The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

A Spot for Kids: Jennifer Palmer (left) and Jill Knickerbocker connected the dots between Willow Glen's young families and its small-business community and decided to open Freckles, a children's boutique, on Lincoln Avenue.

Determined local pair makes starting their boutique seem like child's play

Freckles celebrates its grand opening on Thursday, Oct. 1

By Mary Spicuzza

Anyone strolling down the Avenue these days will notice that Willow Glen is looking younger day by day. So it's only fitting that Jill Knickerbocker and Jennifer Palmer have decided to open Freckles, a stylish new children's boutique, on 1115 Lincoln Avenue.

Set to open Oct. 1, the shop will feature all things young and unique. It will offer quality children's clothing in sizes 0-6X, gift items such as silver rattles, receiving blankets and quilts, developmental toys and baby supplies. Basically Freckles aims to be a one-stop shop for young children, parents or anyone who knows and loves kids.

One of the main inspirations for the store is Jill and her husband's 8-month-old baby, Madeline. Knickerbocker and Palmer say that a baby boom at their previous jobs in Palo Alto, combined with Jill's new arrival, had gotten the friends thinking constantly about little ones. Then when their company was sold, and the new owners announced that corporate headquarters would be moving to another state, Knickerbocker and Palmer immediately knew they'd be opting to stay behind.

"It all just fell into place," Palmer says.

When it came to picking a location for the children's boutique, again there was no choice. "We live in the area and love the community," Knickerbocker says, "and people in Willow Glen really believe in supporting local businesses."

The young, energetic pair are already planning fundraisers for different children's organizations, hoping the store will provide them with a way to give back to the community.

They say that while the community is experiencing an influx of young parents, many have to leave Willow Glen to buy new children's clothes.

Other local independent shop owners agree. "I think Willow Glen has always been filled with families. But I have seen a lot of young women with strollers. It's become such a popular place to live," says Hicklebee's co-owner Monica Holmes.

Holmes, who founded Hicklebee's Children's Bookstore in the late '70s, says a new shop like Freckles is a welcome addition to the changing face of Lincoln Avenue.

"The more the merrier," Holmes says. "I think it's great."

Little Things, a children's clothing store, has been on the Avenue for five years. Co-owner Becky Dowdakin says she's not worried about competition from Freckles. She points to the various adult clothing stores that maintain a presence on the Avenue as proof that competition can be healthy. "We welcome [Freckles] to the area," Dowdakin adds.

The boutique will offer a selection of merchandise from smaller manufacturers, and will have everything from cuddly kangaroo puppets--a favorite of Palmer's-- to developmental toys. They will feature Halloween costumes and a selection of holiday gift items.

Knickerbocker and Palmer say setting up the shop hasn't felt like a job. It's been more of a mission.

"It makes a huge difference when you're doing something for yourself," Palmer says.

"It's empowering...and self-expression," Knickerbocker adds.

"It seems like the store will really be a reflection of us...and our customers," Palmer smiles excitedly.

And as the two shop owners sit at their desks and talk, a photo of the pair sits propped behind them. A glow of energy radiates from their smiles, and it's the two friends' undeniable chemistry that is sure to make Freckles sparkle.

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