The Willow Glen Resident

Beauty college tenant seeks investors for upscale market

By Cecily Barnes

The fate of the old Willow Glen Beauty College building is up in the air.

After holding a Feb. 11 meeting to get community input on how to fill the Willow Street building, tenant Scott Kuschel decided to scrap his previous plans for a health spa and work on filling the space with an upscale market, bakery and possibly a sushi bar.

"About 90 percent of the 50 people at the meeting wanted to see an upscale market," Kuschel said. "This is what we want to bring based on the response."

However, Cosentino's Vegetable Haven, Zanotto's Family Market, Draeger's Supermarket and Oakville Grocery all declined Kuschel's invitation to locate in Willow Glen.

"I went to all the upscale markets that everyone mentioned, and we were either too close to one they already have, or we're too big, or we're too small," Kuschel said. "We can't find someone to come here, so if we still want [a market], we have to make it. We're going to try and put together an investment group."

Kuschel says he's in the process of seeking investors for the market. Already, three people have expressed interest in becoming investors, but Kuschel still needs more.

"The concept is an upscale bakery, deli and produce market, with a limited selection but great quality," Kuschel said. "We're now at the point of hiring a consultant, and we're trying to put together a team. If anyone in the community wants to offer input, we're open to suggestions."

The Willow Glen Beauty College was shut down by the U.S. Department of Education in 1996 for having too many student-loan breaches on record. Since then, old supplies have crumbled inside the gutted interior, and homeless people have turned the building's back side into a camp.

Now Kuschel intends to bring the building back into the community. Willow Glen Business and Professional Association manager Demetri Rizos says a quality market could really fill a niche in Willow Glen.

"I get quite a few phone calls in my office asking why we don't get a gourmet market in the area," Rizos said. "It's definitely what people want."

Kuschel says he will try to make the market idea work for a few months, but if enough investors don't pan out, he'll likely return to his original plan for a health spa.

"The market is where my heartstrings have been pulling me," Kuschel said. "If it works, it's going to be something that's really part of this community."

Scott Kuschel can be reached at the Palm Haven Group at 292-8346.

[ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ]