Dear Councilmembers,
I have lived in Menlo Park for 14 years now and have been in the Stanford/Palo Alto area since 1977.
The project to save the Guild Theater is a great one. The Guild is a treasured icon on El Camino as the theater crowd has died
down some so this project allows the use of theater or the theater space for art films, entertainment and music by creating a new,
vibrant spot while preserving the things we love about having a theater in downtown.
As a taxpaying Menlo Park resident, I am asking you to please review this unique opportunity in the near term so we don't lose
this possibility to a neighboring town. This is a special opportunity that we should jump on.aa
The team investing in this project seem to have the city, its history and future in mind. The use of the facility would be
primarily in evening hours reducing any traffic/parking issues that might arise. And, with new restaurants and changing times, The
Guild project provides a solid anchor for the city to continue building round allowing the rising tide to benefit all ships --
restaurants will see increased seatings, stores will sell additional product, Menlo Park will recognize more revenue and the Guild
will remain in MP.
Downtown Menlo Park is looking at an exciting fork in the road. Stay with the same routine we've seen for the last few decades or
grow in to a vibrant city that has people coming in to our town to spend their money and enjoy themselves. Growing up in Palo Alto
with access to a club called The Keystone (California Avenue) where Jerry Garcia, Tom Pettty etc would play, was great for the
city and its residents. Fingers are crossed we can see something similar with the Guild.
Please push this project forward and let's make Menlo Park a slightly bigger spot on the map.
Thanks,
Eric Glader
