But it was occupied for years by The Daisy Patch, which specialized in home furnishings and eclectic items. And so Painchaud operated her business, which sells women's consignment clothing, in the back of the Bergmann's department store building on Lincoln Avenue, behind Casa Casa and Le Boulanger.

Entrepreneurs Judy Block, Marie Hochman and Lynette Clark established the Daisy Patch at the Victorian house in 1979. Hochman eventually left, but Block and Clark ran the store until selling it in 1998 to Augusta Laura Lee.

The Daisy Patch closed suddenly in late December when its lease expired, and Painchaud saw her chance. She not only moved in but adopted the house's hallway-like annex that opens around the corner on Lincoln Avenue. The annex carries trendy clothes for women, while the main house carries gently worn women's business and casual attire.

Painchaud spent a few days overseeing the house's repainting and some minor touchups.

"The community has a lot of affection for this house," Painchaud said, "and I can understand why. It's just lovely."

"It's pretty exciting," Painchaud said a few days after reopening in her new location. With the additional floor space the house provides, Painchaud can dedicate entire rooms to different types of clothing, such as sportswear, designer clothes and plus sizes.

Opening day for any business can be exciting, but for Painchaud, who has spent years building relationships with customers, it was also quite busy. Many customers stopped by to congratulate her on her relocation and give her "store-warming" gifts, such as flowers, champagne and cookies.

"It was just a real treat," said Painchaud with a grin. "I've made so many friends over the years that I've been in Willow Glen, and it was so nice of them to think of the store on opening day. But it was busy—really busy."

Debbie Cabrera, a 10-year Willow Glen resident and longtime Our Secret patron, said she almost panicked when she dropped by the Bergmann's building to find the store's space empty.

"You can get really nice clothes at better prices than if they were new," Cabrera said.

Painchaud said she plans to expand her merchandise beyond women's clothing and carry home decor, such as couch pillows, candleholders, patio furniture and gardening equipment.

She's had plenty of experience getting to know what customers like, having spent more than 30 years in retail, including 10 years in the consignment clothing business.

She explains that the primary way to gain customer loyalty is to value honesty over profits.

"People are so appreciative of the advice" she and her staff give them, she said. "You see, in consignment you don't have to sell anything. You can tell customers, 'That looks terrible! Take it off.' "

One of those appreciative longtime customers is Elizabeth Bliss, who compares Our Secret to a European boutique.

Clothes may go in and out of fashion, but the move to the Victorian house has rejuvenated Painchaud's passion for business. She was planning to retire in a few years, but she signed a long-term lease with her new landlord.

"I was just so excited to get this location," she laughs, "I bumped up my retirement another 13 years!"

Our Secret is located at 1115 Minnesota Ave. and at 1393 Lincoln Ave. For more information, call 408.289.9290.