2008 Business of the Year
J.A. Cooley Automotive Museum

Jim and Carmen Cooley, owners of the J.A. Cooley Automotive Museum and Frank the Train Man, were awarded the 2008 Business of the Year by the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association. Jim has spent a lifetime preserving the remarkable history of the early nineteen hundreds. On display in the museum are over two dozen automobiles from 1886 through 1933. Also included are over 25 categories of antiques represented by collections such as model trains, whiskey flasks, spittoons, cuckoo clocks, license plates, beaded purses, phonographs, typewriters and cameras.

Jim's parents arrived in San Diego in 1873. He grew up during a time when automotive travel was more of an adventure than a convenience. Jim remembers the growth of El Cajon Boulevard from the 1930s gravel road funded by the WPA during the depression to a concrete 'truck trail' for small farmers.

Jim's collection of cars and other gadgets reveal a lifetime of friends and remarkable stories. For example, two of the showcase Franklin automobiles belonged to his dear friend Emma Schnugg, a well-known historic character of the Boulevard. Jim's collector ice box, which was replaced by the invention of the refrigerator, explains why a company such as Union Ice existed on El Cajon Boulevard up until the 1970's. And why do you think most people confuse Jim for the well-renown, Frank the Train Man? By 1980, Frank was ready to sell the toy train shop. He had been in business for nearly 40 years and his health was deteriorating. Jim was Frank's best friend and one day, after eating lunch, the two men walked into Allison-McCloskey Escrow and to Jim's surprise, Frank the Train Man was for sale. Jim was Frank's designated buyer.

More recently, Jim Cooley has become the historic voice of El Cajon Boulevard. Each month he shares a different piece of The Boulevard's history, which have been translated into written articles and video. Historic gas stations, drive-in restaurants, neon signs, underground tunnels and the thriving furniture district are a few examples of the Boulevard's historic splendor which will not be forgotten thanks to Jim Cooley.

The Boulevard Arts District is Expanding!
The El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association sponsored the creation of a community mural on the southern facade of the San Diego Stage and Lighting building between Florida and Alabama streets in North Park. Have a look at the mural which will be complete by the end of this week. It is stunning collaborative work of art by local artists Crol, Werc, Vyal, Evolve, Pose 2, Mario Torero and Sherm whose work can be seen all over San Diego, including locations such as The New Children's Museum, The Art Academy of San Diego, The Gateway Public Housing Project, Chicano Park and El Cajon Boulevard's electrical boxes. These artists have worked together in the past, and have recently painted in other cities such as Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Thematically, the mural is a colorful, visual representation of the history and diversity of San Diego. It was done exclusively with aerosol paint to transcend the typical notions of graffiti writing, and add expressive color and cultural flavor to El Cajon Boulevard. Many thanks to Route 44 skateboard shop for hosting barbeque on Saturday, July 26 while artists and community members gathered together to celebrate.









Yelp about The Boulevard - Vesuvio Italian Restaurant & Pizza
3025 El Cajon Blvd
Yelper: Some of the best Italian food in town! I love their menu, because on the last page you can choose any type of pasta and mix it with any of the diffirent sauces they offer. I usually order the fettucini with regular pesto sauce, but the pesto alfredo sauce is incredible, very filling.

All entrees come with a soup or salad. If you go on a Friday order their clam chowder. It is probably the best I have ever had. click here for more yelp reviews

Alternative fuel station set for profit after two years
SAN DIEGO – With gasoline and diesel prices hovering near record prices, an alternative fuel station on El Cajon Boulevard may turn a profit for the first time in two years, it was reported Saturday.

Pearson Fuels is now selling nearly as much ethanol as regular gasoline, but the ethanol at $3.69 per gallon is 83 cents cheaper, the Los Angeles Times reported. And that kind of bargain is pulling over people like Jesse Garcia, whose 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche is equipped with a FlexFuel engine that enables it to burn both. click here for full article

Earn an annual bill credit with SDG&E's Summer Saver Program
What if you could give one of your hardest workers some time off – and earn an annual bill credit from SDG&E® ? With SDG&E's Summer Saver program, your business can earn financial incentives for reducing the run-time of your central air conditioner during periods of high electricity demand. That's right, up to 15 days per year from May through October your business can save more, earn more, and help maintain energy reliability region-wide.

Depending on your needs, choose which participation level is right for you:
• Want to save and earn the most? Then choose the Summer Saver 7-day/50 option. Your central A/C run-time will be reduced by 50% based on the amount of time it ran in the hour before the conservation period – earning you a $15/ton annual bill credit plus a $10 weekend bonus.
• If weekends are your busiest time, consider the 5-day/50 option which reduces your A/C run-time by 50%, weekdays only, for a $15/ton annual bill credit.
• Want to help conserve natural resources while keeping cool? With the 7-day/30 option, your business participates Monday – Sunday while only reducing A/C run-time by 30% for an annual bill credit of $9/ton plus a $10 weekend bonus.
• Looking for an easy way to do your part? Sign up for the 5-day/30 option, which reduces your A/C by 30% on weekdays only and earns you an annual bill credit of $9/ton.

Enrollment is free, and you can change your participation at any time.

So why wait? Sign up today.

For more information or to become a Summer Saver, visit www.sdge.com/summersaver or call 1-800-644-6133.

Featured Utility Box
A penny arcade is an entertaining coin-operated machine. The name derives from the penny, once a staple coin for such machines. This included early forms of pinball and fortune telling machinery of the 1930s. Similar to the history of El Cajon Boulevard, artist Andy Moretz wanted to paint an art deco penny arcade because it is a piece of history that is not commonly seen or talked about any longer.