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Published on 08/17/1998 All articles from this issue

Golden birthday for a local gem: Village Pantry turns 50

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By Carol Tiegs

Special to the Town Crier

It's had more owners than people can remember, but the Village Pantry at 184 Second St. has been a Los Altos breakfast spot for 50 years.

Current owners Candy and Bill Gerke purchased the restaurant two years ago. Candy Gerke handles day-to-day operations, using the same customer skills behind the counter that she employed as a purchasing analyst and buyer for IBM. She said she tries to remember all her customers' names and their dining preferences - how they like their eggs, or how crisp their toast should be.

"Customers tell me how they came in here as babies or as kids," Gerke said. "That's how I found out how old the Village Pantry is."

Los Altos attorney James Dozier bought the building that houses the Village Pantry in 1972. He said the building has a few stories to tell.

"The first owner was an electrician," Dozier said, "so the wiring is above code, even today."

There's a rumor that a bookie operation went on in the basement, he said. That's based on some of the unique telephone wiring discovered there.

Dozier said there have been eight Village Pantry owners since he purchased the property, but the down-home breakfast and lunch menu has stayed basically the same over the years. Framed on the restaurant's walls are reviews from area newspapers, praising the restaurant's pancakes and eggs, and cozy atmosphere. The lunch menu features hamburgers and a range of sandwiches and salads, with a choice of french fries, fruit or cole slaw.

"I only added some fresh paint and new floors," Gerke said. "The menu is the same as before. People were worried that it would change."

For information call the Village Pantry at 941-0384.