The store is as unique as the ethnic items it stocks. But few shop owners would be comfortable with a 3-year-old wandering alone through the shelves, especially if—like Kofax—the 3-year- old was a golden retriever. Even fewer would give him a treat after he jumped up and put his front paws on the counter.

But it's exactly that customer service that It's Delicious proprietor Jonathan Thalberg says has made owning the store for the past three years wonderful. It's also what he says he's going to miss when he closes the shop at the end of February.

"It makes me sad because I'm going to miss my customers," Thalberg said. "I'm going to miss the children that come into my store so I can give them a lollipop, or the dogs that come into my store so I can give them treats."

Thalberg announced his intention to close the door at the Jan. 11 city council meeting before a packed chamber and those watching on their televisions at home. He stressed that his move was not because of anything going on—or pending—in the downtown area, rather that the move is just the best step for him to make at this point in his life.

"Business has been great; every target has been exceeded, I'm just out of steam," he said. "Philosophically, It's Delicious has done exactly what I set out to do; we made a difference in the community and taught people that they need to take the time to make their lives delicious."

Thalberg said if It's Delicious were going to continue to grow, he would need to branch out into corporate accounts and more Internet sales, two avenues that he said he doesn't have the energy to travel down. He said he entertained the idea of bringing in business partners or selling the store to another owner but couldn't find anyone with the right passion and vision for either option.

"It's time for me to practice what I preach and work on making my life more delicious," he said.

He's already accepted a position with a major high-tech firm in the Bay Area, and said he's looking forward to starting his new job. But even with new opportunities arising, Thalberg said he hasn't ruled out It's Delicious returning—possibly in Sunnyvale—should the right situation arise.

Thalberg opened It's Delicious on May 2, 2002, at 127 South Murphy Ave., in a space that he says has "good mojo" because it always produces successful businesses.

"I wanted more than a retail store. I wanted people to look at my store as something that makes a difference in life," Thalberg said.

The difference he wanted to make is the central philosophy of It's Delicious. Thalberg said—reflecting on his own experience in the high-tech industry—that people here in the South Bay need to spend more time enjoying life and "making their lives delicious."

To that end, he stocked his small shop with foods from around the world—unique items such as horseradish dips and olive oils and ethnic foods.

And that goal attracted customers with similar ideas. Kevin and Debbie Smith, who have lived in Sunnyvale for three years, have shopped weekly at It's Delicious. Debbie uses the store to find gifts for her friends and foods for her own house.

"There's definitely a community feeling in that store; there's never anyone cranky in there."

She said she always brings home the "yummy" hot chocolate and the store's gourmet chocolate sauces.

"The chocolate sauces, ohh ... the chocolate sauces, you have got to try them," Debbie said.

And while she feels Sunnyvale is losing a great thing, she said there might just be a silver lining.

"The only good thing about the store closing is that my clothes might fit better," Debbie said laughing.

Her husband, Kevin, stops by the store at night while out walking with Kofax because the retriever has to pick up his own favorite treats. If Kevin lets go of the leash, Kofax goes straight behind the counter for a treat from Jonathan.

The Smiths were just two of the some 350 weekly customers Thalberg said come to his store, many of them regulars who he also considers friends.

"Anytime you walk in there, it's like you're walking into his home," Debbie said.

And even though it was a staple of Murphy Avenue, Debbie said she thinks it was still somewhat of a hidden treasure, a secret that more people should have been in on.

"It's a unique store, and I'm sorry it wasn't utilized more, I used to tell all my friends about it," Smith said. "Not as many people made their lives as delicious as they should have."

Thalberg's lease runs out on Feb. 28, three years after he signed it, but he said the final closing date of the store depends on how many items he has left and if he gets any offers for the space from potential buyers. He's hoping that whoever moves in wants to buy his surplus items, but if not, he's going to have "enough pasta to last a long, long time."

Thalberg stresses that even if his store is closed, he's still a part of the community and still wants to help improve Sunnyvale.

"I just hope that the Sunnyvale community remembers two things," Thalberg said.

"One, that the downtown is alive and to shop at places like Leigh's Favorite Books and Jerdon, and to eat at Il Postale and the other restaurants, and two—and most important—that people need to stop, look, listen and savor."