Photograph by George Sakkestad
Sherri Freimuth (left) and Sheila Brewer put the finishing touches on a large pepperoni pizza.
By Suzanne Cristallo
Sisters Sheila Brewer and Sherri Freimuth are celebrating their first anniversary this month as owners of the Los Gatos Pizza Co. on Blossom Hill Way.
A lot has changed in just one year.
The two women started their business adventure without real restaurant experience. Although both had retail-management backgrounds, neither had been involved in pizza or calzone, the only items offered on their original menu.
Their first challenge was to change the dark and dated look of the place, which had been part of a national pizza chain. "They had to be cost-effective changes," Brewer said of the gradual transformation on a tight budget that overtook the gold, brown and rust colors typical of the 1970s. "And we found we needed to have more control over all aspects of the business."
Today, white walls with green trim give the place a lighter look. Shelves with baskets and plants add a homey touch. The menu has grown to include specialty pizzas like the Margarita (six cheeses, tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil) and sandwiches like the Italian sausage (salami, ham, mozzarella and sauce) and the Veggie Delight (six fresh vegetables and cheese). A full catering menu offers relish, antipasto, meat, cheese and vegetable trays with pasta, salads and hors d'oeuvres.
Family is the emphasis, both in the running of the restaurant and with the customers to whom it caters.
For instance, a special "Kids' Corner" allows youngsters an opportunity to make what they will of a big ball of pizza dough while their parents enjoy Monday Night Football or an uninterrupted respite with a combo calzone.
While the sisters prepare the food, take the orders, serve the food, order inventory, keep the books and generally oversee every detail of business, their father, Joe Freimuth, walks across the street from his home nearby to check on a myriad of details and help out where he can after work.
It's a family place seven days a week and sometimes 13 hours a day, right down to Sheila's 3-year-old, who helps arrange the salad bar.
Los Gatos Pizza Co., 14080 Blossom Hill Road at Harwood, Los Gatos. Open Sun., noon-9 p.m.; Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat., noon-10 p.m. For free delivery, takeout orders and catering, call 358-5545.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, October 16, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved