Known for the eccentric displays at their North Santa Cruz Avenue store, The Butter Paddle is looking forward to marking its milestone of 15 years in Los Gatos later this year.
The charity shop sells everything from home décor and wedding gifts to kitchen supplies, and its employees have a secret to its almost 60 years of success.
Though there are only 2-3 employees on the floor at a time, The Butter Paddle’s headcount exceeds 70 team members.
Some volunteer out of a desire to contribute to a good cause, others started their journey by taking advantage, themselves, of the resources generated by the store. All proceeds support Pacific Clinics, which helps at-risk children and families that need behavioral and mental health services.
Opening in 1967 in Saratoga, The Butter Paddle moved to Los Gatos in search of higher foot traffic.
“The Butter Paddle is run by the EMQ (Eastfield Ming Quong Auxiliary), and everyone working at the store is on a volunteer basis, with over 70 employees,” says Lora Kanol, as she goes into detail of how her own daughter benefited from the resources generated by the store’s sale. “My daughter has autism, and Pacific Clinics, the nonprofit EMQ donates to, started a program for her and others like her who are neurodivergent.”
Kanol says that Pacific Clinics inspired her to work here, and for her daughter to begin a career in social work by getting her master’s at UCLA. A full-circle moment for Kanol, as she gets red and emotional, hugging coworker Jan Kasahara.
‘My hope is that we’ll continue, and that our customers will support us’
—Jan Kasahara
While men are welcome to join the staff, The Butter Paddle is primarily a community of women supporting women. Though they have a manager, the roles are interchanged within the store to help balance the workload, with some operating on the auxiliary board. It creates a sense of community, where they rely on one another. The inventory is compiled by buyers who go to shows all over the country with a budget for each department—such as food, home décor and jewelry (their most popular category). At the head of the store is a wall of glass products by Watsonville-based artist Annie Morhauser, whose Annieglass work is displayed in the Smithsonian.
The rent is high in Los Gatos—which can be a bit scary, says Kasahara. During Covid, they relied on customers for donations since sales were down, with the landlord allowing a payment deferral until they could reopen. “My hope is that we’ll continue, and that our customers will support us,” Kasahara said. “But we are worried about the economy and the tariffs.”
They say they want to update their logo and do more outreach to curb economic fears, so they can stay afloat. After all, they say, consumer spending makes up two-thirds of America’s GDP. The management feels the need to grow the business, and are currently focusing on their marketing strategy. They do have an e-commerce presence on Shopify, which began during the pandemic, when the store was closed.
Customer Shahana Shah shops here with her husband—and has been a loyal purchaser at the Paddle for a decade. “They have these unique gifts with all different price points,” Shah said, reflecting on the niche items on offer. “You can get Roxanne’s Biscottis, but we are going to a wedding, so we bought a platter here for the bridal party. I’ve shopped here for all the types of people.” The fact that it goes to a good cause is an added incentive.
The Butter Paddle shows its consistency through charm and sisterhood. Some employees worked here for just a year or two; others continue to volunteer for decades. With the money going to charity, this store contributes not only to the economy of the town, but also its culture.
“Shop for a Cause,” a “meaningful shopping fundraiser” by Kismet in collaboration with The Butter Paddle, will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 10am to 6pm. A percentage of purchases made at Kismet will benefit The Butter Paddle.
