger Asian food market in the space now occupied by Peet's Coffee/Noah's Bagels in the Pig Mall, but it eventually folded for lack of business. They got a fair amount of business... just not enough to pay the bills. I suspect that if business were to improve dramatically at Kim's Mart the owner would be encouraged to look for a larger space and increase her inventory. Supply and demand, you know! —AlphaDog
    • I concur, in Sac there used to be this Asian version of SafeWay, it was amazing! I can't remember where it was but they had some of the awesomest rare stuff. —JamesHaile
    • Apparently there is progress on this, Kim's Mart is moving into the space of Pallen's Martial Arts (twice as big?) who is moving into the space of Davis Bike Exchange and Pet Cetera. —NickSchmalenberger

Best Buy

Computer accessories, video games, a huge DVD selection, CD's, and game consoles for you to play.

  • We need a Fry's more than this, Fry's is much more complete and I think most people in Davis can handle it.
  • Best Buy is neither best nor a buy IMHO. My three choices are, in order, Fry's, Newegg, and ebay.

Maternity Clothes

  • I'd like a store that sells a decent selection of new maternity clothes. The consignment store, Just Kidding, in the E Street Plaza, has a small rack in the back of used items. Target usually carries maternity wear, but Woodland has a horrible selection (they've been out of nearly everything in sizes 6-12). Both of the Gottschalks, as well as JCP and Mervyn's in County Fair Mall do not have maternity clothes. —NoelBruening
  • For a town of this size, with so many pregnant women around (I see at least 5 every time I leave the house), it's almost appalling that there is no place to find maternity clothes. We can't even sew our own, because there is no fabric store! (see my comment below). - Janelle

A Fabric Store

  • How can Davis NOT have a fabric store with as many people who are into DIY in this day and age? I do not consider Pincushion a "fabric store." Yes, they have fabric, but very little selection. Plus, they do not sell any sewing related supplies that are not related to quilting. A real fabric store has a large selection of many different kinds of fabric and any sewing supply you could think of. Pincushion is just what it says it is: a boutique. - Janelle
  • How can a town this size accept driving to Woodland or Dixon to some Wal-mart every time they need fabric for a kid's Halloween costume or class project? It's ridiculous. - AllisonEriksen
    • As a note — JoAnn Fabrics in Woodland has much better material and crafting supplies than Wal-mart. Take County Road 98 to Main Street; it's on the corner.
    • Davis used to have a fabric store, but didn't provide sufficient business for it to survive. Perhaps now that DIY is once again popular, some frustrated parent might start one! —AlphaDog
  • Pincushion Boutique off Pena and Fifth has quilting supplies, and fabric. ~JaniceGutshall
  • We really need this! Maybe if a bead store can survive here, the right fabric store could, too. — chrisfmichaels
  • Pincushion Boutique has re-opened to the public. True, Pincushion does not carry synthetic fabrics for apparel or home decor, but it does carry thousands of bolts of 100% cotton for quilting, crafting, and clothing. The Pincushion also carries quilting patterns, kits, notions, batting, and a limited selection of new release quilting books. Pincushion Boutique

Improve Manor Plaza

  • It was really nice having a full-sized grocery store in this plaza. Dollar tree is cool if I need candles or paper plates, but a grocery store would be much more useful. It would serve colgate/chestnut park neighborhoods well to have something within walking distance again. I also think it would be really nice to have some good coffee here.

Transportation

Also see Transportation.

Bicycle taxis

  • Amsterdam has them. Downtown Austin uses several rickshaws. Chico and Minneapolis all have human-powered vehicles to get people around. Why not Davis? For the nation's most bicycle-friendly city, this seems like a no-brainer to me. —SteveDavison

Update: Davis does have bike taxi service now.

Biking

  • More bike paths. We're conditioned to think of the bicycle as a secondary, impractical, non-serious transportation vehicle. It doesn't have to be this way. Imagine a city in which the roles of bicycles and cars were reversed -there were a few auto roads among the network of bike paths. Unless we have vision (like the forward thinking students in the 70's), we won't move forward. We must stop being complacent.
  • Bicycle paths which go all the way to neighboring communities (Dixon, Winters, Woodland, and Sacramento). Not having such paths keep me from visiting them. (Yes, I know Pole Line goes to Woodland, but there needs to be a West route too). -SteveDavison
    • Even without a bike path that covers the entire route from Davis to Sacramento, the trip is still relatively easy. The country road isn't bad, the path over the Causeway is great for biking, and Sacramento has a pretty extensive bike path through the city. The only place that's even remotely bad for biking is West Capitol through West Sac, but even that isn't bad - it has bike paths and sidewalk routes. - MoTorres
  • We need a decent bike lane on Fifth Street, especially the portions that travel through downtown! At night it's a very bad ride for bicycles.
    • I used to care, but nowadays it's just not a big deal to cruise down 5th in the right lane. Especially if I've got a light.
    • This is soon in the works I believe. Though I'm not sure I'd want to see Fifth Street reduced to a single lane, I think that will cause problems down the line. Especially if the Po-po set up another sobriety checkpoint in the middle of Russell at night.
  • Better bike path maintenance. There are some big potholes on Russell Blvd. west of campus, and the Orchard Rd. path south of La Rue Park has so many tree roots under the asphalt it's like being on a roller coaster. A lot of paths could also do with being repaved - even without potholes it's a ridiculously bumpy ride.
    • But what about the historical importance of these potholes? —BarnabasTruman
  • I appreciate that the UC is always working to improve the campus, but the bike lane along hutchison as they work on the parking garage has been a disaster for some time now. I regularly see bikers shooting out across busy traffic to get to the other side. I cringe when I see that, and hope that there isn't a terrible accident there before they are done. I'd like to see the UC spend some more effort before starting on big construction projects trying to find a way to look out for displaced bikers. I'm not asking for miracles, just a little more forethought. —EricKlein
  • There's a straight bike path which leads from the Orchard Park apartments through Russell Park, and through La Rue Park. There is then a 20-foot stretch of grass before it connects to the La Rue Road underpass which leads around the Segundo Dining Commons and continues on to the heart of campus. This is a major artery connecting these residential neighborhoods to UCD. They need to replace this tiny section of grass with a bike path segment; it's so obvious to anyone who bicycles, which unfortunately seems not to be anyone who designs these things. —SteveDavison
  • Between the Segundo Dining Commons and the ARC is a solitary sidewalk which bikers frequently use, as it is the only way to get to and from the ARC without hopping the curb. All it needs is 5 feet of bike lane and the problem is fixed!
  • BIKE PARKING AT THE AMTRAK STATION - the number of bikes parked at the train station has reached record numbers - hundreds of bikes are scattered around the station grounds without any secure (i.e., a permanent structure to lock your bike to) parking. The city needs to provide bike racks, soon!! —JeaninePfeiffer
  • The whole road, including both bike lanes, of Olive Drive, really needs some work. There are potholes, cracks, bumps, sunken manhole-covers, and almost always piles of debris. I've also come across broken glass. In addition, in some places the cars parked there make it impossible to ride safely in the bike lane.
  • Separated bike path West Covell Boulevard up to Road 96 (see illustration) This wish is expressed on September 30, 2013 at 5.30 PM ConstantiaOomen

Wish: Separated Bike Path West Covell Boulevard up to Road 96

A new Skatepark!

The skatepark which is in the center of the Community park is hideous. It is excessively small and not very fun. The people who designed it seem to have no knowledge of how to work with concrete and/or design a skatepark. This is clearly evident to anyone who's ever gone there. There are lumps on what should be smooth surfaces, the transitions are either too tight , or in the case of the "bowl", so shallow that there is no way to pump to get back up to the lip on the other side. I implore the city to make a park that is not only safe, but fun!!

A Velodrome

With the Bicycling Hall of Fame, UCD's championship squad and the sheer number of fixed gears riding through town, it seems only obvious that Davis get a Velodrome. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, but on the lines of Hellyer Park in San Jose. I'm all for it.

Driving

  • I think there needs to be a better stop sign at the intersection of Marina Circle and Jerome St. in West Davis. No one who doesn't live there can see it due to the high turn radius and the trees in the way. I may go to a city council meeting to tell someone about this because every single one of my friends runs the stop sign the first time they drive through there and somebody might get hurt. - PhilipNeustrom
  • Davis is renewing threats to give tickets to people who park "parking space style" at the end of cul de sacs, rather than parallel parking. Most of the houses at the end of cul de sacs have little to no nearby street parking. They should let us park this way, since it's been done this way for at least 40 years, but I think the trash collectors are complaining because they can't get their trucks close enough to the cans. Poor things. - jr
  • There needs to be MORE THAN ONE STREET SIGN PER INTERSECTION. (Yes, I know, there are usually two. Regardless, they're inadequate.) Too small, set too far back from the street, totally useless at night when moving with any speed. ct
  • A few different things could be done to help out The Worst Intersection in Davis. Put in another road a half-mile south that reaches Mondavi area; give Olive another outlet; fix the timing on the traffic lights. — EricTalevich
    • There have been numerous attempts over the years to improve this horrendous intersection (specifically, the "subway" underpass into downtown), that hasn't changed since 1917. Yes, you read that right: 1917. As in almost 100 years ago http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis,_California. The main artery into downtown has not changed since the population of Davis was less than 1,000. The last attempt (I believe), was done in the mid-90's. A very tasteful, well crafted expansion was proposed (my opinion of course), and put on the ballot. If failed, due to the locals who played the population with scare tactics, spouting asinine statements such as "big rigs will start coming downtown!" "traffic will increase downtown!" "It'll be like a local freeway!" So, the measure failed. Sound familiar? Voters being frightened off by a few citizens drumming up questionable "facts" to scare off the populace? See Covell Village. Meanwhile, the facts remain that emergency vehicles could potentially not get through this bottleneck if/when it floods in the winter (this has happened). During peak traffic hours, anyone who's ever tried to get through this intersection can be stuck for 10 minutes or more. The bike tunnel is great, but in my humble opinion, this continues to be the single worst traffic spot in the whole city. The premise of "slowing people down" through the intersection by creating gridlock just isn't the right way to do things. I would also qualify my remarks by saying I am completely for most every conceivable effort to retain anything linking Davis to it's history. However, to me, the argument against expanding this intersection rings more of a misplaced perspective on city history (see "historic potholes": http://cityofdavis.org/cdd/cultural/30years/chapt10.cfm) than of a valued piece of our past. I realize now that the site has been cited in the National Register of Historic Places (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/), there is little chance of it ever being "tampered with" (http://cityofdavis.org/bicycles/tour.cfm). This being said, I still truly believe that, done tastefully, CORRECTLY, that there could be a site that fits the city in both appearance and function. I sincerely invite any discussion/opposition to any of the above.
  • It might also help to have realistic speed limits. With the exception of downtown, you could safely raise most every speed limit in the city by a good 10 miles per hour. - MeganCurtis
    • Every few years people try to do this and the Townies get up in arms about it. There was an attempt several years ago to the F Street from 5th Street to Covell Boulevard raised above 25 mph, and it failed in part due to a picture of a basset hound in bunny ears. - RogerClark
    • Even now with the 25 mph speed limit on F St. people typically drive at 30 - 35 mph. I've been passed on both the left and the right because I was driving 25 - 30 mph. What is the big rush? PT

Ban Driving Downtown

  • Ban driving downtown. Develop the road into a more narrow foot and bike traffic lane, and open up room for more local business development. Driving downtown is ineffective at best, and we should focus on parking structures instead. —PhilipNeustrom
    • Yeah, I think that's not a bad idea. It would be really cool if E Street, F and G Streets were just big pedestrian access areas, with a big bike lane and maybe bus-only access. (Or maybe a light rail?) —JaimeRaba
      • What about the pizza places there that have delivery drivers? They'd be cut off. Lightrail seems a bit excessive. —omgstarkitty
    • I'd support this (especially the parking structures part) if some other concessions were made to non-bike-owners. I don't know what those concessions would be, though, so yeah, a fairly good idea. Just don't make anything too far from driving access (i.e. more than two blocks). —RoyWright
    • I'm definitely with Philip here. I've been wishing for 10 years (since I worked downtown) that they'd do this. The core of downtown is much too small to adequately serve cars, and it's downright dangerous to walk around down there with all the drivers who can't seem to figure out how to safely operate a motor vehicle. Also, making use of outside seating at any given restaurant/cafe is only nice until the next exhaust-spewing ear-splittingly-loud car drives by. Plus, have you ever noticed how the pace and quality of your conversations with your family/friends is affected by the vehicle traffic roaring by as you walk down the sidewalk? This is not a healthy way to live. —GrahamFreeman
      • If cars were banned downtown they would need to build A LOT more parking to make up for it. And WHERE exactly would you guys propose they put this extra parking?? ArianeMetz
    • K Street mall in sacramento is a segment of K street between 7th street and 12th street that allow scars to cross K street, but K street itself is open only to foot and light rail traffic. It would be interesting if Davis did this to one or more streets. Also, I've noticed that parking has opened up quite alot since they implemented to new parking rules. —jr
      • If any one street could be turned into a pedestrian-only street like Sacto's K Street Mall, it should be G Street. Of course, that would impact traffic quite a bit on F. And be realistic, folks...You'll never get driving banned entirely downtown as long as the city's busiest freeway ramps are accessible to the core of the city via the tunnel on Richards
  • I've always thought converting parts of 4th street to bike only would both be a nice way to encourage reduced driving downtown and provide a bike alternative to fifth street (it would allow fifth street to continue operating as is and bikes could have a whole street to take into downtown and campus). Plaza areas between C and F street could serve businesses and extend space for farmers market. Portions could serve as additional parking as well.
    • Agreed. I'm always tempted to run the noob bikers over when they try to squeeze in on 5th... maybe from now on I'll blast my horn at them and maybe teach them a lesson. But really, it's not that downtown needs to be car-free, it needs to be stupid-person-free. I suppose that's an even taller order but if you run a stop sign on your bike or cross by foot in streams rather than grouping together I promise to feel no remorse making you blend in with the asphalt. Maybe allowing cars on E and B only, each becoming a 1-way street (E going south towards Richards, B going north toward 5th) connected by 1st and 5th (which would remain as they are) might provide some relief but those streets are already pretty busy. Also in that case, there WOULD need to be more exterior parking, though a metered parking garage (especially if built below ground, rather than above it) would likely suffice. Where to put it, though, I couldn't think of.- KBathory

* Bathory states a lot of win. I think this is a horrible idea of banning driving downtown. What about the handicapped? Are they no not to see movies? Sing some karaoke at Woodstock?

Parking

  • A parking district around Cuarto. The school decided that freshmen can't bring cars to campus. Guess what - they still do bring cars, and they keep them permanently parked in the public parking spaces at Oxford Circle park and on all of the nearby streets. (All this while the campus owned parking lots for the dorms are practically empty because nobody can get a permit to park there). A 3-hour parking district would help greatly so that my friends could drive over and visit me. KenBloom
  • Parking downtown is a nightmare, especially if you are a resident. Parking from C street up to A street should be resident parking only, and if the city wants to keep parking regulation, then it should only be one-hour parking so that people don't come and park for their two-hour classes and take the spots that the residents who live in the area need. -CCTush
  • I'd like to see an actual full-size parking garage downtown where you can park for more than 3 hours. It would be better for tourism and downtown business because people will have time to actually window shop, and they'll probably spend more because they can spend more worry-free time downtown. -TomNelson
  • I'd support some parking meters downtown if the limit was at least 3 hours. Finding a space easily and getting to a class on time in a semi-emergency is worth throwing down a buck or so now and then at some places close to campus (maybe the farmers market), and the MU structure's pay spots aren't enough for the whole campus. - EricTalevich
  • The fact that parking meters only go up to 50 minutes, leaving no time for returning from class and not taking longer classes into account is ridiculous.
    • I think that's the idea. They don't want you to park there to go to class. - RogerClark
  • There is a solution to the parking problem. Hint: It has two wheels. —SteveDavison
    • word - arlen
    • Seriously I can't see why people have to drive the maybe 3 miles (tops!) to campus when we have a fairly decent bus system that most of them can use for free. You can bike anywhere in town in 15 minutes (I go from my house in North Davis to work in South Davis by bike most days and it takes me about that long) and most students live within a mile of campus. How can you not take a 15 minute walk when you consider all the time and money you spend on gas, maintenance, and parking for a car? Just don't bring your cars here! It's cheaper and good for everyone. - KBathory
  • Ban Parking Between 2 am and 4 am city wide. This would solve several problems addressed here. And it would limit the creation of defacto dorms in areas where single family homes were planned. Students are generally very respectful of the areas they live. However when too many are concentrated in one place Animal House behaviors can result. If there is any appropriate place for this, it certainly isn't a family neighborhood. I would also be curious if this might cause rents to drop a bit, but I could also imagine it might cause them to go up. Bottom line, people should only have cars if they can park them on property they own or are renting. That's how it was in the town I grew up in and I think we could try it here. —KirkParrott
  • I wish TAPS would offer parking permits by the hour. I have to travel occasionally on my on-campus job, and I hate having to pay $6.00 for the entire day when I am only parked for my 1 hour class! At least make some meters that have more than a 45 min limit!! When you consider the price of gas (which the university does not reimburse) having to pay extra is ridiculous. ArianeMetz
    • Check out the COMET machine-o thing that TAPS put out (there should be info on their website). It's still in the trial stage, and you have to put a deposit on it and pay for the time you put on it, but it just counts down as you park and you don't have to worry about paying the meter. Also, there are 2-hour meters in some lots on campus (north structure near the MU, west structure by the new TAPS office, Lot 5 by Solano Park/Wyatt/UClub/Arbo, Lot 43 by the Silo just to name a few). - AliceCheng
  • I wish there was a special parking pass for people who work downtown, or a special lot that we could park in. Sometimes I just don't feel like biking or the weather is bad and I don't want to get my uniform wet. I love to bike, but I hate getting multiple parking tickets because I am unable to move my vehicle. - SydnieMcGuire

Rail Transit

  • Connect to Sacramento's light rail system. Then continue the light rail up to Woodland (there are already tracks laid down). -isoquinophlex
  • Run Amtrak trains on time. Run more frequent and faster service on the Capitol Corridor. Run direct trains to San Francisco without a bus or BART connection.-isoquinophlex

Teleporter

  • Vanish and perhaps zap you to Lake Tahoe or the beach.
  • Make it compatible with groups of people, clothing, and gear.
  • Do I really have to state the obvious that it's convenient and very desirable?
  • Will guarantee to make headlines
  • Thank you

UC Davis Underground

  • Going with the whole London theme, how about a subway system throughout the UC Davis Campus, then potentially the city itself. I know it's a pipe dream, just wanted to get it out there. -mperkel
  • This is only a dream, but instead of using money to build more parking structures, can't the school build underground tunnels around campus to avoid the winter cold or summer heat. Of course, biking underground could be an issue. —geezlouisexyz

A Second Downtown

Davis has grown a lot in size and population since I got here in 1979. This has created pressures on the quaint residential properties in the core area, it has increased traffic into the downtown area, parking is getting harder and harder to find, and from what I have heard from several shop owners, the downtown property landlords are ruthless. In addition, the idea of closing selected downtown streets has come and gone several times, and was even tried once, on a limited basis (one-way streets, if I recall correctly). And, admit it Davis, the ratio of bike to car traffic in downtown is no where as high as it once was. Finally, the pressure to build big mall-like facilities (barren retail depots that offer nothing in the way of community and culture) has been a big issue lately.

My solution is to set aside an area where a second downtown could develop and establishing guidelines for making it happen. A Downtown II has many possibilities, most I see as good. Here are the pros and cons, listed together, and in no particular order. You can decide which are pros and which are cons and of course since this is a wiki you can add more items and can add observations to the already listed items.

  1. It would create some competition with the current land-locked (in the sense that it is surrounded by developed neighborhoods and cannot grow) downtown, something that should lower the rents.

  2. New buildings would be modern, energy efficient, accessible, and safer (up to date on all fire and earthquake codes).

  3. One could make the whole thing car, bike, and pedestrian friendly at the outset, instead of fighting existing business interests and remodeling existing buildings and infrastructure. A real pedestrian zone, for instance. Perhaps the new downtown could incorporate elements of Village Homes.

  4. Shopping commutes would be shorter since people would be more likely to shop very locally rather than generally locally. This would take pressure off the Russell Blvd underpass problem. Shopping commutes might even start to favor biking and walking again.

  5. Over time people would come to favor one downtown over the other. While that could lead to a dual-culture Davis (Multi-culturalism is good, right?) and some people might not care for that, it has many good points. One downtown might become more student-oriented, for example, and as a result more student-oriented businesses (live music, clothing, etc.) may spring up. The other town may be more family or home-owner oriented, with shops, galleries, and entertainment that support those demographics. There are advantages to having shops that complement each other being close to each other, even while they may be competing with each other. Of course, over time friendly rivalries could develop, or even unfriendly rivalries, hypothetically to the point the NewTown and OldTown propose splitting Davis in two, but that's a pretty far out there possibility and in any advent it would probably take over 100 years to get to that point, and anyway by then Davis will be under water.

Where should the Bums go?

Why doesn't davis have a shelter for the homeless? I know that local churches help out every once in a while, but why isn't there a mission house where street people can get counseling and guidance to get back on their feet? some may say that there aren't bums in davis, but i see them all the time loitering around the various grocery complexes and occasionally downtown. A shelter can be an asset to the community and an opportunity for others to contribute to their fellow comrades' wellbeing.

  • Davis Community Meals provides a variety of services to the homeless, including a cold weather/emergency shelter in addition to their regular shelter. Services are available, but some of the regulars that you see on the street prefer not to go to a shelter (due to mental illness or because they are addicts who would don't want to stay in a place where sobriety is mandatory. — CurlyGirl26
  • Their cold weather/emergency shelter does not require sobriety - just an ability to function in a community environment. -Angel.York

Wishes Fulfilled

Move wishes that have been fulfilled into this section.

Panera Bread

  • I'm dreaming here, but it would be just so wonderful if there was a Panera Bread in Davis http://www.panerabread.com/cafes/find.php, too. Everything is healthy, tasty and affordable; their coffee is delicious, and unlike Peet's Coffee there is no time limit regarding internet use. It's a great place to study as well, alone or in group, regardless how long you stay. And light! The abundance of natural light in their shop is great. PassingThrough

Trader Joe's

A Trader Joe's arrived in 2010, fulfilling the wishes below.

  • Trader Joe's would be a nice thing to have. They have lots of reasonably priced wine, and they have the best prepackaged tomato roasted red pepper soup... yum. - LauraCochrane
    • Trader Joe's would not be nice in Davis. We have our own local store that sells similar things that Trader Joe's does. It is called The Co-Op. Why would you want your town be like every other? - RobRoy
    • I think the Co-op would continue to make Davis unique, even if it had a Trader Joe's. But then again, lots of other towns have Co-ops. Take Sacramento's Co-op, for example— it's a bit nicer in many respects, yet the prices are lower and the organic selection is bigger. I think a little healthy competition would help the Co-op out a little bit. That's been the case in Sacramento. I think the Davis Co-op is a little set in its ways and in its state of cleanliness. If you ever read the Co-op newsletter, I'm a little confounded with their fairly frequent dismissals of very good ideas and recommendations. But I re-main pro-Co-op. I'm just not anti-Trader Joe's. I think a good spot for a TJ's would be out around Mace/Chiles. - jr
    • Sorry, but I personally really want Trader Joe's here. They have stuff that you just can't get at the Co-Op—for example, "Two-buck Chuck." Not to mention their wonderful assortments of import foods, etc. Trader Joe's would add so much to this town. - rdb
    • I'd like a Trader Joe's as well. I really like the food there, and free samples! - MonikaLin
    • I agree with JaimeRaba, a little competition should be good for the Co-Op. If this town can support two Nuggets within three miles of each other, it can support a TJ and Co-op. - KrisFricke
    • I third that one. I think the abandoned Ralph's on East 8th St would be a perfect TJ's spot, and nothing beats peanut-butter-filled pretzels. - KenNeville
    • I recall reading that there are actual plans to build a TJ's at 8th and Pole Line. I for one welcome this - they carry many kinds of kosher food that I can't get at the Co-op. I just wish they would have opened it already, so it will be open before I graduate — KenBloom
    • A Trader Joe's would be nice, but I just don't think it would be economically feasible at this time. Since I've moved here two grocery stores, Ralph's and the place in the U-mall, have gone under. Neither was that great, but they were in pretty good locations. — ToNu
      • The Harvest Market (formerly in the U-Mall, and before that in the Russell Rite Aid building) did not go under. They were doing extremely well according to one of the owners. However, CostPlus made an offer they couldn't refuse. Essentially they were purchased out of existence, and the family running Harvest Market got to retire in style. Oh well, at least some good came out of it. The Ralphs went out of business because they too closely duplicated grocery stores that were in a better location for most of Davis. A Trader Joe's, however, would not be duplicating anything. However, Trader Joe's has scoffed at locating there. They feel it is not a high enough traffic area. But they don't realize is this: build it, and they will come. -jr
    • I think the Food Co-op is quite anti Trader Joe's... and probably for a good reason. I think a Trader Joe's would greatly hurt the horribly inefficient Co-op's business. But perhaps the Co-op would step up to the challenge and actually improve. I guess either way would be good for us. —JevanGray
    • Write to Trader Joe's Company, PO Box 5049, Monrovia, CA 91017 and tell Trader Joe's to build in Davis. I miss having this type of grocery store around. It's like a better version of Nugget, and a cheaper version of the Co-op, with more stuff.. —JuliaNiazov
  • I know that Trader Joe's isn't exactly the same as The Co-Op or Nugget, but between those two I think we have most things covered. I like that Nugget is a local chain and a very decent one, too. There would be too much overlap with a Trader Joe's as well, IMO. —IrenePark
  • The People's Republic of Davis would definitely keep a Trader Joe's in business. The Co-op has plenty of die-hards so it wouldn't lose business, and a Trader Joe's would be a good middle ground from Nugget & The Co-Op. It also has things neither store has... like mochi. -MichelleAccurso
  • (Kim's Mart sells mochi, or so I thought.) Will the PRD keep the existing stores also in business if a Trader Joe's moves in? Should we move towards being able to purchase anything we could possibly want within the city limits so we don't have to go way out to Woodland, Dixon, or Sacramento? Down that path leads to a plethora of stores. Or should we find a balance of goods we can purchase in Davis and those we are willing to go to a big city to buy? . . . To be honest, if there were a Trader Joe's in Davis I would probably not shop at the Nugget so much as I do now, depending on the new TJ's location in relation to where I live in Davis. So... it kinda makes me sad, I mean, I like TJ's a lot. I also like the Nugget because once I move from here I probably won't ever see or shop at one again. TJ's, on the other hand, will be everywhere (uh, everywhere else). So I'm actually of mixed feelings on this. —IrenePark
  • More than anything else, I would like to see a Trader Joe's in Davis. I don't care what part of Davis it's in, so long as I don't have to drive 15+ miles each way to get there. Of particular note, the Tasty Bite Indian food boxed meals are excellent for camping. —AlexPomeranz
    • Check the International Food Market (or another international food store) for Tasty Bite type stuff. I'm pretty sure they have them, and for cheaper than you'd find at Trader Joe's or the Davis Food Co-op (which does have them, but expensively). —JessicaLuedtke
  • Ashland, Oregon, a university town with demographic similarities to Davis, supports a Co-Op grocer AND and independent whole/natural food grocer, plus a Safeway and a nearby Ray's Food Place in an adjoining town of 1,000 population, despite itself only having a population of 19,000. Extrapolate what you will...—RickEle

Car Sharing

  • Davis needs car sharing! This is something I think could seriously take off here, with so many car-free individuals in Davis and the communal spirit prevalent in the city. Car sharing is a great thing for those who don't own cars but want to use one every once in a while. -isoquinophlex
  • I totally second this! I typically bike, but it would be great to get a car from time to time, like when I move in/out of apartments. I welcome the competition against Enterprise. —geezlouisexyz
  • It seems that this wish came true when ZipCar moved in. It is certainly a great and much cheaper alternative to renting a car. -LisaA

Trivia Night

  • It's be really nice if the grad or G Street decided to have a trivia night. Oh how I long to strut my dorkdom in front of other dorks. -Amy Googenspa

How about College Bowl?

  • Bistro 33 and Sophia's and now have Trivia Nights, on Monday and Tuesday nights, respectively.

Bikes

  • Half the bike path lights are burnt out on the bend just west of where Orchard Rd. crosses 113, but most bike paths around town could do with better lighting. It can be a serious hazard if you hit a large pothole or broken branch in the semi-darkness. These have apparently been replaced, because they're fine now. Now if they could JUST REPAVE THE BUMPY PATH!!! The big gaps in the path were patched summer '07, and the timing on the traffic light at Arthur was improved for bikes in fall '07. Now if we could only do something about the rough pavement on the Russell Bike Path west of 113 and Orchard Park Drive between The Domes and La Rue Road! (Dec 2007)

American-Style Buffet

The new Segundo Dining Commons has all kinds of food to please all manner of tastes. The salad bar has what I missed from Fresh Choice, at a comparable price too.

  • I also have to comment that Davis needs more places like smorgasbords, or places like Fresh Choice. It would make sense to have a place like that in a college town. For one thing that place would see lots of business. For Davis being so open-minded and "liberal", they seem to be somewhat restrictive when it comes to having more affordable places to eat at and shop at. I really don't believe that a person should have to spend on average of $7.00 for a meal, that's too expensive, I don't care who you are, that's too expensive, they need things to be in the range of $4.00-$5.00. —MikeMele
    • Being liberal does not necessarily mean living in an affordable manner, they just know how to better help people with less money than those people themselves. — hankim
    • I eat out all of the time and I must say that there are LOTS of options under $5.50 and plenty of options in the $3-5 range. —JH
  • It would be nice to see an American style buffet place, but Fresh Choice kinda sucks and tricks people into thinking that buffet=saving money. It costs $8 for lunch + $1 for drink, has few meat options (e.g., 10 miniature meatballs per gallon of sauce), and serves food easily prepared at home. In terms of quality, their best dishes are easily trumped by the canned and frozen food equivalents you can buy for cheaper at Food for Less. In contrast, many Chinese and Indian restaurants have buffets for less than $7, and have a full selection of meats and foods difficult to prepare at home. —CraigBrozinsky
    • Still cheaper (depends) and better tasting than the Dining Commons.

Target

Also see Davis Wish List/Target.

Luggage

  • I needed a new suitcase. Gottschalk's had an ad for luggage in their Sunday paper insert. But Gottschalk's in Davis doesn't carry luggage. Sale was only at the larger Gottschalk's in Sacramento. I couldn't think of anyplace else in Davis to buy a suitcase either. I drove to Arden Fair. —SteveGreen

Coworking Space

There must be enough independent, self-employed, work-from-home, creative people in town to support a coworking space.... anyone interested in pursuing this with me?

Check out http://daviscoworking.blogspot.com (opening in early March at 213 E St., above Luigi's Pizza)

Coworking is great! If you work from home, are self-employed, spend hours on end in cafes working, or don't like the work environment at your real office and have the flexibility to be elsewhere, try it!

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