The Willow Glen Resident Photograph by Skye Dunlap Spinning His Wheels: Willow Glen Bike Shop owner Reginald Caselli shows off his handmade $6,000 titanium cycle. 1998: The Year in Review Back to Business Many new ones arrived, some old ones passed on-- it's business as usual in WG January Intermission Cafe After two years and eight months inside the Garden Theater, the Intermission Cafe shut its doors indefinitely. Owner Mike Mikhail's recent heart illness hastened the cafe's closure, a move that was long in coming, said his son, Peter Mikhail. Even before the elder Mikhail fell ill, his son and daughter report, he had been intending to sell the cafe. The Mikhail family intended to sell the cafe immediately, and neighbor businesses in the Garden Theater expressed concern about operating next to a vacant location. "It's too bad they closed down, because that end of the Avenue is moving quickly," said Demetri Rizos of the Willow Glen Business Association. February Black Sea Gallery Black Sea Gallery, an eclectic, trendy home-furnishings store, announced it would open a location next to Jamba Juice, Petroglyph and Peet's Coffee and Tea on the Avenue. The three owners began the store with imported furniture from the Black Sea region, but have since expanded to include domestic pieces and furniture from the Mediterranean. The original Black Sea Gallery is located in Burlingame, and the new branch moved into the mini-mall constructed at the site of the old Electrical Appliance building. March Absolute Indulgence Absolute Indulgence, a bath and body store, opened where Prudential California Realty once operated. The store, as described by owner David Price, is exclusive and whimsical, bringing a combination Europe/Carmel feel to the Avenue. Peninsula Beauty Supply The Peninsula Beauty Supply chain announced its plans to open on Lincoln Avenue next to Peet's Coffee in late June or early July. "You name it, we sell it," said Lori Silverstein, president of the chain. "We carry tons of electrical appliances like curling irons, blow-dryers--professional ones, not the ones you find in grocery stores. And we carry over 500 colors of nail polish." The store also included a full-service salon in the loft for hairstyling, manicures and facials. April Mio Vicino Construction work finally began at the site of Mio Vicino in the new strip mall on Lincoln Avenue. Owners of the locally owned Italian restaurant signed a lease to join the mall last October, with plans to open in February. But the city's approval process set their plans back three months, said co-owner Jerry Boone. After four to six weeks of plumbing, wiring and interior facade work, the restaurant opened in late May. Mio Vicini, which serves traditional Italian cuisine, operates restaurants in Santa Clara and Campbell. Owners Boone and Diane Rose chose Willow Glen as their third location because of the community feeling and vibrant downtown. May White Dove Cafe After three years crammed into the tiny space in front of Sharky's Bar, the White Dove Cafe spread its wings on May 12 and officially opened for business in a new location inside the Garden Theater building. An expanded dining space includes 26 cloth-covered tables, potted trees and translucent white curtains. "We've worked hard for three years and three months to establish a reputation," owner David Laing said. "We're going to go with the exact same menu, at least until we get everything down, and then we'll try some new appetizers." June L'Daisy Patch After 23 years, Judie Block and Lynette Clark sold the Daisy Patch. New owner Laura Augusta promised to keep the store rooted in the same location, sell essentially the same merchandise and keep the same name--with one minor difference: Instead of the Daisy Patch, the store was renamed L'Daisy Patch. "I plan on living and dying here," Augusta said fervently, sitting on a stool in the back room of her merchandise-packed new store. "It's my dream. It brings tears to my eyes." Photograph by Skye Dunlap Tasty Cakes: Ann Zraick prepares baked goods in the kitchen of her Willow Glen home. Her shop, Juliann's Bakery, opened on Lincoln Avenue in December. Juliann's Bakery About a year after wrecking balls felled the Electrical Appliance building on Lincoln Avenue, the new center constructed on the site finally filled up. On June 15, Willow Glen residents Ann and Ron Zraick signed on as the final tenants in the new center. Their dream business, Juliann's Bakery, was slated to join big-timers Jamba Juice, Noah's Bagels, Peet's Coffee & Tea and Petroglyph. Although the Zraicks had hoped to open their bakery by Oct. 1, they phoned The Resident in mid-December to announce they had finally opened. "It's going to be along the lines of the village baker," Ann Zraick said. "We'll sell cakes and tarts, cinnamon rolls and cookies, pies, sticky buns and cheesecakes." Blockbuster The rumors were finally confirmed when Blockbuster announced it was coming to Lincoln Avenue. The lease was finalized June 24. Rick Shaffer, Blockbuster's Santa Clara County broker and vice president of BT Commercial Real Estate, said the store would be slightly different than ones seen in strip malls and at busy intersections. "They have a new concept, which is an urban downtown store which is smaller than their regular store," Shaffer said. Shaffer said Blockbuster's marketing team noticed that not many residents of downtown Willow Glen traveled to the nearby Blockbuster on Meridian Avenue. "There was a void over in the Lincoln and Willow area," he said. July The Family Pharmacy After 48 years of business, the Family Pharmacy on Lincoln Avenue closed on June 26. Owner Donald Lew, 43, said HMO insurance programs had made it difficult for independent pharmacies to stay in business because the reimbursement rates they offer pharmacies for their services are "unreasonably low." He said a prescription sale of $100 would only generate a profit of $5 to $6. "It's hard to make it on that," says Lew, who owned the pharmacy for five years. August The Glen Less than two years after opening, Willow Glen Billiards and Brew announced that it would change its name to The Glen. "The name just didn't fit the place. You'd say Billiards and Brew and people think it's a joke, some sort of biker bar," said co-owner John Karamanos. "We've got five-star cuisine, some of the best food in San Jose. But you say Billiards and Brew, and people don't expect you to have that." Four pool tables were removed, bringing the number down to 12, and Rick Arcari--previously the top dog at California Cafe--was hired as the new general manager. September The Tea Totaler Don and Doreen Araki opened the Tea Totaler not as a place to get a quick caffeine fix, but more of a global adventure. Located two doors down from the Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company, the tearoom offers more than 40 select and rare-grade teas and an international menu of foods. Dishes includ sushi to accompany Japanese tea, caviar and smoked salmon to be enjoyed with Russian teas, and light sandwiches and treats that the British usually snack on while sipping tea. October Papa John's Pizza Papa John's Pizza, the fastest-growing pizza chain in the nation, announced that it was set to open its doors on the corner of Meridian Avenue and Willow Street. "We want to build stores in clusters to begin brand awareness. Willow Glen is right in our cluster of San Jose," said Ken Kaufman, vice president of operations for PJ-S.F. Bay Area Inc., the company that owns Papa John's franchising rights from Gilroy to San Rafael. "We're really excited about being in Willow Glen. All we hear about is how great the community is." Kauffman announced that Papa John's would hold a party and give away 500 free pizzas on opening day. "We want to get the product in people's hands. We want to get them hooked on it," he said. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, December 30, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.