Getting to The Office Via Public Transportation

By Train

Caltrain
The nearest Caltrain Station is the San Antonio Station , located at 190 Showers Drive, Mountain View, 94040.  There is currently no bus or shuttle service from this location to the Elwell Court Office Buildings, however the distance is only 2.6 miles and bike lockers are available at the Train Station.  If you are interested in a bike locker at this station, please contact us for details.

The third nearest Caltrain station is the California Avenue Station, located at 101 California Ave, in downtown Palo Alto.  Currently the City of Palo Alto offers the Embarcadero Free Shuttle, running between the train station and Embarcadero Road at E. Bayshore, approximately 1.5 miles up E. Bayshore Road from Elwell Court.  Details on the Shuttle can be found here:
Map - http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=12510
Schedule - http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=24006

The ACE Train connects the East Bay to Silicon Valley.  They offer a free shuttle from the ACE Train’s Great America Station to San Antonio at East Bayshore.
ACE Train Shuttle Map:  http://www.vta.org/schedules/pdf/ace_shuttle_map.pdf
Schedule Here:  http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_824.html

By Light Rail   

Want to take the Light Rail to work from Campbell, or San Jose? 
http://www.vta.org/schedules/lr_interactive_map/lrBusMap.html

From the Middlefield Light Rail Station, the Hetch-Hetchy Trail provides off-street bicycle and pedestrian commuter access to the Stevens Creek Trail servicing the Shoreline/East Bayshore area. http://www.mountainview.gov/city_hall/comm_services/shoreline_regional_wildlife_area/wildlife_habitats/hetch_hetchy_trail.asp

  By Bicycle   

Would you like to ride your bike to work?  You can access the Palo Alto Open Space Trails to get the Elwell Court Office buildings!  See the map here:
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/media/reports/1217551217.pdf

If you are coming from South Palo Alto, don’t miss the Adobe Creek Undercrossing, which passes under highway 101, right next to the Elwell Court buildings.  This undercrossing joins the Adobe Creek Bay Trail off of East Bayshore Road with E. Meadow Drive in South Palo Alto.  The undercrossing is subject to closure from flooding between October 15th and April 15th, but the city is working on a plan to improve it and make it a year round access route. 
Here is a photo in case you don’t know where to find it.

Live in Mountain View or Los Altos? You can ride your bike to work from the Stevens Creek Trail, for more go here:

Want to Go For a Bike Ride, but You Don’t Ride a Bike to Work?
No problem, we will supply racks/bike boxes exclusively for our tenants’ use.  Just let us know how many you need, and when you are ready, so is your bike!  Explore the Bay Trails, ride to lunch, or visit a friend in another building.

Maps of Bay Trails You Can Ride a Bike On   

Palo Alto Baylands   
Shoreline Park

Great Lunch Outings by Bike-

Ride to Lakeside Café or Michaels by Shoreline Lake-

Ride to Mings, Abundant Air, or Bay Café

Preferred Vendors    
Operating your business requires a lot of support for your employees and business services.  Don’t know where to start?  Here is a list of recommended vendors for the buildings.  These folks already service tenants in the buildings, have a good reputation with us, and know what is required to do business in the buildings.  This list is a work in progress, so please update us with any reviews, recommendations or comments.

Moving    

Shamrock Moving & Storage Inc. - Professional movers who can move your office furniture and equipment quickly, efficiently and at competitive rates.  Reliable crews and great customer service.
950 O'Brien Dr
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 638-1777
www.ShamrockMovingStorage.com

Signs   

Rivera Signs –Handles all of our sign needs for the building.  If you need to change your sign, or want a custom logo, please contact us, but also feel free to call them for ideas and estimates. They also do a great job with vehicle signs, marketing materials, etc.
Chester Rivera
(408) 258-1089
riverasigns@yahoo.com
http://www.riverasigns.com/

Locksmith

Foster Brothers Security Systems – “Silicon Valley’s Security Experts” – Foster Brothers handles all the building locks and doors.  If you need additional keys, want to put locks on your interior doors, want a re-key or have an emergency lock out, they are the people to call.  Great service, plus they have our master codes and will insure your job meets building specs.
555 South Murphy Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086-6117
(408) 736-4500

Security/Alarms/Access   

Protection Plus Security Services - Security, Alarms, Cameras, Key Card Access Systems-
Protection Plus handles all building security for us.  They are qualified, professional, reliable, and know the buildings well.  Call them if you are interested in installing alarm systems, cameras, or key card access systems to your suite that will sync with the building access cards.
Pat Torpey
(510) 770-9900
40543 Encyclopedia Circle
Fremont, CA  94538
http://www.protectionplussecurity.com/

Internet/Broadband   

Fiberhigh- Great bandwidth and personal service.  David provides 20-40 mbit/sec internet service to the buildings, custom IT support, and very high bandwidth collocation services.
David Gjerdrum
989 Commercial St., Palo Alto, CA
650 964 5623
David@fiberhigh.com

Comcast Business Class Internet - Great speeds at reasonable prices.  Ivan personally services our buildings, email him, or give him a call for the latest services and pricing.  Please note, you must go through Ivan to get service to the buildings, as Comcast does not have us in their system properly.
Ivan Castro
(415) 265-3226 direct line
(415) 358-8775 fax
ivan_castro@cable.comcast.com

VOIP (Internet Phone Systems)   

Broadband Phone Systems make setting up your phone system, quick, easy and very affordable for small companies to have multiple extensions, outlook and database integration, virtual PBX and call attendants, etc.  Plus, you can keep your phone number forever, regardless of where you move to.  We highly recommend using such systems to cut down on wiring complexity, phone vendor costs and easy moves and expansions.

8x8 - A stand alone VOIP provider of service, support and equipment, they have great customer service and support, cutting edge equipment and multi tiered pricing so any size company can have a professional phone system.  Plus, you can use their service with any broadband provider.  They offer Outlook/Exchange integration, email notifications and voicemails, smartphone integration, etc.  We use them and are very happy with their services.
Ask for pricing for Elwell Court Tenants.
Jeff Weinberg                                       
Business Solutions Specialist
8x8, Inc. | www.8x8.com
Direct 877-282-6919 (toll free)
jweinberg@8x8.com
Product Demo - http://www.get8x8.com/8x8_VO_Demo/VOdemo_content.html - This product offered at special pricing to Elwell Court Tenants – Contact Jeff and tell him you are one of Jason Oderio’s tenants.

Comcast - Comcast also has a phone bundle that can be combined with their internet service that is affordable and easy one stop shopping.  The downside is you must stay with Comcast if you use this service. Contact Ivan (See preferred vendor info for Comcast above)

Furniture/Cubes/Space Planning   

CORT – Business Furniture Rental
Not Sure what you will need six months from now?  Cort offers flexible furniture solutions that can be upgraded, expanded or contracted with short notice, and no large up front purchase expenses.  Gloria can take care of all your space planning needs and can even offer you rent to own options if your growth becomes more concrete.  Special deals for Elwell Court Tenants, just notify her you are one of our tenants or reference Jason Oderio.
Gloria Mauro
Account Executive
4995 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95051
T 408.984.0433  F 408.984.2137
gloria.mauro@cort.com

Modular Technology - Specializes in used furniture set up and installations.  All the benefits of a new furniture vendor, but with discount prices for furniture that has been lightly used.
Terry Kissinger
650-209-6802
tkissinger@modulartechco.com

Business Insurance   

 Ludwig and Fawcett, Inc. - Outstanding Insurance company that offers comprehensive business insurance options, can get you a policy that meets the requirements of your lease quickly and reasonably.  Also a great choice for all your other personal insurance needs, family owned and operated, they really do take a personal interest in your needs and are extremely helpful when you need them.
Dave Fawcett
650-528-4100
http://www.ludwigfawcett.com/
dave@ludwigfawcett.com

Human Resources & Health Insurance   

 Bayside Insurance Services - is an Elwell Court Tenant and provides employee benefit and HR specialists providing comprehensive benefit and administrative solutions to Bay Area Employers.  For more information or a complimentary benefit program review please contact:
Bayside Insurance Services
1000 Elwell Court, Suite 201, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: (650) 858-4950
http://www.baysideins.com/
ken@baysideins.com

Legal Services

 TIPS Group - is an Elwell Court Tenant and a great resource for companies!
Areas of expertise include: patent, trademark and copyright law; business/corporate law; commercial litigation; intellectual property litigation; and real estate transactions.
TIPS Group attorneys registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and licensed to practice law in California, Washington D.C., Washington State, Virginia, Massachusetts and Texas. 
TIPS Group
1000 Elwell Court, Suite 150
Palo Alto, CA  94303-4318
650.293.3350
http://www.tipsgroup.com/
info@tipsgroup.com

Accounting   

John DeBoni, CPA – Specializes in small to mid size business accounting and finance.  He is easy to work with and aggressive about saving companies money.  If your accountant is not using Cost Segregation Analysis to create substantial tax savings, give John a call and see if he can help you.
John DeBoni, CPA
6120 Hellyer Avenue #175
San Jose, CA 95138
(408) 972-1700
jdeboni@sbcglobal.net

Marketing   

VistaPrint- Stationary, Business Cards, Flyers, Pamphlets, custom gifts with company logos.  
GREAT prices!  Easy design tools, lots of products!  If you don’t currently use them, check them out!
http://www.vistaprint.com/

Waste and Document Shredding   

Palo Alto Greenwaste- Refuse, large scale material removal, e-waste, etc.  Basically anything that doesn’t fit in the trash for janitorial removal, or anything you can’t put in the dumpsters – see tenant guide for more details.
http://www.greenwaste.com/commercial-services

Piranha Shredding – Secure, dependable, family run and friendly too.
3835 Phoenix Ct
San Jose, CA 95130
(408) 615-8404
www.pshredding.com

Special Services Just for Elwell Court Tenants!   

We know you are busy with your business, so we have set up special relationships with exceptional vendors to provide services to Elwell Court Tenants.  Take advantage of their custom care and let them make your life easier!

Auto Cleaning and Detailing   

5 Star Auto Detailing of Mountain View - 5 Star Auto detailing will come out to the property, get your keys from you, clean and detail your car for you while you work, and bring you keys back to you without you having to spend any time at the carwash.  They do great detail work at very reasonable prices.
David Siress
650-967-1100
http://fivestarautodetailing.com/

Dry Cleaning   

Well Pressed - No time to stop for Dry Cleaning?  Well pressed will come to your office, pick up your laundry, wash, press, dry clean, make alterations, etc, and drop it back off at your office a few days later.  Great quality, friendly service and unmatched convenience.
Please contact us to set up your pick up/delivery service.
Well Pressed
Mountain View, CA
(800) 651-9355
www.wellpressed.com

Places To Eat  
We have dozens of great places to eat within a two mile radius, here is a short list of restaurant ideas, email us if you have a favorite we need to add!

In no particular order….

Plaza Deli – Also known as the “Secret Deli”, this place has great food and a friendly, hands on proprietor Jouhaina (and her helper Sam) that will make you a regular after your first visit.  This is the only Deli that is truly within walking distance of our office buildings.  There is actually a shortcut from our parking lot that goes straight through, but since it crosses other landlords’ properties, I can’t advertise it, you’ll have to find it yourself!
2680 Bayshore Parkway
Mountain View, CA, 94043
650-965-3189
Online menu http://www.baysidebusinessplaza.com/Plaza_Deli_Menu.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Plaza-Deli-Cafe/350965097354  facebook page has their daily specials

Mings – A fixture in the area for 40 years, they have an extensive dim sum lunch, full lunch and dinner menu,  and don’t forget to try their famous Chinese Chicken Salad.  Open 365 days a year, extensive facilities, and great ambiance for your business lunch.
1700 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303     
Tel: (650)856-7700     Fax: (650)855-9479
http://www.mings.com/home/
http://www.mings.com/onlineorder.jsp - order online here for pick up and delivery, 24 hours advance notice required for delivery.

Abundant Air Café – Located right at the Palo Alto Airport is a nice little café with coffee, sandwiches, a fresh soup of the day, salads and daily specials.  Quick, easy, inexpensive and seldom crowded.  Outdoor tables and small planes taking off make it a fun place to eat on a nice day.
1901 Embarcadero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303-3324
(650) 858-1003

www.abundantair.com  

Bay Cafe Restaurant – Across the parking lot from Abundant Air, it is the restaurant on the PA muni golf course.  Good sandwiches and monster breakfast burritos are the draw.
1875 Embarcadero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303-3333
(650) 856-0999
www.baycaferestaurant.com

Chipotle Mexican Grill - Great Mexican fast food/burritos
2400 Charleston Rd.
Mountain View, CA 94043
650.969.6528  F: 650.969.3765
Online Menu   http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/menu/menu.aspx
Order here for take out  https://order.chipotle.com/

Lakeside Café @ Shoreline Lake – Outdoor seating next to the lake is a peaceful respite from the corporate lunch world.  Truly an oasis, the ambiance is great, and you can go for a paddle boat ride afterwards to burn off the calories.  A great place to ride your bike to!
3160 N Shoreline Blvd
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 965-1745
www.shorelinelake.com
Menu - http://www.shorelinelake.com/cafe/menu.htm

La Costena Custom Burritos – If you are serious about burritos, and don’t care about ambiance, this is the place!  Tucked in the back of a Mexican convenience store, they have been serving some of the best burritos in the bay area for decades.  Take your pick of sumptuous meats, veggies and toppings and grab a seat (limited seating!) or take it back to the office.  Either way, it’s absolutely delicious.  You can call your orders in as well, but definitely go there a few times first to discover your favorite combos.
2078 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA 94043-2402
(650) 967-4969
www.costena.com

Taqueria La Bamba – Right next to La Costena, this taqueria has equally great food.  Just like it’s neighbor, it’s hole in the wall appearance masks great Mexican fare. 
2058 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA 94043-2402
(650) 965-2755

Mike's Café – Neighborhood eatery with a real “locals” feel.  Good for lunch and brunch.
2680 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306-2515
(650) 473-6453
www.mikescafes.com
menu  http://www.mikescafes.com/menus/PA%20Lunch.pdf

Fiesta Del Mar – Mexican sit down restaurant with great food and specializing in fresh seafood dishes.  If you go for lunch, better get there early.
1005 North Shoreline Boulevard
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 965-9354
www.fiestadelmar.com
order online - https://fiestadelmar.dashorder.com/order?store=fiesta-del-mar

Hanabi Sushi – Suprisingly good everyday sushi for being next to Costco
1040 N. Rengstorff Ave. #A1
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 988-8686
www.hanabisushi.net

Hon Sushi – If you like creative rolls, big servings and low prices, this place is worth checking out.  Great selection of rolls, lunch plates, and good selection of fresh fish.
1477 Plymouth Street
Mountain View, CA 94043-1220
(650) 967-9279

The Sports Page – So where do you go to see the game, have a drink, or sit outside and have a burger and a beer, some deep fried jalapeño poppers, play some pool, darts, ping pong or even a game of volleyball?  The Sports Page is the place.  Definitely a “Dive”, but in the best way, this is the place to relax and unwind.  Tons of TV’s, huge outdoor patio, and dark and malty inside.  Be aware, this can be the unofficial dive bar of Google, so get here early if there is a game on.
1431 Plymouth St
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 961-1992
www.sportspagemv.com

Piazza's Fine Foods – An upscale grocery store, with a quality old time Italian deli, it’s a great place for hearty sandwiches, prepared salads and sides, and you can grab a block of gourmet cheese, crackers, and fruit while you are there.
3922 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303-4733
(650) 494-1542
www.piazzasfinefoods.com

The Country Deli – Homestyle deli known for sandwiches, salads and soups.
1674 North Shoreline Boulevard
Mountain View, CA 94043-1375
650) 968-5337
www.countrydelicafe.com

Pizzeria Venti – Lighter Pizza and Italian food.
1390 Pear Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 254-1120
www.mvpizzeriaventi.com
online menu   http://mountain-view.eat24hours.com/restaurant/pizzeria-venti/640/index.php?tmenu=740

Dittmer's Gourmet Meats & Wurst-Haus – Authentic German butcher and delicatessen, they have an awe-inspiring selection of meats and delectables.  Absolutely worth a trip for lunch or to pick up your dinner proteins on the way home.
400 San Antonio Rd
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 941-3800
www.dittmers.com

In-N-Out Burger - The SoCal Cult Favorite
1159 North Rengstorff Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043-1717
http://www.in-n-out.com/menu.asp

L & L Hawaiian Barbecue
2430 Charleston Rd
Mountain View, CA 94043-1622
(650) 967-2555
Website   www.hawaiianbarbecue.com
Online Menu   http://hawaiianbarbecue.com/live/menu/the-ll-menu/

Samovar Deli and Catering- Offering savory Russian and Polish foods
1077 Independence Ave.
Mountain View, CA 94043
Phone:   650-969-5327
www.bestrussianfood.com

The Crossings Café – For something a little different, the food here gets rave reviews, as does the service.  Next to the Caltrain station.
2101 Showers Dr
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 559-9989
www.twitter.com/CrossingsCafe

Sunny Bowl – Short on ambiance, but big on fresh, healthy, Korean bowls.  If you like Korean food, or would like to a fresh and healthy lunch alternative, definitely worth a try.
1477 Plymouth St. # C
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 625-0361
www.sunnybowl.com

Togo’s – The bay area favorite
1400 North Shoreline Boulevard
Mountain View, CA 94043-1345
(650) 964-0116
www.togos.com

Quiznos Subs
1390 Pear Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 969-3030
www.quiznos.com

Subway – If you feel like Subway, go to this location – Avoid the 2105 Old Middlefield location (corner of Rengstorf).  This owner seems to take a lot more pride in their establishment than some other franchises in the area.
2717 Middlefield Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 330-0402
www.subway.com

Taco Bell
910 East Charleston Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-8052
tacobell.com

KFC/Long John Silvers
2609 E. Charleston Road
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650)968-8866
www.kfc.com

Not within the two mile radius, but worth the drive!

Fuki Sushi- Arguably one of the best Japanese and Sushi Restaurants you will find in the area.
4119 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306-4004
(650) 494-9383
http://fukisushi.com/

Jin Sho – Japanese/Sushi –Cutting edge sushi, impressive presentation and quality
454 South California Ave.
Palo Alto
(650) 321-3454
www.jinshorestaurant.com

The Ace of Sandwiches – Freshly sliced meats, full range of deli specialties, traditional deli selections one right.  This place is aptly named and the place for a great sandwich.
3864 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 855-9993
www.theaceofsandwiches.com

Tamarine – Upscale Vietnamese dining.  Great food and nice ambiance.  Be sure to try the Shaking Beef!
546 University Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 325-8500
www.tamarinerestaurant.com
 
Evvia Estiatorio – Excellent Greek food and a terrific atmosphere.  If you are n the mood for Mediterranean food, try this place for a wonderful Hellenistic experience.
420 Emerson St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 326-0983
www.evvia.net

Garden Fresh – Vegan Chinese food that draws raves from vegetarians and carnivores alike.  Fresh produce and great service are its claim to fame.
460 Ramona St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 462-9298
www.gardenfresh.us

Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar – Fun!  Amazing Carribean food, party like atmosphere, exotic drinks, tropical music… what more do you need.  Great for a company outing to let off a little steam.  It’s the kind of place that doesn’t need to have good food to keep you coming back, but it does.
642 Ramona St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-9533
www.coconutspaloalto.com

Amber India – Upscale Indian food with delicious plates and first class ambiance.  Their Amber Café also delivers to your office.
2290 W El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 968-7511
http://www.amber-india.com/

Baumé – Modern French cuisine, flair, service and presentation.  Menu’s are custom built depending on the table and the available items in season.
201 S California Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 328-8899
www.baumerestaurant.com

Bistro Elan – Traditional French food, maybe as good as it gets, with no pretentions.
448 S California Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 327-0284
www.bistroelan.com

Food Delivery   
Some of the restaurants listed above will deliver, and most are available for pick up, but what if you don’t have time to pick it up and they don’t deliver?  Try one of these food delivery services.  Just call in your order from one of their many participating restaurants, and in a short time, the food arrives at your door - hot and ready to eat!

Waiters on Wheels – Palo Alto/Peninsula
https://www.waitersonwheels.com/wowx.html?cPath=13

Restaurants on the Run – Palo Alto/Peninsula
http://www.rotr.com/restaurant.aspx?ZnID=391

Grubhub.com

 http://www.grubhub.com/

Water Delivery  

 Palo Alto water is not bad, but it won’t win any awards either.  Have your water delivered for better tasting coffee, ready hydration, and the necessary office watercooler to catch up on the latest gossip.

Arrowhead Spring Water

 http://www.arrowheadhomedelivery.com

Alhambra Purified Water

 http://www.alhambrawater.com/pages/cart/cartofferspromos.jsf

Things To Do – Trails, Gyms, Sports, Outdoors  

We are lucky enough to be located in an area full of recreational activities and with over
Go for a walk on the Baylands Trail, or grab your bike and ride to lunch!

Map of the Baylands Trails

 Link here
For a guided tour of the Baylands Park Trails, check out the ABAC site:
http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/baytrail/vtour/map3/access/Btpalto/Btpalto.htm

Map of Shoreline Park Trails

http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=3669

Palo Alto Baylands WebPage

 http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/csd/parks_and_open_space/preserves
_and_open_spaces/the_baylands.asp
For a guided tour of the Baylands Park Trails, check out the ABAC site:
http://www.baytrail.org/vtour/map3/access/Btmtnvw/Btmtvw2.htm

Water Sports?  

 Shoreline Park offers a 50 acre lake to meet your needs and if you don’t own the gear, the aquatic center rents pedalboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, windsurfers and sailboats.
http://www.shorelinelake.com/

Want more room to roam?  You can also put your sailboard, kayak, or other non powered, hand carted vessel in the water at the Sailing Station at the very end of Embarcadero Road.  Guided canoe tours of the Baylands Park are also available and a great way to see the park from the “locals” point of view (650-617-3156).
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/csd/parks_and_open_space/preserves_and_open_spaces/the_baylands.asp

Golf  

Like to Golf?  We have two great courses within two miles of the buildings.  Work on your short game at lunch, get out for nine holes before work, or take your clients for an afternoon round without battling traffic.

Shoreline Golf Links – Right down the street to the south is the 18-hole Shoreline Golf Links facility in featuring 6,576 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72 . The course rating is 71.9 and it has a slope rating of 124 on Rye grass.  Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
3070 North Shoreline Boulevard
Mountain View, California 94043
(650) 903-6392
http://www.ci.mtnview.ca.us/city_hall/comm_services/shoreline_golf_links/course_information.asp

Palo Alto Muni- About two miles to the North is the Palo Alto Golf Course.  A public facility owned by the City of Palo Alto and is open to everyone, 365 days a year.
1875 Embarcadero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone (650) 856-0881
http://www.bradlozaresgolfshop.com/

Sports Facilities and Gyms   – From rock climbing to pilates, to cardio kick boxing or free weights, if you want a quick workout without the drive and the gear, you will find it within minutes of the buildings.

Twisters Sports Center – Rock climbing right around the corner from our buildings?  Yep, indoor bouldering, top roping, climbing instruction and more.  Plus gymnastics, tae kwon do and other activities.  Offering memberships and pay per visit options.  Kids club and day care options also.  Check out the web page for more.
2639 Terminal Blvd
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 967-5581
www.twisterssportscenter.com

FullForce Fitness – Class oriented, clean, stylish and female friendly, they offer exciting classes in cardio, kickboxing, pilates, core building, dance fusion etc.  Known as the fun place to sweat.  See their website for special offers.
1954 Old Middlefield Way
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 963-9853
www.fullforcefit.com

24 Hour Fitness Super Sport – One of the nicest 24 Hour Fitness gyms in the area.
2535 California St
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 935-9064
www.24hourfitness.com

Golds’ Gym – The gold standard for free weights and serious lifting.
1400 N Shoreline Blvd # D
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 940-1440
www.goldsgym.com

Tenants’ Quick and Easy Guide to Leasing Office Space  

So you need more office space or a new office?  How much do you need?  What do you have to pay for?  What is included?  What happens when you outgrow your space?
-These are all the common questions we receive from tenants, and here is summary of what to expect, what we provide at the Elwell Court, and what the standard for the area is.

How Much Office Space Do I Need?  

It depends on your use of course, but first you need to understand what the building was designed for.  Cities and Counties have requirements for how buildings are built, and builders meet these guidelines with the amount of parking, HVAC (heating and cooling), power, lighting etc. 

R&D buildings in this area, typically are designed for about 2-3 persons per 1,000 ft.  For primarily office use, like the Elwell Court Office Buildings, it’s 4 persons per each 1,000 feet of office space.  Of course these days, many companies pack a lot more people into a lot less space, but it does come at a cost.  If you have twice the occupancy the building was designed for, expect to your space to be a bit loud, a bit warm in the summer, stuffy, traffic areas will get dirty, and parking spots may be an issue when the building fills up.

It also depends on the size of the suite.  In small spaces, the reception area, storage/server/phone area, kitchen, and walkways use a considerable portion of the space.  In larger spaces, these common areas use up a much smaller percentage of the overall usable area, so you can raise the occupied density.

Luckily, in our buildings, all the infrastructure has been upgraded, we have lots of light and fresh air, and plentiful parking, so you can definitely exceed the 4/1000 baseline.

As a guide, figure if you are going to be in the space for a long time, and want to be comfortable, start with around 4-5 persons per 1,000 ft.  If you are a startup that expects to grow rapidly, start at about 3/1000 ft and plan to start looking for a larger office by the time you get to 6/1000 ft.

Here is a good guideline for standard office use based on suite size:

Suite size         Comfortable    Reasonable     Getting Tight   Maximum (Uncomfortable)
500 ft               2                      3                      4                      5
750 ft               3                      4                      5                      6
1,000 ft            4                      5                      7                      8
1,500 ft            6                      8                      10                    11       
2,000 ft            9                      11                    13                    15
2,500 ft            10                    13                    16                    19
3,000 ft            14                    17                    19                    22
4,000 ft            18                    22                    26                    28
5,000 ft            24                    28                    32                    36

These numbers are a guideline and account for an efficient layout and typical office use (30% people in private offices, the rest in open area).  If you like large private offices, more people in privates, conference rooms, or have testing, demo, or assembly areas, your space needs can climb substantially. 

What Will It Really Cost?  

Rent numbers aren’t all equal.  Especially in places like Palo Alto, where many office buildings advertise NNN rent numbers, even though you pay on a Full Service basis.  

Remember that “Net” Rents (NNN) means the quoted rate PLUS the building owners property taxes, building insurance, and building maintenance, PLUS your share of the electricity, water, sewer, HVAC maintenance,  janitorial, trash, suite maintenance, and sometimes capital expenditures.  That means even the though the advertised price is $2.50/ft, the amount you pay usually $0.75-$1.50/ft greater! 

So if you see $2.50 NNN, you could end up paying $3.75/ft according to the lease.

Additionally, many landlords will make you pay for parking, signage, lock re-keying, in suite maintenance (things like lightbulbs), etc.  Some even charge a “management fee” on top of all this, as if managing the building wasn’t their job already.

At 1000 & 1032 Elwell Court, our Full Service price is all you pay. One advertised number and it includes all your expenses. All taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, nightly janitorial, use of the common conference room, parking and even signage. You write us a check every month for the amount we agreed on, and we take care of the rest. No fees.

The only thing not included in the rent is your internet/phone expense. You contract with the vendor of your choice, and they provide the service based on your needs. What we have done however, is to wire every suite with multiple network drops back to the MPOE (communications room), so that getting you hooked up just requires a patch cable and no expensive wiring technicians.

Doing Business in Palo Alto  

(From the City of Palo Business Development Website)

Want to open a new business?  We can help.  Start here.
Palo Alto values its vibrant business community and recognizes the contribution that businesses, from small retailers to billion-dollar corporations, make to the character and economic vitality of Palo Alto.
The City of Palo Alto offers high quality services, including:

• The Economic Development & Redevelopment Program, a single point of contact for businesses located in Palo Alto
• The Palo Alto Development Center, a “one-stop” center dedicated to streamlining the building permit process for new and expanding businesses
• High-speed Internet access through the City‘s innovative dark fiber infrastructure
• Online permit tracking
• Profitable and reliable city-owned utility system that includes water, wastewater treatment, electricity, natural gas, refuse, storm drain and fiber optics
• Nationally acclaimed police and fire departments
• Long-term sewage capacity
• No business license tax
• Do I need a business license?
  The City of Palo Alto has no Business License requirements for most businesses located in or contracted to do business in the city.  
• No payroll tax
• Responsive, progressive city government
• Proximity to a critical core of high-tech businesses and services

An unequalled location:

• Known as the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley,” Palo Alto is nationally recognized as a leader in cutting-edge technology
• Home to Stanford University, Hewlett- Packard, Facebook, New York Stock Exchange, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, Sun Microsystems, The Wall Street Journal, Roche Bioscience, Genencor and other major employers
• Located between San Jose to the south and San Francisco to the north
• A highly trained, educated and world- renowned workforce known for innovation
• An excellent public school system
• Proximity to three international airports
• Home of world-class venture capital firms
• Major retail and commercial centers, including the famous Stanford Shopping Center and University Avenue
• Excellent mean household income and other demographics for retailers
• Exceptional medical facilities, including Stanford Medical Center and Palo Alto Medical Foundation
• Restaurant “superstars” such as Evvia, and Il Fornaio

For further information, please contact:
Susan Barnes
Economic Resources/Redevelopment Program Manager
250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
P.O. Box 10250, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone: 650-329-2604
Fax: 650-329-2154

City of Palo Alto
Business Web Page
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/business/default.asp

Doing Business In Palo Alto Contact List

City of Palo Alto General Information
(650) 329-2100

Economic Development & Redevelopment
(650) 329-2604
Information for businesses operating, locating or expanding in Palo Alto. Assistance to companies in understanding and working through the development process.

Fire Department
(650) 329-2184
Information on fire prevention, hazardous materials and other requirements.

Planning Division
(650) 329-2441
Provides use and occupancy permits, zoning information and other planning approvals.

Development Center
(650) 329-2496
285 Hamilton Avenue

The City provides a "one stop" Development Center with representatives from the planning, building, public works, utilities and fire departments. Permit and development questions can be answered at the Center located across the street from Palo Alto City Hall.

Office of Emergency Services
(650) 617-3197
Information on disaster preparedness, earthquakes, flooding and other emergencies.

Public Works
(650) 329-2151
Provides flood zone information, street work and encroachment permits.

Utilities General Information, Customer Service
(650) 329-2161

Utilities, Emergencies, Dispatch
(650) 329-2579

Business Accounts
(650) 329-2241

Provides water, wastewater treatment, electricity, natural gas, refuse, storm drain and fiber optics.

Local Business Resources

City of Palo Alto Economic Development & Redevelopment
250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301
Telephone: (650) 329-2604
Fax: (650) 329-2154
Web Site: /resources

Palo Alto's Economic Development & Redevelopment Dept:

• Provides a single point of contact for businesses located in Palo Alto
• Operates a "Business Outreach Program" and provides staff representatives to major business/retail groups
• Manages a business retention program that targets assistance to major revenue generating areas and uses in the City
• Facilitates City processes for businesses operating, locating or expanding in Palo Alto
• Participates in regional economic strategic efforts

Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
122 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301
Telephone: (650) 324-3121
Fax: (650) 324-1215
Web Site: www.paloaltochamber.com

The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce is the second largest chamber in Santa Clara County with more than 800 members. Palo Alto-focused relocation and information packets are available from the Chamber.

Regional Business Resources

Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
84 W. Santa Clara Street, Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95113
Telephone: (408) 494-0240
Web Site: www.siliconvalley-sbdc.org

The SBDC offers a wide variety of services for present and future business owners. Counseling and business services are confidential and free of charge.

Entrepreneurial Center
84 W. Santa Clara Street, Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95113
Telephone: (408) 494-0210
Web Site: www.ecenteronline.org/home.asp

The SBA-Cisco Systems-San Jose Entrepreneur Center is a collaborative effort between the public sector, private industry and non-profit organizations to provide small business owners with the resource information and tools they need to be successful. Together, the sponsors and contributors have developed a one-stop location where start-up and existing businesses can come to fulfill all of their needs. Services include:

• Financing programs, microloans, conventional financing, commercial real estate financing and venture capital
• Technical assistance in the form of expert counseling for start-up entrepreneurs, targeted consulting for established small to medium-sized businesses
• Training in all aspects of small business management
• Technology development of Internet and technology skills and ease of use of them
• Procurement assistance with public and private procurement and certification programs

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
84 W. Santa Clara St., Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95113
Telephone: (408) 288-8479
Web Site: www.svscore.org

The Silicon Valley SCORE provides seminars, workshops, free individual counseling and other assistance for both existing small businesses and start-ups in Santa Clara County of California.

Getting Started

County Clerk - Fictitious Business Name
County of Santa Clara Clerk's Office
70 West Hedding Street East Wing, First Floor San Jose, CA 95110
Telephone: (408) 299-2968
Recorded message: (408) 299-2968
Hours: 9-4pm
Web Site: www.clerkrecorder.org

Fictitious Business Name Statements are required to ensure that consumers have access to the true name and address of the owners of a business. A Fictitious Business Name Statement is not required if you are conducting business under a business name that contains your legal name as part of the name. All other individuals, partnerships or corporations are required to register their Fictitious Business Name at the County Clerk-Recorder's Office. Fictitious Business Name Statements are public record.
To aid in researching Fictitious Business Names, the County Clerk-Recorder's Office Business Division maintains indexes on computers and microfiche for public research. Indexes may be searched by business name or owner's name. Filing may be made in person or by mail. Applications may be obtained online at http://clerkrecorder.org/fictbusname_filings.html, in person or by sending a request and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above address.

State of California: Business Structure
State of California Secretary of State's Office
1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (916) 657-5448
Web Site: www.ss.ca.gov/business/business.htm

The California Secretary of State Business Portal provides information about starting and filing a business entity in the State of California. In addition, the portal offers information relating to business filings, forms and fees for Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Limited Partnerships, General Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships and Trademarks and Service Marks.

Zoning
City of Palo Alto Development Center
285 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94303
Telephone: (650) 617-3118
Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 8-4 pm, Wed 9-4 pm.
The City provides a "one stop" Development Center with representatives from the planning, building, public works, utilities and fire departments. Permit and development questions can be answered at the Center located across the street from Palo Alto City Hall. Before finalizing your business location, contact the Development Center to determine the zoning designation of your proposed site.
All businesses must locate in areas zoned to allow that particular business activity. Planning staff will help you determine if your business is an eligible use for that location, and whether any special review is necessary. This applies even if you plan to do business out of your home. If your business site will require any new construction or related activity, Planning staff will help guide you through any additional review required by City land use regulations, such as environmental impact reports.