Willow Glen residents stick to what they know and love best. The community offers residents different, ordinary and day-to-day goods and services that don't require them to leave the area to meet their needs. The businesses, which are for the most part located in downtown Willow Glen, offer opportunities to browse for new clothing, pick up a quick gift or drop off the dry cleaning. What's more, the goods and services are of the highest caliber, as shown by each of the clear winners in the categories below.
BEST
Dry cleaners
ELITE
Elite Cleaners' customers must think the staff does a sparkling job in keeping Willow Glen residents' clothing crisp, tidy and pressed because once again, readers have voted the store "best dry cleaners" in the neighborhood.
While some dry cleaners do a better job than others at getting out stains--and clearly Elite is among the elite in this spic-and-span field--the task wouldn't mean much if customers weren't greeted by familiar, friendly, smiling faces such as those at Elite Cleaners.
The service is what keeps them coming back.
The corner store with the landmark blue and yellow sign and $8 silk ties in the window located at Willow Street and Lincoln Avenue has cornered the market at keeping the community fresh looking.
This purifier of pantsuits, distiller of dresses, tender of trousers, and scrubber of shirts has swept the field.
Elite Cleaners, 1102 Willow St., 408.292.4929.
BEST
Eclectic shop
FLEURISH
When stepping inside Fleurish, there's no need to fear the scrunched-neck vulture that's hunched on a lamppost holding a jack-o-lantern from its mouth. Actually, it is a working lamppost (the jack-o-lantern provides the light), and it's one of dozens of unique holiday items sold at the eclectic eye-candy store that smells scrumptious, too.
Second-time winner and owner Natalie Thompson says she has plenty of customers who spend time admiring and browsing the store bursting at the seams with specialty gift and household items.
People walk around with notepads writing wish lists of all the things they'd like to receive as gifts, Thompson says.
Thompson says the merchandise includes candles, note cards, lamps, jewelry, vases, coffee cups, water glasses, figurines, and black 4-foot-wide hairy spiders. And there's actually more, as a result of customer demand.
"The customers really put pressure on me," she says of the quality and variety of goods.
Thompson's vendors include several local artists who aren't found at the big merchandising shows.
"A lot of [the artists] find me," she says.
Fleurish, 1335 Lincoln Ave., 408.294.5557.
BEST
Boutique/
clothing store
DETAILS
Willow Glen residents can avoid long walks in shopping malls when looking for a casual but stylish outfit by walking a short distance from where they purchase their morning coffee. Situated in the hub of Willow Glen, Details clothing shop--which is about to enter its 10th year--has the shopping center stores beat for convenience, style and loyalty of their community.
Year after year, this men's and women's clothing store rises to the top of readers' list as the "best" boutique and clothing store.
It's no wonder, with the addition of sassy lingerie and an expanded line of shoes. Owner Bernie Levine says his wife, Robyn, who does all the buying, is always trying to keep things fresh for their customers.
Men can enjoy labels such as Tommy Bahama, and women will find Charlotte, Glam Souls, Magdalena, Live a Little, Wind River and more.
Details is also one of the few stores that stays open late on Thursdays; come Christmas, its holiday hours extend long enough to please the 9-to-5-ers of the community.
Details, 1322 Lincoln Ave., 408.286.5555.
BEST
Manicure/pedicure
VOGUE NAILS
Men with manicured nails look distinguished, sophisticated and wealthy. Women with manicured nails look stylish, together and in vogue.
To get that look the consensus is: Go to Vogue Nails on Meridian in the Dry Creek Shopping Center. The small but stylish shop is not the only nail salon in Willow Glen, but residents choose it for best manicure/pedicure in the community.
Florence Deanna has been a customer of owner Lan Pham--who is known to clients by "Pam"--for 15 years. Deanna calls the service "perfect."
"Her work is fabulous," Deanna says.
Mary Goodman, a 10-year client, says Pham has a great memory for remembering her favorite nail colors, and because Pham is ambidextrous her nails always come out looking beautiful and balanced.
Pham has a staff of seven manicurists who help her keep Willow Glen manicured.
Vogue Nails, 1702 Meridian Ave. #M, 408.723.5409.
BEST
Spa/salon
SACHS DAY SPA
Olfactory senses have a party in the fragrance-filled lobby of Sachs Day Spa. There is lemon verbena, vanilla, lavender, papaya, mint, strawberry rhubarb, buttercream frosting and more. Instead of eating these flavors you have to cleanse, slather or burn them in candles shower gels, or body lotions.
Avoid the calories the scents conjure up and enjoy one of the salon's pampering services. Sachs Day Spa offers a full menu of facials, masks, skin treatments, massages, waxing, tweezing, tinting and makeup artistry.
Voted again best spa/salon in the neighborhood, Sachs hasn't changed much from last year's win, but is always looking to offer the best products. New on the shelves this year is Head to Toe (or h2t) foaming bath salts, body moisturizing complex, foot lotions and more.
Go for an upgrade; instead of letting Calgon "take you away," let Sachs Day Spa do it.
Sachs Day Spa, 1375 Lincoln Ave., 408.298.1375, www.sachsdayspa.com.
BEST
Place to get fit
SAN JOSE SWIM & RACQUET CLUB
This first-time winner has been around longer than most of its competitors. The San Jose Swim and Racquet Club is the oldest privately owned fitness center in San Jose. It's been around since 1956, says Carolyn Lund, director of the club for 11 years.
Grown children of parents who belonged to the club are still around as members bringing their own families to the pool and tennis courts for fun and exercise.
The club has a family atmosphere, says Jaime Hawthorne, who has worked there for three years. Behind the bland building entrance, and beyond the large heated swimming pool, there is a playground, sand volleyball court, basketball court, and a tiny tot play area for the day care center. In a corner near the tennis courts is a baby pool that is open and heated until the outside weather gets chilly, Lund says.
A long room with windows facing the pool holds dozens of treadmills, elliptical trainers and stair steppers. The club has a smaller room holding the weight machines, steam room and a sauna.
San Jose Swim and Racquet Club, 1170 Pedro St., 408.297.0067.
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Photograph by Vicki Thompson