Need clothing made, altered or hemmed? Los Gatos has a fabulous, long time resource right here in town. Tucked away in a little building across the street from Safeway sits Designer's Tailoring. Thuan Ho Dang, the seamstress (or tailor), does superb work. She and her husband, Tho, have been in business here for 27 years, since 1985.
I was introduced to them by a friend of mine at North American Title (which is the next building over), Carron Findley, in the early 90s and have been a happy, loyal customer ever since. Last week I was at the shop again with some pants which needed hemming and I spoke with Thuan and Tho about their business and their recent move from one suite to the other in the same building.
"We don't advertise, everything is word of mouth", Thuan explained. Enthusiastic customers refer them consistently, and I believe it, because I've referred people to them too. They are pleasant, do good work and prices are more than fair.
Friendly, low key and welcoming, the owners are careful business people who recently moved their shop in from the suite adjacent to North Santa Cruz Avenue to the one next door, more interior and a little less visible, for better pricing in the same building. Their planning helps to keep prices down, something all customers appreciate.
Designer's Tailoring provides custom made drapes, clothing, alterations and more at very reasonable prices and with friendly, knowledgeable service. On a scale of 1 to 10, it gets a solid "10" in my book.
Open M - F, 9:30am - 5:30pm and Sat, 9:30 - 4:30pm.
469 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
Los Gatos CA 95030
Tel 408 354-8903
In recent months and years, Los Gatos has seen many beloved shops and restraunts close their doors - sometimes due to rents being raised and other times due to business just not being good enough to warrant the continuation of the businesses. But in May, we will see the expansion of one family owned local eatery business whose first location in downtown San Jose in 2010 was so successful that it can now open in downtown Los Gatos too. That's quick growth!
Tasty Argentine inspired empanadas will be served at The Mmoon at 81 West Main Street, adjacent to the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company (a location that has been home to many businesses over the last 10-20 years). The opening is planned for the week of May 14th.
The press release quotes co-founder Mike Mendez as saying "“We are excited to have the opportunity to open our second store in Los Gatos. We have learned over the past year that empanadas are new to many people and we look forward to bringing a small taste of Argentina to a wonderful community.”
I asked DeLayne Achee, who told me about the opening of The Mmoon, what they attributed to their success and she replied in her email that "The Mmoon is a new concept that has been well received by the community. We focus on strong values: great food, great service and clean bathrooms, and we have a very strong marketing infrastructure both online and offline. These values are what have helped us succeed and open a second location!"
Although I haven't yet tried their food, I can see that the marketing is good. They're getting the word out via press releases and are backing it up with Twitter and Facebook exposure too. You can find them online here:
Silicon Valley holiday shoppers will be happy to know that the time-limited parking lots in downtown Los Gatos are enjoying extended times (4 hours rather than 3) and valet parking to make the excursion even more fun. The normal schedule returns on January 2, 2012. (The lots without time limits will remain that way too.)
Enter the valet lot at Elm Street between N. Santa Cruz Avenue and University Avenue and don't worry about how long you park (as long as you make arrangements for your keys if you plan to stay past 9 PM when the valets go off duty).
These will both make it more enjoyable to shop, browse, and dine in downtown Los Gatos. Hope to see you there - Happy Holidays!
The Chocolate Dream Box features European style chocolates made locally by owner Holly Westbrook. Not only are they delicious, but they are beautiful too! They make wonderful, locally made gifts.
This week was my husband's birthday, and I stopped in at the store (located next to Lunardi's in the King's Court Shopping Center, at Blossom Hill Road and Los Gatos Boulevard). There were lots of possible gift items - chocolate guitars, chocolate computers, the Cats (Leo & Leona) etc. Selections included some sugar free items as well (it should be noted that dark chocolate has less sugar in it than milk and is often considered heart healthy).
I explained to the gentleman there that I was looking for a birthday item, but not with a number attached to it. He presented me with an amazing looking "chocolate cake" (in milk or dark chocolate). The top edges look like there were jewels adorning it. Inside sat three truffles, one of which included an absolutely stunning design. (See a closeup image on the store's homepage - scroll down about half way - much better photos there: http://www.chocolatedreambox.com.)
What's not to like? There's a friendly, knowledgeable staff - you may even get to speak to Holly herself when there. Designs are exquisite, unique and locally created. Best of all, the taste is an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10. Your family, friends and guest will be delighted with anything from this Los Gatos shop; I like to give chocolate Cats, the town's mascots, to our houseguests. But don't wait for a special occassion or an exuse to stop in. When you're in the neighborhood, drop by and buy a candy or two for yourself. If you do, it won't be the last time you go there, guaranteed!
Chocolate Dream Box
(408) 356-2626
710 Blossom Hill Rd., Los Gatos, CA 95032 http://www.ChocolateDreamBox.com
holly (at) chocolatedreambox (dot) com
If you love Los Gatos and appreciate the rich history of this "gemcity of the foothills", you'll truly appreciate the notecard creations by Laura Murray at the Four O'Clock Company.
Laura has lived all over the country and values local history wherever she goes. For the last couple of years, she and her family have been residents of Los Gatos (and as I understand it, it was practically love at first sight when they visited here initially). She's done a fabulous job of creating greeting cards and notecards, soon to be joined by other products such as note paper, which feature a glimpse of the town's past.
The cards are a nice, heavy weight and feel good to hold and handle. Made of 100% recycled materials, and made in the U.S., the cards feel good to the conscience too. Some are blank inside, others contain a short greeting such as "thanks" or "Happy Birthday".
Seldom do I endorse products or services, but I absolutely love these cards and can suggest them wholeheartedly. They are very reasonably priced, lovely cards. Today I showed them to a few people at my office and the response was "where did you get these?!" They were an instant hit.
Laura made a very kind offer to the readers of this blog. I'm not sure how long it's good for, but she wrote to me that " I'm happy to give you a promotion code which you can share in "Live in Los Gatos": For a limited time, 10% off any purchases on www.fouroclockco.com with the promotion code 'LiveInLG'."
These cards make a wonderful gift item - something unique and local. Now's your chance to get them at a great price, too.
(As with every business or product mentioned on this blog, this is not a paid endorsement or advertisement. I am sharing my feedback on something I like, period - without compensation.)
I thought it was just me who hated finding people (other than Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts or the like) parked outside of the grocery stores in Los Gatos and San Jose - always asking for money or a signature on a petition, usually from a charity or cause I never heard of before.
Admittedly, I'm a bleeding heart. I especially cannot resist kids who need funding for band uniforms or field trips. But I don't like being accosted for money when shopping for groceries and don't usually give unless it's through the mail or in a church (really intensely dislike the door to door causes, oftentimes selling magazines to "keep me off drugs" - only exception being kids in local schools).
All of this is to say I somewhat chuckled when I popped into Lunardi's at Blossom Hill and Los Gatos Blvd yesterday and saw this big sandwich board outside the door. I empathized.
My understanding is that if the store permits Cub Scouts, Bluebirds, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or any other kind of scouts, it also must allow medical missionaries, paid political signature gatherers and anyone else with any cause to stand outside their door and bug patrons for signatures or cash donations. (Anyone: tell me if I have this wrong.) Apparently, if it's open for one group, it's open for all.
Lundardi's says that if we don't like the solicitors, we should talk with our state assembly person. Is that really the only answer?
A couple of weeks after taking this first photo of the solicitor sign at Lunardis, I saw something at Whole Foods in Los Gatos telling people not to donate to them. (This reminded me of a "do not feed the squirrels" type of thing.)
I might be wrong, but perhaps the better and more immediate answer, sadly, is to tell the scouts and others of good will that the front porch of a grocery store isn't the right venue for their popcorn, cookies, pretzels, or whatever. We'll still buy the pretzels and the cookies, but it doesn't have to be in front of Lunardi's, Safeway, Trader Joes, Whole Foods or Nob Hill. Those clever scouts know how to find us (and we know how to find them).
Sereno Group real estate, whose first office and headquarters are in Los Gatos, has been growing steadily via careful hiring and great committment to excellence - and Sereno's success has been getting noticed nationally.
Congratulations to everyone at Sereno Group! I cannot tell you how proud and happy I am to be part of this amazing "family" of real estate professionals.
Need to buy goodies for Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, St Patrick's Day, Halloween, birthdays, retirement parties or any other special event? The best place in Los Gatos for party favors, decorations, pinatas and fill is Affordable Treasures.
If you have never been to Affordable Treasures, let me tell you, it is aptly named. The prices are fabulous.
It is the ideal place to purchase balloons, streamers, paper plates and inexpensive trinkets. If you're filling a pinata for a birthday or goodie bags for kids, it's a great place to see things that are truly affordable and in non-Costco sizes. There are also some gag gifts and costumes to be found as well.
Whether you're having a party or just looking for low-cost gift items, this is a super place to go. There are some fun things in there which make great "care package" items for college students too. Just beware: it gets really crazy in there just before any major holiday!
Affordable Treasures is located at 15795 Los Gatos Boulevard and you can find them on the web at AffordableTreasures.com.
(This is not a paid advertisement or endorsement. Just sharing my positive experience with my readers.)
The "Second Saturdays" events are back this summer! Come to downtown Los Gatos and shop, dine, and be pampered & entertained during the second Saturdays of each month. These events are coordinated by the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, and you can read about the day's entertainment and "specials" on the Chamber's website. There's a cute 36 second Animoto slideshow you can view online too. See you there!
A blog about Los Gatos real estate, homes, houses, condos, townhomes, housing market, neightborhoods, history, events, businesses, parks, schools, photos, issues, and lifestyle by Mary Pope-Handy, town resident, enthusiast and Realtor.
Mary Pope-Handy
Realtor, CRS, ABR, E-Pro
Sereno Group Real Estate
214 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road Los Gatos, CA 95030
DRE # 01153805
408 204-7673
Need clothing made, altered or hemmed? Los Gatos has a fabulous, long time resource right here in town. Tucked away in a little building across the street from Safeway sits Designer's Tailoring. Thuan Ho Dang, the seamstress (or tailor), does superb work. She and her husband, Tho, have been in business here for 27 years, since 1985.
Friendly, low key and welcoming, the owners are careful business people who recently moved their shop in from the suite adjacent to North Santa Cruz Avenue to the one next door, more interior and a little less visible, for better pricing in the same building. Their planning helps to keep prices down, something all customers appreciate.
Tasty Argentine inspired empanadas will be served at The Mmoon at 81 West Main Street, adjacent to the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company (a location that has been home to many businesses over the last 10-20 years). The opening is planned for the week of May 14th.
The Chocolate Dream Box features European style chocolates made locally by owner Holly Westbrook. Not only are they delicious, but they are beautiful too! They make wonderful, locally made gifts.
I explained to the gentleman there that I was looking for a birthday item, but not with a number attached to it. He presented me with an amazing looking "chocolate cake" (in milk or dark chocolate). The top edges look like there were jewels adorning it. Inside sat three truffles, one of which included an absolutely stunning design. (See a closeup image on the store's homepage - scroll down about half way - much better photos there: 
If you love Los Gatos and appreciate the rich history of this "
The cards are a nice, heavy weight and feel good to hold and handle. Made of 100% recycled materials, and made in the U.S., the cards feel good to the conscience too. Some are blank inside, others contain a short greeting such as "thanks" or "Happy Birthday".
I thought it was just me who hated finding people (other than Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts or the like) parked outside of the grocery stores in Los Gatos and San Jose - always asking for money or a signature on a petition, usually from a charity or cause I never heard of before. 
A couple of weeks after taking this first photo of the solicitor sign at Lunardis, I saw something at Whole Foods in Los Gatos telling people not to donate to them. (This reminded me of a "do not feed the squirrels" type of thing.)
For the second year in a row, .jpg)
Need to buy goodies for Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, St Patrick's Day, Halloween, birthdays, retirement parties or any other special event? The best place in Los Gatos for party favors, decorations, pinatas and fill is .jpg)
Whether you're having a party or just looking for low-cost gift items, this is a super place to go. There are some fun things in there which make great "care package" items for college students too. Just beware: it gets really crazy in there just before any major holiday!
