Why Carry Outee Remains Vacant
For decades, Castro Valley enjoyed the takeout Chinese food from the Carry Outee at 3210 Castro Valley Boulevard. Today, the onetime popular restaurant lies vacant, several years after its owners retired without selling the business.
Realtor David Wilhite of Intero Real Estate Services said there are two big obstacles to finding a new owner, one of which is temporary.
Wilhite said the immediate reason no buyer has been found is that after a commercial property is vacant for six months, numerous upgrades could be required, which are then overseen by several county departments and the regional water board.
These can be expensive, and the current property owners can’t afford them, he said. Also, any new requirements would apply to all businesses on the property, and the former Carry Outee shares a 0.4-acre parcel with two other businesses still in operation.
Wilhite said several restaurant businesses had expressed an interest in the property but ultimately decided against buying it.
There is also uncertainty over what uses will be allowed for the property and which won’t be as Castro Valley finalizes its long-awaited Specific Plan for the downtown area, Wilhite said.
Current uses may not be acceptable for any new business, and new possibilities might open up, he said. There has been a push for multi-unit housing in Castro Valley, for instance, and the property could fit a new small apartment building if that is allowed, he said.
However, Wilhite said, he’s not pushing for any particular use over another until it’s clear what will be allowed or not allowed.
Following years of public discussions, the Alameda County Planning Division recently sent the state a second draft of a new Specific Plan for the business district. They will consider the state’s comments before finalizing the plan.
It has been decades since that plan was last updated.
“Within about a year, the situation should be stabilized, and prospective buyers will know what they potentially can do with the property,” Wilhite said.
Meanwhile, several other sites along Castro Valley Boulevard near Lake Chabot Road remain closed, including The Floatery, which used to be a dry cleaner, as well as Castro Valley Florist and Linda's Garment Lettering, which have been closed since before the COVID-19 pandemic.