The Cupertino Courier Photograph by Skye Dunlap Brothers Tom (left) and George Yamanaka are closing their Bonsai Nursery after 45 years of business. 'When you've been at it for 45 years, it's a good part of your life,' Tom Yamanaka said. 'We've got a lot of very loyal customers.' City's Bonsai Nursery gone after 45 years By STEVE ENDERS One of Cupertino's most recognizable businesses has called it quits after 45 years. The Bonsai Nursery, located on the corner of De Anza Boulevard and Bollinger Road, had a very low-key going-away sale during dreary weather last week. The drippy weather early in the week seemed fitting to the mood of the cold, nearly empty store. The sun was expected to shine Sunday, however--the last day Bonsai was scheduled to be open for business. Banners were made and ready to be hung outside to announce the going-out-of-business sale to the many potential customers that drive by the busy intersection, but they never had to be used. Brothers Tom and George Yamanaka, the original owners of Bonsai, said word spread so quickly they were leaving that they never had to announce the 50-percent-off sale. Everything was sold in about three weeks. "When you've been at it for 45 years, it's a good part of your life," Tom Yamanaka said. "We've got a lot of very loyal customers." The only thing that has really changed for the Yamanakas' store is the area around it. What's now a residential area on one side and commercial development on the others, used to be all orchards. Opening the store 45 years ago was no trouble, but finding a plot of land was. "We were really fortunate that we found a piece of land that was only two-and-a-half acres. All the landowners had big chunks of land back then," George Yamanaka said. The plot is now growing with the times as well, and is scheduled to become a Payless and Thrifty store with a Rite Aid Pharmacy, according to the Yamanakas. George Yamanaka said, "The one thing that will be memorable for me is that we've had a lot of customers that came in to say goodbye and wish us well. So many people that came in were misty-eyed." The Yamanakas had the seed of gardening planted early on. Growing up in Hollister, the two were heavily involved in the business around agriculture. After spending some time in Japan the two decided to open a store here to specialize in bonsai plants. Bonsai (bon-shallow tray, sai-plant) is an art form that originated in China, and it attempts to re-create nature in small settings. The trees take years to grow and require meticulous care. When fully grown, they look like scaled-down trees. Despite the namesake specialty, the Yamanakas always kept Bonsai as a general gardening shop, offering a wide variety of products and knowledgeability to start and keep plants healthy. George Yamanaka said one of his fondest memories was when a woman from San Francisco stopped in on her way to Santa Cruz, back when Highway 9 was the only way to get there. She entered the store, waving a branch with big, red leaves attached to it. She demanded to know what the gorgeous plant was and how she could reproduce it for her home. The plant was poison oak, he said laughing. "A lot of thanks to all the wonderful people we can call customers. As the years went by, we refer to them as friends," George Yamanaka said. "People, in general, are wonderful." The 70-something Yamanakas will begin "resting and taking it easy" soon in their Saratoga homes. [ Back to Contents Page | Cupertino Courier Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Cupertino Courier, November 18, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.