Whole Foods, AMC Theaters open in downtown Sunnyvale
Whole Foods market and AMC DINE-IN Sunnyvale 12 movie complex are providing a major boost to downtown Sunnyvale by launching operations and opening their doors last week in the CityLine Sunnyvale mixeduse complex.
The two merchants are the primary anchors of CityLine Sunnyvale, which has begun to dramatically reshape downtown Sunnyvale with new shops, restaurants, entertainment hubs, office buildings and housing.
The CityLine Sunnyvale complex is being developed by STC Venture, which is a joint endeavor of veteran developers Sares Regis Group of Northern California and Hunter Properties.
“We see both of these businesses as having a central and important place in what will be a vibrant, walkable neighborhood,” Deke Hunter, president of Hunter Storm, said of Whole Foods and the AMC movie theaters.
Whole Foods opened its doors Oct. 29, while AMC was slated to begin operations on Oct. 30.
Floodcraft Brewing Company, which offers craft beers on tap, cocktails and prepared food is located inside Whole Foods market.
The two primary anchors of CityLine Sunnyvale are in the same building at the corner of Murphy and McKinley avenues.
Whole Foods occupies 52,000 square feet on the ground floor of the building while AMC DINEIN Sunnyvale 12 occupies 52,000 square feet on the second floor of the building.
Upon full buildout, CityLine Sunnyvale is expected to bring to downtown Sunnyvale as many as 792 residences along with 653,000 square feet of office that will be built above 182,000 square feet of ground-level retail.
“We hope that the opening of AMC Theatres in particular marks the beginning of bringing back public entertainment safely,” Hunter said.
AMC Theaters is expected to operate at 25 percent capacity and without familiar concessions such as popcorn and soda when it opens, which is in line with Santa Clara County’s coronavirus-related restrictions.
In addition to state-ofthe-art visual and sound systems in the 12 movie theaters, the AMC Sunnyvale 12 complex will also feature a balcony overlooking a future gathering area in CityLine.
The Redwood Square next to the theaters will become a one-acre plaza bordered by retail that will feature existing older redwood trees at the site.
“Both this movie theater and adjoining Whole Foods Market will help to foster a thriving and dynamic downtown that supports a mix of strong, locally oriented businesses,” Hunter said.