An elemental art gallery now a dream come true
By Don Callahan
Dreams do come true--Graduated from University of Minnesota, master's degree from University of New Mexico; moved to the Bay Area; joined Netscape Communications as a usability engineer; lasted 11Ž2 years.
Meet Tracy Halgren. In February 1998, Halgren left Netscape with a dream, to open an art gallery. Tracy says, "I've had this feeling that it was meant to happen." The dream path led her to the marriage altar in August 1998, leasing the store at 104 University Ave., next to Old Town, in January 1999, and going through the permit and remodeling processes. Reality will happen with the grand opening of Elemental Arts on Sept. 13. That's 19 months from dream to reality.
The gallery will show a variety of art, mostly by Bay Area artists--photographs; pottery; original oil, watercolor and pastel paintings; all pieces reflecting earth elements ... Elemental Arts ... something for every taste and budget.
Across the Bridge--Many of you may remember that wonderful gift store that was with us for almost 20 years. Starting out on E. Main Street, it then moved to Old Town and finally to N. Santa Cruz Avenue. Marie Hochman closed the store as a full-time endeavor early in 1998. But, still the eternal entrepreneur, Hochman opened a Christmas store at the end of the year for the holiday season.
The passion is back and she would like to open immediately for another holiday season. She is looking for about 2,000 square feet of store space she could rent through January 2000. Phone her at 395-2001.
Across the street--From Hochman's last store is Tassels at 307 N. Santa Cruz Ave., owned by Coco Preaseau-Jones, Los Gatos High School, class of '76, and Gay Batistich-Saud, St. Francis High School, class of '75. This is truly a local family affair, with Renée and Noel Preaseau, Coco's parents, working as a store manager and a handyman and Camille Preaseau, LGHS, class of '75--Coco's sister--working as the other store manager.
"Business has been very good, and our inventory has grown to the point that we definitely had to expand into larger quarters," Jones says. "Having two adjacent stores, one for children's and women's clothing and fine gifts and the other housing a hair salon, the logical choice, after 121Ž2 years, seemed to be to close the salon, remodel and use that space to expand Tassels."
She adds, "We will continue to carry exclusive hair-care items, featuring Bumble and Bumble from New York, clothing items for newborn through size 16, and will add new items to our fine gifts department." Remodeling of the salon is coming to completion and the grand opening is scheduled for Sept. 17.
All that gold--Chatting with Diane Disbrow and Gary Shepcaro, owners of The Yellow Brick Road at 17 N. Santa Cruz Ave., brought out again what every sole proprietor knows: store hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. is only part of the story. Friendly customers and being surrounded by all that gold are part of the pluses in the business. Long hours, like working past midnight to repair that necklace, bracelet, ring or watch is one of the minuses in the business. But, most store owners will tell you, the pluses outweigh the minuses.
Moving--Walt and Thyra Greenhams moved their Economy Schwinn business from 481 N. Santa Cruz Ave., now home of the Collector's Corner II, to the Boulevard in 1986 when they bought the Los Gatos Cyclery. After 13 years at the Cornerstone Shopping Center, the Greenhams are moving back to within one block of their old shop ... 652 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Walt is a computer engineer and Thyra, up until five years ago, managed the store. Thyra is now a 747 pilot for a small airline on the East Coast.
According to Brian Mallison, store manager, the purpose of the move is to be closer to Oak Meadow and Vasona parks and the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Mallison has been with the store for 10 years and indicates that factory-trained experts will continue to repair all makes and models of bikes. The major makes of bikes for sale are Schwinn and Mongoose, and they come in all sizes for kids ages 2 to 80. Among the models the store will continue to carry are street, hybrid, dirt, cruisers and kids' jogger bikes. The telephone number will remain the same: 356-1644.
No new business--Stopped by the little old grocery store location on Los Gatos Boulevard just south of Caldwell Avenue, next to the boarded-up Henard's Rest Home, to see if another business would be housed in the new construction; it will be a personal residence.
High Tech--Metricom Inc., 980 University Ave., is a leading provider of mobile data networking and technology, according to a July 8 press release. The company's Ricochet service provides mobile professionals with what the press release says is "high-performance, cost- effective untethered access to the Internet, private Intranets, local-area networks, e-mail, and other online services." Ricochet is generally available in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas; in select areas of New York City; on corporate campuses; and at gate areas at major airports throughout the United States.
Got a business news tip for Don Callahan? Fax him at 354-2741 or email him at decallahan@home.com.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
