Welcome to the Locker Room, downtown San Jose’s ‘one-stop concierge’
Like Johnny Cash, San Jose Sports Authority Executive Director John Poch has been everywhere. He used to travel every month to different cities to see their sports events, looking for San Jose’s next potential opportunity.
And just about every city he went to had some sort of visitor center. But San Jose didn’t have one — until this week with the launch of the Locker Room — a visitor center and merchandise store — in downtown San Jose.
“The intent of this visitor center is a one-stop concierge service,” Poch said.
The Locker Room name fits in with San Jose’s emphasis on the big sports events coming to the San Jose area in 2026, starting with Super Bowl LX at Levi’s stadium on Feb. 8, continuing with NCAA men’s basketball tournament games at SAP Center in March and going big with six FIFA World Cup games at Levi’s in June and July. There’s shirts, hats and other items for sale from the city’s sports teams — the Sharks, Barracuda, Earthquakes, BayFC and San Jose State — as well as San Jose-branded clothes and items.
But it’s a lot more than just a place to shop. You can stop in and get information on restaurants, theaters and other venues, take a breather and catch up on your emails using free Wi-Fi or book one of its public spaces aimed at nonprofits — a conference room, a speaking area with chairs and a stage and a podcast studio. There’s also an Earthquakes-BayFC branded foosball table if you’re really looking to cut loose.
The Locker Room won’t close down when the big sporting events leave town, either, and is planned as a long-term resource for San Jose (which will also give real-world experience to hospitality management program students at San Jose State, Poch’s alma mater). It’s located at 93 E. San Fernando Street and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with weekends — noon to 5 p.m. — expected to be added starting March 1.
COSTUME GEM CLOSING: If you ever had an invite to a costume party and needed a knock ’em dead outfit or a dance student who needed new shoes, Natasha’s Attic has been the place to go for decades. But nothing lasts forever, not even Natasha’s Attic, which announced it’ll be closing its doors in the next few weeks.
There was an announcement on Facebook last weekend that the store’s building on Race Street had been sold to a new owner — and Natasha’s Attic was given its 30-day notice. That combined with a recently diagnosed health situation for owner Kathy Bell signaled to her it was time to retire, the post said.
Until the closing — and there’s not an exact date yet — customers are invited to come by 376 Race Street for a closeout sale. It’s all first come, first served, and cash is preferred.
KICKING OFF LUNAR NEW YEAR: The valley’s first big Lunar New Year celebration takes place in Santa Clara this weekend, and there should be more than 30,000 in attendance as it brings together several of the South Bay’s Asian communities to welcome the Year of the Horse.
The fifth annual event, co-sponsored by Diana Ding’s Silicon Valley Community Media and OMG Entertainment, opens at 3 p.m. Saturday with a ceremony and lion dance and continues Sunday, starting at noon. Festivities will include music and dance performances, art exhibits and food vendors with Lunar New Year bites from different cultures. It all takes place at 900 Lafayette Street in Santa Clara, and admission is free.