I would like to thank Garland Self Jr., president of Selco Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., located in Willow Glen, for his participation in this year's San Jose Grand Prix. Garland drove his 1994 Ford Thunderbird #15 Quality Care NASCAR in the historic stock car race and came in third. Garland did a great job and plans to return next year. Thank you, Garland, for helping make this year's San Jose Grand Prix fun and a huge success!

Starla Johnson

Willow Glen

Classic cars bring in
business to center

In today's world it seems really silly to complain about how long a person should park their car. ("Classic cars are just too much in the Foxworthy parking lot," Aug. 3.)

Why doesn't the landlord wake up and see the forest through the trees--people are coming to the center.

Why don't they make it an event? Big Dog's Grill can sell burgers outside cooked on a open grill; Giorgio's Italian Food & Pizzeria can sell pizza by the slice outside; and Mexico Lindo sell tacos and or burritos out front like Big Dog's would, off the grill.

All the business there can do something in some way.

There is a small town just over the hill and it does a car show once a month, five months out of the year, and it's a major event in their little city. Why could Willow Glen not embrace something like this, or do all the businesses in this center think that it is too much work for the dollars they might make?

John Paradiso

Willow Glen

Parking problem not due to Big Dog's Grill

I frequent the center because I have my prescriptions at Longs Drugs, and I sometimes shop at PW supermarket. I think the owner of the shopping center should rethink his targeting of Big Dog's Grill and the classic cars that frequent his center. ("Classic cars are just too much in the Foxworthy parking lot," Aug. 3.)

I shop mostly on Friday evenings and there is rarely a place to park when there are no classic cars in sight. Most of the places are taken by the people who frequent the restaurants there in the center.

I like to stop at Starbucks for a cup, but I can never find a place to park. I have left the center many times to shop at the other PW on Meridian Avenue.

What he needs to do is put designated parking signs up for various tenants, such as "Parking for Big Dog's only or Longs Drugs only." That way, those of us who wish to patronize those establishments can at least find a place to park.

Then security could enforce those designated-only spots and quit harrassing Big Dog's classic car patrons.

I also feel the center is unfairly targeting Big Dog's.The eatery has good food and great people who work there.

I plan to continue eating there on Friday when I can find a place to park..

Chris Riesenbeck

Willow Glen

Landlord just wants
to get rid of Big Dog's

This is clearly an extension of a previous story (Willow Glen Resident, July 28, 2003) concerning Big Dog's Grill's landlord wanting to raise the rent so the owners would leave and he could rent to higher-paying Starbucks, which has already showed interest in taking over Big Dog's location.

Biagio Passaro is just trying to come up with any excuse to evict Big Dog's. The Tuesday and Thursday hot rod meetings are a heartwarming institution that brings in consistent business to all the stores in this shopping center and all businesses there should feel blessed by the cars and their owners' presence.

I personally attend Tuesdays and Thursdays because of the cars and don't own one myself. On those nights I patronize the surrounding stores.

Unfortunately we live in a time and area (the Silicon Valley) where property and rent values have gone through the proverbial roof and landlords can ask anything they want in monthly rent and there are always people to pay those rents.

It is very sad to see an uncaring landlord go to such length to drive out a healthy, much-loved, family-oriented business in favor of the desire to make more money, and in the process drive out a fun tradition that any community would love to embrace and promote for its healthy influence on the community.

Leo Herrera

Willow Glen