Olympia Glass Co.
During the late afternoon hours of the day, this shaded corner of the block stands out by standing in. Among the shops that currently populate either side of Cherry Street’s end, Olympia Glass Co. remains one of two buildings for lease and appears to be used only for storage. A stroll down this part of Cherry Street rewards the senses with the smell of Mexican food and more strongly, fresh roasted coffee, while providing warmth from sunlight that seldom reaches parts of the opposite corner. A walk along State Ave. is noticeably less friendly. Much more shaded in the afternoon, this part of the block lies across the street from a fenced off area of grass and wet ground. This area, which I assume was the previous location for more buildings, is all that lies between this block and the East Bay Waterfront. Fewer plants on the sidewalk and smells of the bay mingle with the sounds of birds bathing and the mechanic down the road. Spiral brackets that surround the roof of this old building as well as the faded and peeling blue paint contribute to the general aged feeling of the place. With not much to offer on this side of the street besides shade and the Pilates Center, the sidewalk is walked less while the road remains well traveled and possibly a shorter route then busier sides of the block due to its location in thick of commerce on the more popular side of the block.
