Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is rolling out a major expansion next to the organization’s Redwood City headquarters in a boost for the Peninsula’s struggling biotech sector.

The Chan Zuckerberg Institute for Advanced Biological Imaging signed a 226,000-square-foot lease at Elco Yards, a new project on the edge of downtown along the Caltrain corridor, according to people familiar with the deal. Completed at the end of December, it was one of the single largest biosciences transactions in the Peninsula market and the largest new lease overall in San Mateo County.

The agreement could provide a positive jolt to the market, real estate observers say. Bay Area life sciences companies have been cutting jobs amid a yearslong industry slowdown.

The institute targeted an area that included Palo Alto and San Carlos but favored Elco Yards because of its resources, including an ability to provide state-of-the art microscopes, sources said.  It is one of the few expansions of biosciences lab space in a Peninsula downtown.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, an umbrella entity encompassing both for-profit and nonprofit ventures with funding from Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, first moved to Redwood City from Palo Alto in 2018. CZI, as it is known, subsequently expanded to other offices in Redwood City and is currently headquartered at 1180 Main St. in the city.

The value of the imaging institute’s lease is approximately $375 million, people familiar with the deal said.

The deal comes after the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative completed an 111,000-square-foot expansion at its nearby headquarters last year, according to market data. The organization did not respond to a request from the Business Times seeking more details.

In late 2021, the Initiative pledged up to $3.4 billion in funding over the next decade to study and eventually eradicate human disease, with the imaging institute announced as part of its plans. The institute assembled an initial research team in 2022. Among its research areas, it’s exploring how superior imaging methods with high-powered microscopes could be a key to understanding such things as how cancer cells influence tumor growth.

Elco Yards is a massive development in downtown Redwood City. Developed by IQHQ, it features a mix of properties with about 670,000 square feet of life sciences and office space and hundreds of planned residential units. At roughly eight acres, the project includes four buildings, each averaging just over 200,000 square feet. The Chan Zuckerberg imaging venture took one of those buildings.

Elco Yards was designed by WRNS Studio and is marketed for lease by Cushman & Wakefield’s Ben Paul. Mike Courson, with Newmark, and Matt Germino, with CBRE, represented Chan Zuckerberg in lease negotiations.

The popular saying “an army marches on its stomach” could be credited to Frederick the Great or Napoleon Bonaparte, but the adage also applies to the legions of Silicon Valley tech workers. An army of industrious Bay Area innovators and worker bees needs to be well-supplied with food and other necessities to be effective.

Silicon Valley is home to a range of dining options. The pandemic was harsh on many owners and general managers while creating opportunities for others. Here’s an overview of restaurants and dining establishments planning to open in 2025, with some we lost in 2024.

San Jose

Adega: San Jose’s only Michelin-starred restaurant reopened in October after closing in December 2023. Serving Portuguese cuisine, owners Carlos and Fernanda Carreira had planned to turn the 1614 Alum Rock Ave. location into a second location for their Petiscos restaurant but had a most welcome change of heart.

Augustine: The Bacchus Management Group’s second restaurant in Santana Row will offer Mediterranean cuisine in two dining rooms across 8,000 square feet as well as a 3,000-square-foot patio space. The site, formerly a dim sum restaurant, will also have a reservations-only cocktail bar.

Campus Burgers: Home of the $2 smash burger, this family-run burger stand opened in July offering students and locals an inexpensive alternative to the larger chains. Located across the street from San Jose State University at 108 Paseo de San Antonio, this little burger joint has become a student staple.

California Fish Grill: Coming soon to the Evergreen Circle shopping center at 2394 Evergreen Place, this will make three Silicon Valley locations of the healthy fast-food chain.

Caminos de Michoacán: Offering up authentic Mexican cuisine like goat birria tacos, menudo and enchiladas michoacanas at 5138 Monterey Road in San Jose.

Dough Burger: Big burgers, shakes and fries at 1721 Old Bayshore Highway. “All meat is Hand-Slaughtered Halal,” they brag on their website.

El Amigo: Family-style Mexican food and beverages located in Santa Teresa Village, in South San Jose. Regulars love the wet burrito as well as breakfast favorites like huevos rancheros and machaca.

Eos & Nyx: This Mediterranean-inspired two-story dining complex comes from MO Hospitality Group, the folks driving Downtown San Jose’s revival with MiniBoss, PaperPlane, Still O.G., and Alter Ego. The restaurant opened this past November as part of Urban Catalyst’s Paseo project.

Hey Chicken: This fried chicken fast-food joint opened at 670 River Oaks Pkwy. last year.

La Korita Restaurant: Offering up a combination of traditional Mexican street foods like tacos and quesa birrias in what was formerly Tony P’s Park Ave Bar & Grill, La Korita also offers a Mexican seafood menu.

La Más Querida Cantina & Cocina: Located at King and Story Road, this Mexican bar and restaurant that aims for a festive, fiesta feel.

Los Arcos Restaurant: Traditional Mexican food and entertainment that’s been open for more than a year on Tully Road. Live entertainment, big portions, and plenty of parking.

Mendocino Farms: The sandwich shop opened its fourth location in San Jose at the Westgate Center offering up its trademark “fast-casual” fare of gourmet sandwiches and salads.

Moonwake Coffee Roasters: What began as a pop-up cafe out of the back of a Tesla Cybertruck, husband and wife team of Ming Wood and Mabel Yeung opened a cafe proper at 1412 Saratoga Ave. in West San Jose this past fall bringing a little Apple Store atmosphere to coffee culture. 

Mylapore South Indian Restaurant: Opened in April in the Westgate Mall, Mylapore offers quick, easy, and inexpensive vegetarian dishes like dals, dosas, and jaggeries.

Pizza Guys: The Sacramento-based chain opened its fourth San Jose location at 2471 Berryessa Road, Suite 2 in September as part of its plan to open eight more franchises in the state.

The Pressroom: Located at the intersection of Santa Clara and North Almaden Ave., this upscale restaurant and bar will be the latest addition to restaurateur David Mulvehill’s San Jose mainstays, Five Points craft cocktail bar, O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub, Dr. Funk Rum House, and Hella Good Burger. Done in partnership with Nuvo Hospitality Group, it’s expected to open in early 2025.

Pho King Restaurant: Celebrating chicken noodle pho, this Vietnamese restaurant at 385 Kiely Blvd. also celebrates traditional pork chops and spicy beef noodle soup.

Raising Cane’s: The fried chicken finger chain, founded in Louisiana in 1996, plans to open later this year at the Evergreen Circle shopping center.

Shake Shack: The New York-based gourmet burger chain opened a third location in San Jose at the Westgate Center at 1640 Saratoga Ave. with a rumored fourth location to be on the way in 2025.

Taelynn Cafe: A modern Vietnamese coffee shop located in the Sun Plaza offers a variety of teas and coffees with some small bites like beef and rice and banh mi sandwiches.

Tang’s Asian Vegetarian Restaurant: A Vietnamese specialty restaurant — an all-vegetarian menu — opened on the site of Champa Kitchen, a halal-style Vietnamese restaurant. Foodies on social media praise Tang’s use of meat alternatives like mushrooms and bean curd as well as being one of the more sensibly priced veggie restaurants in the area.

Wowmia Pizza: Recently opened pizza joint that offers an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet as well as its signature pizzas at 2951 Monterey Rd.

Sunnyvale

Bafang Dumpling: Taiwan’s premiere dumpling chain is set to open this summer at the Santa Clara Square, 2702 Augustine Dr. offering up potstickers, dumplings, and beef noodle soup,

Mylapore: The sister restaurant to the San Jose location which opened in April last year, this South Indian-style restaurant opened in September at 1025 W El Camino in Sunnyvale, formerly the site of family-owned Pezzella’s Villa Napoli Italian Cuisine.

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe: The Denny-owned restaurant opened its doors Nov. 11 at 311 South Mathilda Ave. Keke’s is known for its handmade classic American breakfast combos featuring waffles, pancakes, French toast, omelets, grits, bacon and sausages. The company said its California location, managed by Tyler Etter, includes the restaurant chain’s first cocktail bar that serves regionally sourced wines, beers and espresso coffee.

Fremont

Din Ding Dumpling House: More than three years after a fire burned down its original location, this Fremont staple reopened this past September in downtown Fremont’s Capitol Square at 3768 J Capitol Ave. bringing back its assortment of dumplings, noodles and veggies.

Fremont Food Hall: Located at 3768 Capitol Ave., the food hall offers three unique dining experiences: Capture Coffee, an adventurous coffee shop; Smochi, which makes mochi donuts, and the Korean-style hotdog vendor, Ya! Daebak.

Los Gatos

Dar Restaurant and Bar: Setting up shop in what was once the California cuisine bistro Eleven College Ave., Dar was founded by brother Milad and Esam Shaqir, bringing Mediterranean food to Los Gatos’ Soda Works Plaza. The brothers had found success in Saratoga with their first restaurant, the Tamra Mediterranean Grill.

107 Bistro & Wine Bar: Located at the Testarossa Winery in Los Gatos Bistro 107 opened this past October, a response to what owner Rob Jensen said was demand from his customers. The menu offers everything from charcuterie to full-course dinners all offered with the winery’s best vintages.

Mountain View

Joyous Cuisine: Opening last February, Joyous offers Guizhou-style Chinese cuisine with mixture of sour and spicy flavors particular to this Central China province. Noodle dishes dominate the menu, with beef, lamb, fish and varieties of tripe on offer.

Broma: Spanish and Portuguese inspired food from Michelin star Chef Jared Gallagher, located in the newly opened Shashi Hotel, a stone’s throw from both the Computer History Museum and the Google campus. Diners love the cozy atmosphere, eclectic menu and service.

Idly Express: From the owners of San Jose and Sunnyvale’s Mylapore comes the latest Indian fast-food restaurant. This location opened in July, joining three other Silicon Valley locations, San Jose, Milpitas, and Fremont.

Monterey

The Lantern Room and Tidewater: The Lantern serves breakfast and dinner as part of Monterey’s first waterfront hotel, the Monterey Beach Hotel, while guests and visitors can enjoy light fare and cocktails on the Tidewater deck overlooking the sea.

Morgan Hill

Hotel MOHI by Appellation: Though not expected to open until Fall 2025, this latest hotel/destination — located at 17490 Monterey Road — is the brainchild of Léal Hospitality, celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, and luxury hospitality veteran Christopher Hunsberger. The menu is expected to be farm-to-table, highlighting local wines and vintners.

Palo Alto

Horsefeather: Coming in 2025, this trendy brunch, lunch and dinner place will be located across the street from Stanford University in the Town & Country Village shopping center. The restaurant is the brainchild of Justin Lew, Hanson Li, and Tiffany Yam, the folks behind popular San Francisco bars Horsefeather and Last Rites.

RH Rooftop Restaurant at RH Palo Alto: Luxury home furnisher RH (with headquarters in Corte Madera) opened its latest experiential showplace this last May at the Stanford Shopping Center on the site of the former Macy’s Men’s building. The year-round sky lighted space with live olive trees and dazzling chandeliers offers updated California cuisine breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a weekend brunch menu.

Macarena: Scheduled to open in February, this Spanish comfort food restaurant, located at 420 Ramona St., is in the middle of a controversy, as it faces a lawsuit from former employees, accusing the owners of stealing their recipes.

Santa Clara

Clara’s Junction: This past September saw the opening of this casual dining restaurant and beer garden on the site of a former Carl’s Jr. in the city’s Tasman East neighborhood. The menu offers a wide variety of sharing platters as well as salads and bowls, smash burgers and grilled vegetables and entrees.

Kunjip: Savory, comforting Korean comfort food like Seolleong Tang, an ox-bone broth served with beef and noodles, or Galbi Tang, the beef short rib soup served with glass noodles, opened at 1066 Kiely Blvd. in Santa Clara last year to great success.

Closures

Red Lobster: The Fremont location, at 39401 Fremont Blvd., was one of 100 restaurants closed last year as the national restaurant chain went through a major bankruptcy and restructuring. Two Silicon Valley Red Lobsters remain open in Salinas and San Jose.

Pezzella’s Villa Napoli: After more than 68 years, this Sunnyvale landmark closed its doors in July after Global Investments, LLC purchased the restaurant’s site for $4.6 million. Owner Vince Pezzella, 83, who ran the restaurant with his son, Rafael, and daughter, Maria, decided it was time to hang up their aprons and take a break. 

Starbucks: San Pedro Square’s Starbucks closed the first week of January, with 10 of its employees being transferred to other San Jose locations. The store had successfully unionized in March 2024.