The Willow Glen Resident Brother and sister team to take over Sharky's Popular Glen night spot will feature old feel and new grill By Cecily Barnes Mark Mazzola and his sister, Gloria Stoddard, sit side by side in the front room at Sharky's Bar, positively giddy with their news. Within a matter of days, the two beam, they'll be the proud owners of Sharky's, making a years-long dream finally come true. In addition to purchasing Sharky's, Mazzola and Stoddard have leased the front restaurant space previously occupied by the White Dove Cafe, and very briefly by the Weeping Willow. As of right now, they plan to leave Sharky's exactly as it is and to sublet the restaurant portion to George Castonguay, the owner of Babe's Pizza. However, this part of the arrangement has not been finalized. "That's what we hope to have happen," Stoddard says. Castonguay is hopeful, too. But nothing will become definite until property owner Michael Mulcahy, also executive director of the San Jose Children's Musical Theater, gives both parties the thumbs up. "We don't foresee anything that they would feel uncomfortable with, but in business you never know," says Castonguay. "It's probably like a 95 percent chance." If Castonguay is given the okay, he will leave the pizza business behind and open in the location as a grill--serving appetizers and bar food. Clearly, the business will take on a new name. "There's no room for pizza in there, so it's just going to be a grill--hamburgers, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, lasagna, spaghetti, hot wings and turkey burger," Castonguay says. "We'll have a lot of appetizers trying to serve the bar." Mazzola and Stoddard hope to have everything in place by the first of the year. Because of their long history in Willow Glen, the brother and sister think their business will boom. Mazzola has tended bar in Willow Glen for the past 20 years, and Stoddard has cut hair locally for at least as long. "He knows the men and I know the women," Stoddard laughs. Mazzola and Stoddard purchased the bar from Fran Crozier, who had run the bar with her late husband, Al, since 1991. Last April, Crozier attempted to sell Sharky's to Suzanne Robinson, who had operated a restaurant preceding the White Dove Cafe in the same location. However, Robinson opened her new restaurant, the Weeping Willow, before Mulcahy had OKed the deal. Ultimately Mulcahy did not approve Robinson as a tenant, and she was forced to move out. Mulcahy says he has approved Mazzola and Stoddard as tenants, and expects to transfer them onto Crozier's lease once escrow is closed. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, November 25, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.