Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Mondeo Pronto says space limitations forced departure

By Frank Stagnaro

If you're wondering why Mondeo Pronto, the postage-stamp-size "wrap" food eatery at 9 N. Santa Cruz Ave., suddenly shut its doors about three months ago, here's why. According to Larry Moore, chief executive officer and acting president, the answer is simple. "We quit," Larry says. "We just went out of business." Period. ... Larry says there was no way for the "fusion" food restaurant to survive with a seating capacity of only 15. "It was just too small. Actually less than half the size we needed. We wanted to expand into the building next to us, but our request was denied by the Planning Commission and Town Council." ... Larry claims the expansion would have created enough space for 70 seats, since the kitchen requirements would not have increased and all additional floor space would have gone for seating. ... ironically, the now defunct Mondeo Pronto recently received an award as one of the best wrap food establishments in Santa Clara Valley. ... In bidding adieu, Larry wants to thank all his former customers. "Los Gatos is a great place, and a lot of great people live here." ... Incidentally, if you've got a hankering for Mondeo Pronto-type victuals and happen to be in the vicinity of San Luis Obispo, you can drop in at the company's downtown location. "We have 55 seats inside and 45 outside," Larry says.

Jim Rees, vice president of the Boccardo Corporation, reports that all the excavation activity on University Avenue just south of the Lark intersection will eventually result in the erection of a 15,000-square-foot, two-story building slated for occupation by the Windward Software group on May 1, 1998. Rees says that the new facility, when combined with the recent acquisition of the Metricom Building on University, will expand the land developer's Vasona Park office complex to 250,000 square feet of office space situated on 14 acres. ... Boccardo would like to increase its Los Gatos holdings. Says Rees: "We're local people, and we think Los Gatos is a great location for future business office space development." ... Boccardo's new tenant, Windward Software, has been in the area since 1990, providing software development, documentation and engineering services to computer-product firms and other corporate clients. Spokeswoman Cathy Donovan says that one of the main objectives of the move from the group's current corporate offices at the Twin Parks Office Complex is to consolidate the approximately 75-person workforce. "Right now we have people spread throughout the building. It will be much more pleasant and efficient to have all of us in one place." ... Windward, headed by CEO Doug Engfer, is employee-owned and -managed. Its promotional literature indicates that the company derives its unusual but purposeful name from the advantage gained when a sailing ship maintains a course to the windward of its competition: "Windward is dedicated to giving our clients the windward advantage by delivering outstanding products and services on time and within budget."

The three new structures going up on the corner of Main Street and College Avenue in downtown Los Gatos will also bear a creative name, Soda Works Plaza. The two-story main building fronting Main Street will cover 12,000 square feet and will house three retail outlets: The French Cellar, which will specialize in world-class French wines and other French imports; Kelly's Fudge and Coffee Factory; and the Tangles hairdressing salon, which currently is immediately across the street on College. ... The second floor of the main structure will contain four residential penthouses, all slated for rental, not sale. Behind the main building will be an 1,800-square-foot, high-grade restaurant called the Tapestry of California Bistro, replete with white tablecloths, candles and fancy silverware. In back of the bistro, housed in what was actually once the old Los Gatos Soda Works, will be the Los Gatos Cigar Shoppe, featuring state-of-the-art air conditioning, humidor and ventilation facilities. ... There will be a small park with landscaping and benches behind the main building and surrounding the bistro and cigar shop. In addition, there will be a rear-area parking lot capable of accommodating 42 vehicles. The Soda Works Plaza is being built by the Flick Construction Company for an estimated cost of $3 million. It is scheduled for completion at the end of January or mid-February. Dave Flick, president of Flick Construction and co-owner of the plaza with wife Shari, says that the project is a labor of love. "We spared no expense in trying to preserve the old 1800s Victorian look of the original buildings. "A good example of Flick's dedication to historical authenticity can be seen in the slat-tile roof tower on the main building. Flick says the tiles were set in place by two native Irish artisans, who are the only people in the United States capable of handling these particular materials. ... And yes, Flick says, "in response to the many questions we've had, the beautiful old brick and mortar fence built along College Avenue in 1911 as part of the old Los Gatos Hotel and Gardens will be preserved and restored."

Wondering what's going up on a specific corner in Los Gatos or whatever happened to a local business that suddenly disappeared? Have a hot tip about local business? Frank Stagnaro reports in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times once a month. Call him at 374-5881.

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