Crime and side activities in downtown Antioch have slowed the city’s efforts to revitalize the area. But now a number of new businesses are popping up, both raising eyebrows and creating more foot traffic in the area.
Off the Charts has been in a soft opening phase since November last year. Phi Bui is the store manager and he said the community response to the downtown pot shop has been overwhelmingly positive.
“They get excited,” Bui said. “They came in and said, ‘No way, there’s one downtown.’ So they got really excited when we opened.”
Downtown Antioch is struggling to attract thriving new businesses and customers to the area. Buford Brown opened his popular BBQ restaurant just over a year ago and is already being targeted by thieves. He welcomes any business that would bring in more customers.
“It is what it is,” Brown said. “I mean, it’s something new, and it’s getting a lot of attention wherever they open. So it’s a good thing.”
Residents KPIX spoke to said right now the city needs to try new ways to put downtown Antioch on the map.
“Nobody knows this place,” Suzette and Curt said. “People outside the area have no idea Antioch even has a downtown. That’s part of it. Making people aware.’
“As cannabis becomes more mainstream, it is certainly more acceptable,” said Michelle Daggs. “People are more willing to try new things.”
Bui said Off the Charts decided to open a store in Antioch because it was a central location in the east of the province. He adds that many of the customers are from the region.
“It brings a lot of people from different cities,” he said. “People coming in are from Sac, Bay Area. They come to town just to see us because we are slowly making a name for ourselves. Word of mouth, everyone comes in to check us out.”
Brown hopes this will continue and that people will come see what Antioch has to offer. He has invested in the city and has a vision for the future.
“This place needs to be up and coming,” he said. “Because wherever there is a delta, you can see people coming together. People shopping and people talking and enjoying themselves.”
