The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Daisy.com: Someone trapped in a Silicon Valley cubicle might be just the person to take over the Daisy Patch, says co-owner Judie Block.

Daisy Patch owners retire, but won't uproot the store

Women hunt for a creative, friendly new owner to take over the business

By Cecily Barnes

In the 23 years since Judie Block and Lynette Clark started their seedling business on Lincoln Avenue, the Daisy Patch store has become a landmark in downtown Willow Glen.

Now the women say their job is done, and they plan to uproot themselves from their business once they find a new owner.

"Lynette and I have decided it's time to retire from the Daisy Patch," Block said sadly of their store, which sells plants, pottery, antiques, dolls and other specialty items. "It's like our baby, but now it's time to let it go. We just want to explore some other things."

Block and Clark met at the American Association of University Women on Minnesota Avenue in the 1970s, where they were in a book club together. At the time, Block ran a plant business out of her garage and started selling pottery that Clark made at home. About that time, the man who Block bought her plants from leased what is now the Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company for his wife to start a business. However, when she became pregnant soon after, he offered the space to Block.

"He kept saying to me, 'Judie, get out of your garage,' " Block said. "So Lynette and I got together, and the Daisy Patch was born in 1976."

In 1979, the women moved the store to the old Victorian home where it remains today. The store has continued to grow and thrive over the years, Block says, because of her and Clark's customer service and commitment to their business. Both have worked to vary their merchandise and keep the customers interested.

"It's a wonderful environment to work in," Block said. "It's challenging to keep it fresh and new and stay on top of the competition. I've had at least two to three events happening each year; we've had fashion shows, teddy bear picnics and garage sales of lemons, losers and leftovers."

Now that the women are retiring, they want to find someone to take over the Daisy Patch, to carry on the legacy. The person will need to be creative and devoted and get along well with people.

"I just feel like there's somebody out there in Willow Glen that has a dream that they've always wanted to own a business," Block said. "For someone that's sitting out there in some little cubicle in Silicon Valley, this might be the answer."

Customers say they hope to see the store stay in business. "I can't believe they're going to leave," said Doreen Cali. "It's like saying goodbye to an old friend."

"Our customers are our friends; that's why it's so important to find somebody that can take over," Block said. "It would have to be someone that likes people, that's the most important thing."

Once Block retires, she plans to spend more time with her family and enroll in some computer courses. "I want to design a Web page," she said, "and I'm just going to see what happens. It's very exciting."

Clark says she plans to spend more time with her grandchildren. "One of the things I'm looking forward to is not making as many plans," Clark said. "I'm trying not to get tied into too many things right away. My husband will retire in the next few years, too, and we'll probably move to our beach home in DeSalvo Beach."

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