San Jose approves renaming downtown street as Little Italy Way despite pushback from businesses

"Coordinating this with renaming Sharks Way creates a unified corridor that highlights two strong San Jose brands, our Italian cultural heritage and our sports pedigree, said Chris Shay, senior vice president of government affairs at Sharks Sports & Entertainment, who submitted the proposal. Together, they stitch districts and create a stronger sense of arrival into our downtown."

"A small stretch of North Almaden Boulevard in San Jose's Little Italy will now be known as Little Italy Way. City officials decided the time was right to rename a section of the boulevard just south of West Julian Street. The name change is part of the city's attempts to create a greater sense of place and a cohesive downtown with major sporting events looming as well as to commemorate the revitalization of the historic neighborhood."

"In addition to honoring the historic contributions of Italian-Americans, city officials aim to improve the perception of downtown ahead of 2026 when Silicon Valley becomes the first region to host a Super Bowl and a World Cup in the same calendar year. Between the major sporting events, city officials estimated that they could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity, making it paramount that visitors have an enjoyable experience."

A small stretch of North Almaden Boulevard in San Jose's Little Italy will be named Little Italy Way to commemorate neighborhood revitalization and honor Italian-American contributions. The renaming aligns with a recent Sharks Way designation to stitch districts and create a unified arrival corridor into downtown. Officials expect the alignment to improve visitor experience and encourage exploration of restaurants, parks, and entertainment venues ahead of major events including the Super Bowl, March Madness, and the FIFA World Cup. Some business owners opposed the change, citing logistical and financial hardship. The move follows earlier public-art additions and cleanups along Santa Clara Street toward San Pedro Square.

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