Business

Paola Rrapaj-Kraja has been living in the Bay Area for the last four years, waiting for the day she could open a piano studio to the public. And this Saturday, Rrapaj-Kraja will get to do just that—with the help of Mayor Rob Moore. The ribbon-cutting ceremony...

Standing as one of the last enduring “roadhouses” in America, the red barn-like structure on the side of Highway 17 has been recognized as “The Cats” since 1967. Initially established in 1896, this place is no stranger to change, seeing as it’s been occupied by...

On Sept. 27, Eric W. Thornburg loaded up into a passenger van with his coworkers and headed out on a field trip into the Santa Cruz Mountains just above Lexington Reservoir. The Saratoga resident just happens to be the CEO of SJW Group, a utility...

When Steamer’s Grillhouse announced it was going to close on Christmas Eve, there were more questions than answers. We soon learned, from one of the owners, that an arduous negotiation over the lease had ultimately not borne fruit. The lauded seafood restaurant made the...

The day after its lease expired, downtown linen boutique The Maids' Quarters continued to offer its pillows, antique goods and high-end button-up shirts for sale. It's the latest development in a bitter feud where the long-time Los Gatos independent retailer claims it was duped into...

Last year, the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce fought a pitched battle to win a top-up in funding out of remaining Covid-relief dollars, from $55,000 to $88,000. This time around, Council was eager to show its support of new Executive Director Jennifer Lin, agreeing to...

On June 2, CSM Investments, LLC revealed its plans to convert the United States Post Office building downtown into a mixed-use development with housing.  This proposal, which is still in the “pre-application” stage, has been met with opposition from some local residents, but recent changes...

Julia Anderson lives a sweet life. Under the banner of Blue Canary Sweets, the former restaurant owner, culinary professional, pastry chef and chocolatier, gets to create chocolates for a living, without the stress of a brick-and-mortar operation.  You might remember Anderson from her time as...

While in many cases, it’s one esteemed restaurant or another that initially attracts visitors to town, and yet, the shops they go on to frequent afterwards—or on the way—also play an important role in fostering that unique downtown atmosphere people love so much. But now,...

After 24 years of dressing the “who’s who” of Los Gatos, and other Bay Area locales, Leslie Robidoux is closing her brick-and-mortar storefront.   Last week, I dropped by Bettina's of Los Gatos for a quick chat with its creator and owner Robidoux. At press time...