Photograph by George Sakkestad
Rikki Downard, co-owner of U & I Sunglasses, tries on a pair in the Police line of designer sunglasses.
A customer might stroll into U & I Sunglasses, a new Los Gatos store at 147 N Santa Cruz Ave., and walk out wearing a cool pair of Mazarati dark glasses from France, price $279.
On the other hand, he or she might prefer a more modest set of shades for around $19 to $35.
"We have a full line of styles and price ranges," says Rikki Downard, co-owner with Tib Gashaw. "We are the largest store in the Bay Area specializing exclusively in sunglasses."
Most of the fashionable styles are imported from Europe. They come from such designers as Georgio Armani, Hugo Boss and Brooks Brothers from Italy, and Mazarati from France.
"We have a full stock of women's as well as men's sunglasses, and we provide a two-year warranty on all products," Downard says.
U & I also works with Los Gatos Optical Co., 114 Royce St., to provide prescription sunglasses.
"We looked at other communities in the area and Los Gatos suited us best," Downard says. "It's a beautiful town and people here seem to enjoy living."
With summer just around the corner, U & I expects to see a good many of those people.
U & I Sunglasses, 147 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 395-3199. Monday-Friday,10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. "to last customer"; Sunday, 11 a.m. "to last customer."
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, May 8, 1996.
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