Willow Glen Resident

Business

Fine Consign owner sorry to leave, says new lease too high

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Another Willow Glen store is closing its doors this summer. Fine Consign on Lincoln Avenue near Willow Street will close Aug. 31 after four years at its downtown location.

"We're really sad," says owner Linda Lewis. "We've had a lot of great customers and a lot of fun. We're going to miss everyone and just want to say thank you to the community for supporting us."

The store's closure is due in part to the expiration of Lewis' lease.

"It's just getting too expensive," she says. "I love our location on Lincoln, there's great traffic and a good community. I haven't seen anything as good yet."

The consignment store became part of the downtown landscape in late March of 2003. The business, based out of Burlingame, opened its second branch on Lincoln Avenue, a secondhand shop with classy merchandise and market-driven prices.

"When people are remodeling or moving, a lot of their old things no longer fit," Lewis says. "We will sell it for them, depending on the condition they're in, brand name, and how long they've had it, then split the profit 50-50."

Although the loss of the Willow Glen location means Lewis is lowering prices to move items faster, she says anything that isn't sold will move to her Burlingame store.

"The consignment process is a conversation," she says. "I have had very good consignors over the years, and they know that they can count on us."

The closure of her Lincoln Avenue location, however, hasn't slowed business. Lewis says she is still receiving calls from customers.

"I'm still having customers bringing things in," she says. "There's this four-poster bed, an incredible piece at a great price."

The consignment business is value-oriented, she says. "In the marketplace, prices are much better here than at a regular furniture store."

For now, Lewis will have her Burlingame and Vacaville stores to keep her busy, but the memories of her time in Willow Glen will stay with her.

"Everyone is so nice here," she says. "I got to know a lot of people in the community over the years. I'll miss the Halloweens, seeing the kids getting bigger every year. I'll miss Dancin' on the Avenue, the great community, the great bunch of people I've met."

Fine Consign is located at 1123 Lincoln Ave. For more information, call 408.279.2116. The store will be open through August.