New land owners drop A to Z lease
Nursery plans liquidation sale prior to closing
By Nathan R. Huff
After many years of colorful plants, animals and Christmas tree sales, Los Gatos will soon bid farewell to A to Z Nursery.
Nursery owner Jon Anderson was told last week that the property's new owners had plans for the five-acre site. Developer John Sobrato recently purchased the land from Maxxim Medical, which closed its neighboring vinyl glove manufacturing plant last year.
A to Z has been incorporated since 1980, but Anderson and the nursery have been in Los Gatos since the late 1970s. They moved to their present location on Winchester Boulevard 13 years ago. The nursery is the area's leading provider of large trees, and works with Los Gatos, Saratoga, Milpitas, Campbell and a number of other municipalities, in addition to the thousands of regular retail customers.
"It's a bittersweet pill," Anderson said. "There is a possibility that we will relocate in town. There's a couple of options I'm looking at, but that wouldn't happen until after this closes."
In the meantime, Anderson said the nursery is going to try to liquidate as much of its $2 million inventory as possible over the next several months. Whatever is remaining will be shipped to Anderson's growing ground in Fremont, or his big tree nursery in Mountain View. Anderson said he also would transfer as many employees as possible.
Anderson began as a landscaper before moving into the large tree business. At first he and partner Jim Zanardi did mostly wholesale business with the big trees. Gradually they expanded the business, working with more and more retail customers.
As the business grew, Anderson said, they looked for ways to increase business in the slow winter months. They began selling Christmas trees in the parking lot and brought down some of the family's exotic animals for children to enjoy. Anderson's family has a number of dromedaries, zebras, reindeer and exotic horses on their ranch off Bear Creek Road.
"The Christmas thing is always a fun sell," Anderson said. "When people come in to buy [a Christmas tree] it's not like buying a new washer or dryer--they're usually really happy."
Christmas was also the time Los Gatans were likely to see Anderson and one of his dromedaries strolling down N. Santa Cruz as part of the annual Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade.
All four of Anderson's children graduated from Los Gatos High, and three are still in the area. His youngest son, Pete, works at A to Z while attending San Jose State University. Anderson said none of his children are really interested in continuing the business, which is fine with him.
"Maybe it's time for me to slow down a little, smell the roses and play with my animals," he said.
Anderson admits the nursery business is a tough one, especially with the rising cost of land in the valley. He harbors no bitterness toward Maxxim or Sobrato for their decisions.
"This land was sold for a whole lot of money and it basically boils down to the fact that the value of land as commercial, office or research and development is so great today it makes it impossible to run a nursery off this land," he said, adding with a smile, "You'd have to grow marijuana on this land to make a profit."
Still, Anderson plans to continue operating his other two nurseries and appearing in the Christmas parade each year. "I'll miss the people, that's the hardest thing," he said. "This has made me happy. The creativity in developing a great nursery like this and running it--there's a lot of satisfaction."
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
