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Published on 03/09/1998 All articles from this issue

A celebration for departing businesses

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By Clyde Noel

A Side of Clyde

Looking down Main Street, the names Shirley Krongard, Mary Bourquin, Gretchen McPhail and Claudia Davis came to mind. They recently retired after working most of their precious lives retailing on Main Street in Los Altos. We should remember their contributions for a long time.

With a glass of wine in his hand, Fred Sischka, of Fast Frame, raised his glass and said, "We owe a great debt to these ladies. They have graced our town with their exquisite tastes for years, and we are the better for it."

Progress is sometimes hard to endure. That's the case for many store closings that occur in Los Altos every year. Most close their doors because rent becomes so high retailers can't make a living. Then the owners retire or look for another line of work.

If you haven't noticed, Expressions, and Linens of Los Altos, two longtime establishments on Main Street, closed their doors permanently. Glady's Hallmark Cards closed last year, and two more retailers will soon leave Main Street.

To appreciate the contributions the owners of Expressions and Linens made to the retail community, the Los Altos Village Association held a thank-you party Feb. 26 that was well attended with downtown retailers.

"These women have been here a long time," said Louise Spangler, owner of Uncommon Threads. "They have that downtown community feeling that's disappearing. The community will surely miss them."

Krongard, Bourquin, McPhail and Davis were all members of LAVA's board of directors at one time during their stay on Main Street. Bourquin made those attractive banners that fly on lamp poles downtown, and in the other seven Los Altos retail districts.

"I have been here 15 years, and I'm looking to take a trip to Santa Fe with my daughter. Then when I come back, I'll sit on the sidewalk at Starbucks and watch people," said Krongard, who ran Linens of Los Altos. "This was a good town to do business in, and I'm sure going to miss my customers."

After working at Expressions for 14 years, McPhail will now work part time at De Anza College as a job trainer for emotionally handicapped students.

"This is a wonderful community," McPhail said. "I hope the village will continue to keep its character, but the way it's going, I'm not sure. When you favor beauty supply stores and cafeteria-style fast food restaurants on Main Street, the town is bound to change."

Bourquin, the original owner of Expressions, will do some painting and travel. The Galapagos Islands are on her list.

"I am disappointed we couldn't get along with the owners of the building. To ask us to pay two and a half times more rent is not feasible for any type of business," Bourquin said.

The party was held in Linda Janes' new Janus store at 221 Main St. Her downtown retailing friends complimented Janes as they circulated among the honored guests.

As the rainy evening became darker outside, good wishes continued with toasts to the future. This was a cause for celebration, not hanging heads, even in the face of higher rents for all retailers on Main Street.