About Bearpaw

The Bearpaw brand was originally founded in 2001 by Tom Romeo, whose goal was to redefine casual footwear through the use of sheepskin. After finding great success with the company’s original vision, Bearpaw added real estate development to its portfolio. As a part of this endeavor, the company purchased several historic buildings in Downtown Stockton in 2018.

Why Stockton?

Tom Romeo has personal ties to Stockton. His brother attended the University of the Pacific, which gave Romeo a deeper interest and connection to this city. He believed Stockton was a city with great potential, and by investing in its downtown area, Bearpaw could help make it a vibrant, thriving place once again.

Getting Started

The first two properties purchased by Bearpaw were the Tretheway Building and the Mansion House. Bearpaw saw huge potential in these properties. The company planned to renovate the building interiors into modern residential and commercial units.

The Tretheway Building, located at 229 E. Weber Avenue, was built in the late 1800s. The building was originally a lodging house and served as a hotel from the 1920s through the 1970s. When Bearpaw purchased it, the upper stories of the building had been neglected for several years. With Bearpaw’s investment, the Tretheway Building’s upper floors were transformed into the Tretheway Live/Work Lofts, offering 12 residential units. The company worked hard to maintain the building’s historical features while updating the interior to fit today’s needs.  (For a brief history of the Tretheway Building, click here.)

The Mansion House – located at 106 N. Hunter Street and built in 1873 – was converted by Bearpaw into the Hunter Square Lofts, which injected 26 newly renovated residential spaces into Downtown Stockton’s housing inventory and preserved a piece of Stockton’s rich history. (For a brief history of the Mansion House building, click here.)

After the success of the Tretheway and Mansion House projects, Bearpaw continued their Downtown Stockton investment streak by purchasing and renovating 500 E. Main Street – formerly the Avon Theatre and built in 1860 – into the CalMain Lofts. This new development added nearly 30 much-needed, market-rate, residential units to Downtown Stockton, bringing the area even closer to being a true 24-hour downtown.

What’s Next?

Bearpaw’s next Downtown Stockton project will involve conversion of the upper floors of the California Building – 11 S. San Joaquin Street – into 35 residential units! Keep an eye out for more information as this exciting project comes to fruition.

Impact

By pairing respect for the city’s history with exciting, contemporary development, Bearpaw’s projects have made Downtown Stockton a more exciting and appealing place to be. These projects haven’t just changed the look of downtown — they’ve also brought economic benefits to the area. New businesses are opening up, and local shops are seeing more customers as a result of the increased number of residents. Bearpaw’s developments also create job opportunities, particularly in construction and retail, which help boost the local economy. The company creates developments that combine homes, businesses, and public areas, making downtown a place where people can live, work, and enjoy themselves. With each new project, Bearpaw contributes to the growth of Downtown Stockton. We hope that Bearpaw will continue to be a part of downtown’s progress for years to come.

If you or someone you know is looking to live in a beautiful, freshly renovated space in Downtown Stockton, check out the links to Bearpaw’s apartments below to inquire about availability! If you are looking for a commercial/retail space, check out this link to a space available on the ground floor of the Tretheway Building.