SAN JOSE — A miniature golf site slated to open this month in San Jose is poised to bring a unique and lively venue to the downtown — and potentially become a key propellant for the city’s post-coronavirus rebound.
Urban Putt, a creation of entrepreneur Steve Fox, who has crafted and launched multiple similar miniature golf venues with local themes, is preparing what would be his grandest and most ambitious effort, a celebration of San Jose and Silicon Valley’s past, present and future.
Steve Fox, owner and creator of Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue in downtown San Jose on South First Street, looks at a table with a golf ball motif. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
Bank of Italy historic tower replica inside Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue on South First Street in downtown San Jose. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
Winchester Mystery House replica in Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue on South First Street in downtown San Jose. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
“We are celebrating the culture of discovery and innovation of Silicon Valley and San Jose,” Fox said in an interview with this news organization. “This Urban Putt location is an ode to golf and Silicon Valley.”
Urban Putt, whose main entrance is on South First Street near Scott’s Seafood between East San Fernando Street and East San Carlos Street, is scheduled to open its 18 holes on Feb. 29, Fox said Tuesday.
View from the mezzanine of Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue located on South First Street near San Carlos Street in downtown San Jose. Replicas of the Winchester Mystery House and the San Jose Electric Light Tower are visible. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
Interior of a crashed UFO that will be part of Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue in downtown San Jose on South First Street. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
A “septopus” in Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue located on South First Street in downtown San Jose. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
Fox hopes that the Urban Putt site will become a popular first-date site as well as a spot for family outings.
San Jose officials, though, are betting that Urban Putt will evolve into far more than a hip and cool venue in the city’s urban heart, which is battling to recover from the economic maladies inflicted by the coronavirus.
Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton replica within Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue located on South First Street in downtown San Jose. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
Steve Fox, creator of Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue in downtown San Jose, walks near replicas of the tents over Shoreline Amphitheatre. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
“Urban Putt is the latest evidence that a downtown revival is underway,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said.
The mini golf venue will consist of two nine-hole courses, according to Fox.
Lighting fixture with a golf ball theme hangs above a main room in Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue on South First Street in downtown San Jose. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose Light Tower replica at Urban Putt, a new miniature golf venue located on South First Street between East San Carlos Street and East San Fernando Street in downtown San Jose. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
Winchester Mystery House, Lick Observatory, the interior of a crash-landed UFO, the old San Jose Electric Light Tower, the Bank of Italy historic high-rise, Silicon Valley gadgets and the tents of Shoreline Amphitheater are among the replicas of South Bay landmarks that will be incorporated into the venue and the golf courses themselves. A great white shark and Kirby the Septopus can also be spotted on the course.
“People are asking about our opening all the time,” Fox said. “There is a pent-up desire to see this. People really want to see our next iteration.”
Fox created and opened Urban Putt venues in San Francisco and Denver. He eventually sold both of the courses, which are now run by Holey Moley.
Urban Putt in San Jose is expected to create 55 jobs when it opens.
“This is my passion project,” Fox said. “Each one of my venues becomes more complex. The Urban Putt in San Jose will be the Nth degree of complexity.”
The new downtown San Jose Urban Putt is one of the ground-floor dining and entertainment success stories for Urban Catalyst’s The Paseo, a mixed-use development totaling 100,000 square feet at 201 South Second Street. The Paseo consists of 75,000 square feet of office space and 25,000 square feet of ground-floor restaurant, retail and entertainment space.
Along with Urban Putt, which leased 13,300 square feet, the ground floor of The Paseo has also attracted Unofficial Logging, an ax-throwing, restaurant and bar venue, which has rented 6,800 square feet; and Eos & Nyx, a restaurant that leased nearly 4,000 square feet.
Urban Putt will offer much more than its core components of miniature golf. The venue also has a mezzanine that can be used for special events or just people-watching.
“We can have parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs, all kinds of events on the mezzanine,” Fox said. “The mezzanine is large enough and is configured to have two events going on at the same time.”
The new Urban Putt also could be a sign that a new kind of downtown San Jose is in the works in the wake of the pandemic.
“We’re doubling down on creating a cleaner, cooler, downtown San Jose with an abundance of art, cultural events, restaurants and nightlife,” Mayor Mahan said.
Unique venues might be the best way for downtown San Jose to chart a more promising course as it seeks to escape the hazardous economic impact of the coronavirus.
“San Jose is under-served with these kinds of experiences like Urban Putt,” Fox said. “We want to create rich and immersive experiences. We spend all day staring at screens and phones. This is a way to get out of that rut and to go out and do something fun.”
