Cannery Row Newsletter Spring 2025
Monterey County’s #1 DESTINATION Over 6.1 million visitors last year Total Visits in 2024 6.1 million Up 7.7% YOY (source: Placer.com) Total Visits YTD (Q1 2025) 1.4 million Up 13.2% YOYTD Up 14.3% YO2YTD Up 33.9% YO3YTD (source: Placer.com, Jan 1–March 31) Local Impact Cannery Row businesses account for 28% of the City of Monterey’s TOT 17.6%of the City of Monterey’s sales tax (source: City of Monterey Finance dept) Q1 Visitor Demographics: Median Household Income: $99,850 Median Age: 33 Persons per Household: 3.17 Visits by Day: Saturday 27.3%, Sunday 20.4%, Friday 15.6%, Monday 10.3%, Thursday 9.6%, Wednesday 9.5%, Tuesday 7.4% Avg. Length of Stay: 163 minutes Media Exposure Media Utilized: CanneryRow.com, Billboards, Cannery Row Visitors Guide, Paid Search, Social Media, Print ads, Programmatic Display, Radio, Podcasts, Earned Media Q1 Markets reached: Monterey County, San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, Southern California (source: CRC) World Class Results #1 Destination on California’s Central Coast
APPAREL & ACCESSORIES California Classics, 750 Cannery Row Magnolia Bridal Boutique & Studio, 400 Cannery Row Maresias Beach Wear, 660 Cannery Row Monterey’s Finest, 700 Cannery Row Monterey Mad Hatter and Apparel, 685 Cannery Row Pendleton Woolen Mills, 751 Cannery Row Rosie’s Apparel & Toy Store, 711 Cannery Row Sharky’s Shirts, 685 Cannery Row Sock Harbor, 649 Cannery Row Sunglass Hut, 750 Cannery Row Vajra Collection, 645 Cannery Row ART GALLERIES Blake Fine Art, 700 Cannery Row Cheryl Watts Pottery and Gallery, 417 Cannery Row Christine Johnson Photography, 700 Cannery Row Michelle Findlay Photography, 700 Cannery Row Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation, 425 Cannery Row Sean Gravem Photography, 700 Cannery Row Seasons of Light Gallery (Jeff Mitchum), 650 Cannery Row Suite Q Photography Studio, 711 Cannery Row Thomas Kinkade Gallery, 381 Cannery Row WJP Studios, 700 Cannery Row CIGAR LOUNGE The Humidor Fine Cigars, 765 Wave Street ENTERTAINMENT Daniels Wood Land Shooting Gallery, 700 Cannery Row Doc Wenzel’s Old Time Portraits, 700 Cannery Row Escape Room 831, 765 Wave Street Monterey Fly & Dive, (Coming Soon) 640 Wave Street Monterey Mirror Maze & Lazer Challenge, 751 Cannery Row Mrs. Laurie’s Palm & Card Reader, 711 Cannery Row Oscar’s Playground, 685 Cannery Row Paper Wing Theater & Supper Club, 711 Cannery Row Tipsy Putt, 95 Prescott Ave Treasure Hunt: The Ride, 700 Cannery Row GIFTS & MEMENTOS As Seen on TV, 700 Cannery Row Coastal Candle Creations, 700 Cannery Row CulturArts, 685 Cannery Row Enlightenment Zone, 685 Cannery Row Fine Art Turkish Grand Bazaar, 685 Cannery Row International Bazaar Monterey, 700 Cannery Row Lola Monterey, 751 Cannery Row Mackerel Jack’s Trading Co., 799 Cannery Row Nifty Gifts, 700 Cannery Row OM Rhythms, 700 Cannery Row Only in Monterey, 660 Cannery Row Plushie Zoo, 711 Cannery Row Sand and Sea, 660 Cannery Row Soap Confections, 700 Cannery Row Talavera Memories, 700 Cannery Row GOURMET FOOD Carmel Honey Company, 700 Cannery Row Monterey’s Tasty Olive Bar, 751 Cannery Row Pepper Palace, 700 Cannery Row HOTELS InterContinental The Clement Monterey, 750 Cannery Row Monterey Bay Inn, 242 Cannery Row Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, 400 Cannery Row Spindrift Inn, 652 Cannery Row Victorian Inn, 487 Foam Street Wave Street Inn, 571 Wave Street JEWELRY Kochiya Pearls & Gems, 700 Cannery Row Permanent Jewelry Monterey, 711 Cannery Row Steinbeck Jewelers, 711 Cannery Row ZFolio Gallery, 750 Cannery Row MISCELLANEOUS Five & Dime General Store, 685 Cannery Row SPA & FITNESS Alchemy Salon at The Plaza, 381 Cannery Row Diamond Beauty Lashes, 700 Cannery Row The Spa at the InterContinental, 750 Cannery Row Vista Blue Spa, 400 Cannery Row Vitality Aqua Massage and O2 Bar, 700 Cannery Row SPORTS APPAREL & ACCESSORIES Monterey Harley-Davidson, 700 Cannery Row Pebble Beach Outlet Shop on Cannery Row, 660 Cannery Row RECREATION Adventures by the Sea, 685 Cannery Row Mad Dogs & Englishmen, 400 Cannery Row WINE TASTING A Taste of Monterey Wine Market & Bistro, 700 Cannery Row Bargetto Winery Tasting Room, 700 Cannery Row The Wine Experience, 381 Cannery Row RESTAURANTS AMERICAN Lalla Oceanside Grill, 654 Cannery Row BREAKFAST & SNACKS Lilly Mae’s Cinnamon Rolls, 700 Cannery Row Quickly Boba Tea, 700 Cannery Row Starbucks, 711 Cannery Row Tidal Coffee, 400 Cannery Row CHINESE Jack’s Bao, 751 Cannery Row DESSERT & ICE CREAM Candyland, 700 Cannery Row Candy Factory, 685 Cannery Row Dippin’ Dots, 711 Cannery Row Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop, 660 Cannery Row Great American Cookies, 751 Cannery Row IT’SUGAR, 751 Cannery Row Nico’s Ice Cream, 711 Cannery Row Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, 647 Cannery Row Troya Turkish Delight & Baklava, 685 Cannery Row ITALIAN & PIZZA Cannery Pizza Co., 751 Cannery Row Coniglio Brothers Italian Deli, 750 Cannery Row Louie Linguini’s, 660 Cannery Row MEXICAN El Torito, 600 Cannery Row Tipsy Putt, 95 Prescott Ave PUB RESTAURANTS The Salty Seal Brewpub and Sports Bar, 653 Cannery Row SEAFOOD Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., 720 Cannery Row The Fish Hopper, 700 Cannery Row Schooners Monterey, 400 Cannery Row SEAFOOD & STEAKS The C restaurant + bar, 750 Cannery Row Chart House, 444 Cannery Row Sly’s Refueling Station, 700 Cannery Row The Sardine Factory, 701 Wave Street Whaling Station Steakhouse, 763 Wave Street CANNERY ROW MERCHANTS
John C. Turner is spilling the beans and sharing secrets behind a successful hotel on Cannery Row. General Manager of the InterContinental the Clement Monterey, Turner reports the hotel is off to a bustling start to the year. “The first months of 2025 we had an abundance of special events,” Turner said, including a Steinbeck-themed dinner that was so successful it will now become an annual event. Under the guidance of C restaurant + bar’s longtime executive chef Matt Bolton, special dining events will continue through the spring. Guests can choose between the hotel’s popular weekday happy hour or sit down for a new Thursday prime rib entree. A much-anticipated Japanese whisky dinner is planned for Thursday, May 22 and tickets are expected to go fast.”Japanese whisky is very hot in the food and beverage world right now,” Turner says. In addition to events, Turner says that pastry chef Michelle Lee is the hotel’s “secret weapon,” who has freshly revamped its entire dessert menu. “She is a whiz at pastry,” Turner said, describing Lee’s dramatic Basque cheesecakes and chocolate creations. Turner’s favorite is a reimagined Baked Alaska, a challenging, retro dessert. “I begged her not to take that off the menu,” he said. While not a secret, Turner said his guests get a unique chance to appreciate Cannery Row’s unmatched beauty from its location at 750 Cannery Row. “During daylight hours, guests can see sailboats, kayaks and an array of marine life from the property,” Turner said, noting migrating gray whales can be spotted this time of year. “Sunrise is particularly spectacular at our hotel.” ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/ monterey/mryha/hoteldetail (888) 424-6835 While spring “feels like a jump start” for nonstop summer fun, Barrie Riddoch of Oscar’s Playground and Escape Room 831 says that winter was plenty busy too. “We get a lot of locals,” said Riddoch, who owns Cannery Row’s Oscar’s Playground and four Escape Room 831 locations with his wife, Christina. Riddoch reports that following a steady winter, “we are booked solid with birthday parties every weekend until May.” For Riddoch, catering to locals makes perfect business sense— and has proven an effective way to offset slower visitor numbers in the off-season months. “Locals keep us alive during the off season.” As a lifelong resident of Monterey, Riddoch remembers riding his bike to Cannery Row for the carousel, arcades and pizza. Now, he is inspired to reimagine that experience for a new generation. “For years Cannery Row’s arcade and carousel were the epitome of fun. We wanted to bring the magic back,” Riddoch said. “ We wanted to give our customers the same dopamine hit we had as kids.” Oscar’s Playground, located on the third floor of 685 Cannery Row, has dopamine down—offering skee-ball, pinball and modern arcade games. And if you’re wondering, yes it is named after Oscar Hossenfelder’s – the original arcade and carousel on the Row. Riddoch says another unique benefit of Oscar’s Playground is that it offers people a place to rest. “We created a space for them to sit and plan,” Riddoch said. “We want our lounge to be a hub for Cannery Row. You come in here and everyone’s welcome and encouraged to have fun.” oscarsplayground.com (831) 241-6616 InterContinental the Clement Monterey Oscar’s Playground and Escape Room 831 MEET THE NEIGHBORS
I was still in high school when I moved from Brooklyn to Carmel in 1957. I got my start in this business as a busboy and dishwasher at places like the Highlands Inn and Asilomar Conference Center. By 18, I was a maître d’ at The Seven Pleasures—a nightclub on Fremont Street. I was in a sharp mohair suit, shaking hands at the door, and I loved every second of it. Then in 1968, with my dear friend Bert Cutino, we took a chance on a little place called The Sardine Factory. We had $968 to our names, an old milk truck for refrigeration, and a dream. And now, more than 56 years later, The Sardine Factory is still going strong. But we didn’t stop at one restaurant. We saw potential in the abandoned canneries and dilapidated buildings that surrounded us. Where others saw decay, we saw opportunity. With the support of incredible partners, we transformed Cannery Row from an industrial relic into a world-class destination. Today, it welcomes over 6 million visitors a year, making it the #1 tourism destination on the Central Coast, with award-winning hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions. What we built was never about just one business—it was about creating a place that would put Monterey on the map and give people jobs and opportunities for decades to come. The two most important things in life are character and courage—the character to know the right thing to do and the courage to do it. And if you take one thing from me, let it be this: Nobody coasts uphill. You have to push. You have to take chances. You have to believe in what you do. Because if you do what you love and love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Ted Balestreri, Chairman and CEO Cannery Row Company Photographer Sean Gravem says capturing spectacular wave and seascape images can be elusive. Hard work has paid off, however, and the results are open to the public at his studio, located at 700 Cannery Row. “I have many new images on display and available for purchase, from an awesome fall and winter of photography,” Gravem said. “Over the last several months I have been lucky to capture several images that I have been trying to get for years. They will be showing up in the shop very soon.” After nine years on Cannery Row, Gravem is experiencing a significant tide of professional momentum himself. One of his images was selected as SmugMug & Flickr’s People’s Choice favorite in 2024 and Gravem will be the subject of an upcoming documentary. Cannery Row has proven to be a big part of his success. “It has been a pleasure running our gallery alongside many other local business owners that we now call friends,” he said. Gravem scuba dives and mounts cameras to his body to achieve shorebreak photography, or snapping photos inside of waves, which is his jaw-dropping signature. Gravem’s images of waves highlight striking colors, shapes and reflections from a view many will never experience—an artistic process he is happy to share with visitors to his studio. “Customers appreciate being able to purchase local images directly from the artist who can share knowledge and personal stories about every image,” Gravem said. “Loyal customers say they always make time on their vacation to stop by and see what’s new.” gravemphotography.com Sean Gravem Photography TED Talks
Ted Balestreri, Chairman & CEO of the Cannery Row Company, Sardine Factory, and Inns of Monterey received the MCHA Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Awards Gala. Sabu Shake Jr., CFO of the Fish Hopper, honored as the 2025 MCHA Hospitality Professional of the Year. Milestones from the Row The Sardine Factory • Now in its 56th year, The Sardine Factory reaffirmed its status among the nation’s elite restaurants, by earning the 2025 Gold Award for culinary excellence and hospitality from the Distinguished Restaurants of North America . • Voted “Best Restaurant in Monterey” & “Best Wine List” by Monterey County Weekly readers. • The 32nd annual Ted J. Balestreri Leadership Classic Golf Tournament raised over $3 million in funds critical to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s mission to attract, empower and advance future leaders of the restaurant industry. Over the past 32 years, the tournament has raised over $31 million for scholarships, ProStart, and local charities. Adventures by the Sea Adventures by the Sea is happy to report they are celebrating their 38th year in business. They have three locations on Cannery Row open daily from 9am until sunset. Jacks Bao Jacks Bao restaurant is celebrating its first year of opening Memorial Day weekend. Oscar’s Playground Honored with the “2025 Elite Experience Award” by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce. Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa • Voted as one of the top 20 Hotels in Northern California in Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for seven consecutive years • Ranked as the top hotel in Monterey on TripAdvisor The Fish Hopper • The Fish Hopper Raised $5,330 in October as part of its “Sip for a Cause” campaign, the restaurant donated 50% of all proceeds from four special pink cocktails to support breast cancer research and awareness. • The Fish Hopper was voted Best Restaurant on Cannery Row by readers of the Monterey County Weekly. Paper Wing Theatre: Located on Monterey’s historic Cannery Row, the Paper Wing Theatre & Supper Club turned 24 this year and continues to be a cornerstone of local arts and culture, offering diverse productions and events that cater to a wide audience. DMT IMAGING DMT IMAGING
InterContinental The Clement Monterey / the C restaurant + bar • InterContinental The Clement Monterey was recognized as a 2024 Smart Meetings Platinum Choice award winner, celebrating extraordinary venues and destinations throughout the country. • Recognized with a gold badge ranking as one of the Best Hotels in 2024 by U.S. News & Report. FEATURED MILESTONE Treasure Hunt: The Ride Treasure Hunt: The Ride, Cannery Row’s own world-class attraction, earned the esteemed Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Recognition of Merit at the Thea Awards Gala in Los Angeles. This prestigious honor celebrates excellence in themed entertainment and experience design, recognizing outstanding achievements that captivate and engage audiences worldwide. The Thea Awards, one of the highest honors in themed entertainment, celebrates creativity and innovation in immersive attractions. This year, Treasure Hunt: The Ride is recognized for bringing Monterey’s pirate history to life through an interactive adventure beneath Cannery Row. Other Thea Award recipients this year include Tokyo Disney’s Fantasy Springs, Shanghai Disney’s Zootopia, and the Las Vegas Sphere, placing Treasure Hunt: The Ride among the industry’s top attractions. “We are incredibly honored,” said Ron Daniels, Owner & Creator of Treasure Hunt: The Ride. “This event honors the giants of the theme park industry, including international Universal and Disney parks, as well as incredible attractions from Europe and Asia. In our industry, this is on par with the Oscars, and we are thrilled to be among the three attractions globally recognized this year.” Inns of Monterey • TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards listed the Spindrift Inn in the top 10 of the ‘Best Hotels for Romance in the United States’ for the third year in a row. • Spindrift Inn was named Best Luxury Honeymoon Boutique Hotel in California by Luxury Lifestyle Awards. CELEBRATE WITH US DMT IMAGING
CANNERYROW.COM VISITORS GUIDE & MAP ENJOY THE BEST OF MONTEREY _Cover_CRVG24.indd 1 5/30/24 11:34 AM With 80,000 copies delivered in the high profile racks throughout Cannery Row and at 200 additional visitor serving locations the Cannery Row Visitors Guide is the most cost effective way to advertise to the audience in the destination. Distributed year round, the Cannery Row Visitors Guide reaches guests looking to find special prices, special products and special experiences while on the Row. Ads available in half page and full page options. Increase the impact of your ad with a strong call to action. The Best Advertising Value on the Row COMING JUNE 2025 Ad Submission Deadline: May 23, 2025 FOR MORE INFO: 831-394-5656 or email: sales@montereycountynow.com Reach visitors wanting to experience all that Cannery Row has to offer All Cannery Row Company tenants get a 20 percent discount on ad prices
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