Willow Glen Resident
News
Domus takes over two stores, others change owners, expand
By Mayra Flores De Marcotte
Downtown Willow Glen is morphing once more as the community heads into fall season with an influx of new merchants.
The changes begin at the corner of Lincoln and Minnesota avenues with the old Sylvan Learning Center.
The site has been a musical chair of sorts, with a steady flow of businesses moving in and out.
The latest addition will be the much-anticipated third location of local cooking store Domus.
"We are thrilled," says Domus owner Margaret Smith. "I have been very impressed with Willow Glen and the business opportunities there for quite a few years, but had never found a location on Lincoln Avenue that was appropriate for us."
Domus representatives announ-ced in May that the store would move into the former Cooking Etc. site.
The store was due to open in August, but with the news that Calee's Lilies was moving out of the adjacent corner location in July, the kitchen store pushed back its opening date to September and took over the additional store.
"I found out the corner space was going to become available," Smith says. "It seemed like a wonderful opportunity to combine the two and have a larger presence and add some of my other items."
Even with the larger space, the store's footprint will still be less than half the size of the Los Gatos location.
"The new location will be called Domus Too," Smith says. "We are really excited. We have the biggest spot we can have."
Calee's Lilies didn't move too far. Owner Calee Grabinski bought out Veranda across the street and has set up shop.
Veranda was just one of a handful of businesses on Lincoln Avenue that has changed ownership in the recent months.
Willow Glen Liquors also changed hands. Owner Chuong Doan sold the business mid-July to Charlie Miller and Alex Byer.
The two say that everything will continue as is, with no changes planned other than to spruce up the place.
Another business with new owners is Siena Bistro. Martha Duke sold her 4-year-old business to David Wayner.
One business making a big splash in downtown is Fleurish. The busy shop recently moved out of its original location at 1335 Lincoln Ave. into the former Victoria's Dance and Theater Supply at 1331 Lincoln Ave. The eclectic home furnishings shop has increased its space significantly.
To celebrate the move and reopening, owner Natalie Thomson has added a striped awning.
"It looks more inviting," Thomson says. "To me, having a nice store, and a nice look is kind of a respectful thing to do for the community, our downtown and our growing business district."
Thomson has lived in Willow Glen for 20 years and says this change in the downtown's businesses has been the biggest "shake-up" in the last five years.
"It's just looking better and better," she says.
Domus Too will be located at 1399 and 1395 Lincoln Ave. For more information, call 408.354. 6630, its Los Gatos location.
