The close of another year of business and the arrival of the holiday season reminds me what makes Cannery Row the top destination on the Central Coast. It’s our unforgettable setting and unique people that give our over 5 million yearly visitors endless ways to have fun and make memories with family and friends. Visitor foot traffic on Cannery Row is impressive and we continue to see strong interest from the drive market and beyond. Today, more than 60 percent of tourist traffic comes from Californians traveling within the state, versus pre-pandemic years years where we saw a steady flow of international visitors. This changing audience gives us a chance to deliver exceptional customer service and interactivity to our neighbors; it’s important to draw people out and get them busy and having fun! We have a saying at The Sardine Factory: “If we make you feel at home, we’ve made a milliondollar mistake. Our job is to make you feel better than home—otherwise why would you go out?” New attractions and stores show the creativity and passion of Cannery Row merchants, as we all work together as ambassadors to give visitors memories they can’t get anywhere else. I’m looking forward to joining you for the 30th annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Friday, November 29. Because of our thriving Cannery Row Business District, we can touch so many lives with philanthropy this holiday season and throughout the year—truly God’s work. And of course, a new year will soon be here and it brings big things for Cannery Row. I am proud to say the American Tin Cannery hotel will be under construction in 2025. The planned hotel will open with 225 beautiful rooms, located within 100 yards of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Happy Holidays from Cannery Row! Ted Balestreri, Chairman and CEO Cannery Row Company “One father said he had never seen his daughter eat with so much enthusiasm and he had to video,” remembered Anni Wang, general manager of Jack’s Bao. “We strive to make our food accessible and delicious for everyone while sticking to authentic recipes. It’s heartwarming to hear customers loving our food.” Jack’s Bao, located at 751 Cannery Row, opened in May 2024, offering a menu of authentic Shanghainese cuisine. The restaurant’s signature bao buns, soup dumplings and wontons are made from scratch with fresh ingredients. As a frequent visitor to Monterey, Wang said a gap in the local foodscape inspired her to open the family-owned Jack’s Bao on Cannery Row. “My family and I always loved visiting Monterey because of the family-oriented activities and beautiful scenery,” she said. “But we noticed a lack of culinary diversity. So when we decided to go into the restaurant business, Monterey was one of the places we wanted to establish as our flagship store.” The menu focuses on recipes sourced from Shanghai, like lion’s head meatball-noodle soup, fried wontons and roasted duck. “We love having customers that come in and tell us they have never tried Shanghainese cuisine,” Wang said. “Everyone has been so receptive and from their feedback, they’re thankful we have a menu that is easy to order from, especially for first-time customers.” The restaurant is also eagerly looking forward to welcoming guests during its first holiday season. “The holidays are all about friends and family,” Wang said, “so we are most excited about sharing our food and making memories with our customers and the Monterey community.” jackbao.com (831) 215-1703 Jack’s Bao TED Talks
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==