Have you been to the new East Village in San Jose? Maybe you have without realizing it. That’s the new branding for the East Santa Clara Street Business Association, which stretches along one of the city’s main arteries just east of downtown. You might scoff at the New York-type styling of the name, but it’s a lot easier to mention in conversation with a single breath.
The rebranding effort has been slowly taking place since last year, but it got a boost of visibility this month with the addition of artwork near the high-traffic intersection of East Santa Clara and 10th streets. That’s where artist Lila Gemellos painted a streetscape mural showing the pathway to downtown and artist and designer Luis Luna, also known as Artes Luna, colorfully decorated two sidewalk barriers at the intersection — with the “East Village San Jose” name prominent on both. Artist Lila Gemellos works on an East Village mural on the 10th Street-facing wall of Vegan Bistro and Cafe in San Jose on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
(Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) A mural on a sidewalk barrier created by artist Luis Luna, also known as Artes Luna, shows the East Village branding of the East Santa Clara Street Business District in San Jose. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) A mural by artist Luis Luna, also known as Artes Luna, on a sidewalk barrier on East Santa Clara Street at 10th street in San Jose. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) A mural on a sidewalk barrier created by artist Luis Luna, also k.
