The Willow Glen Resident

WGBPA celebrates growth but decries lack of parking

Glenopoly, pancake breakfast planned for farmers market

By Cecily Barnes

At the annual gala held by the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association last year, business manager Demetri Rizos rallied the crowd with promises of what the upcoming year held for Lincoln Avenue: demolition of the old Electrical Appliance building, the entrance of new businesses and continued growth.

This year, business owners celebrated that each of these predictions had come true. However, they also discussed the problems that have accompanied the downtown's success, the No. 1 issue being parking.

"When Casa Casa opened in 1993, we didn't have a parking problem," said owner Nancy Biagini. "When Le Boulanger came to the Avenue, we said we'd love to have a parking problem because that would mean more business."

However, Biagini told the group, she should have been more careful about what she wished for. Many others at the meeting chimed in with their concerns about parking, and District 6 City Councilmember Frank Fiscalini told the crowd that a city parking study is currently in the works. Fiscalini also acknowledged that the problem is a difficult one, and appropriate solutions have not yet been found.

"It isn't getting better because every new restaurant exacerbates the problem," Fiscalini said. "I think if there was enough interest on the Avenue to form another parking committee, we could do that. But I'm not interested, as I'm sure you're not, in having a meeting just to have a meeting."

The ongoing problem was left unresolved, at least until the parking study is completed sometime in September or October.

Also at the meeting, Melanie Defe announced that the grand opening of the farmers market will take place May 2, with about 30 farmers participating by peak season.

To kick off the first day of the market, the Willow Glen Elementary School PTA will host a pancake breakfast that will also mark the final commemoration of the school's 100th anniversary. David Machado from Home Savings of America will hand out packages of forget-me-not seedlings to the first 100 people at the market, and a scavenger hunt game, Glenopoly, will take place to encourage residents to frequent Lincoln Avenue shops.

Business manager Demetri Rizos also announced the date for Founders Day '98: Sunday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will include a parade, an arts and crafts fair and two bands, one of which will be Joe Sharino.

Rizos also announced the new officers of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association.

Machado will serve as president. Dot Cohen from Willow Glen Chiropractic, Julie Painchaud from Our Secret and David Laing from White Dove Cafe will act as first, second and third vice president, respectively. Jeannie Perron of Caton Design will act as treasurer, and Randi Fredericks of Willow Glen Kitchen & Bath will serve as secretary.

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