Posted by Kiki, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Jul 8, 2012 at 2:21 pm

We've been going to Hong Kong Chinese restaurant for years. We're so happy they are now even closer to us in Barron Park. Very nice family and cheapest prices in town with extra large portions.

Posted by Thai City Fan, a resident of Stanford, on Jul 9, 2012 at 9:46 am

We just wanted to bid farewell to Thai City. The family that ran the restaurant was so nice to children. We miss them and hope they are doing all right.

Posted by labarbe, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2012 at 10:31 am

Mollie Stone's ? Really? Nice selection and all, but prices are shamelessly high for just about everything in the store. Seriously. I expect them to suffer Andronico's fate.

Posted by NotSureAboutMollieStone's, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2012 at 10:58 am

Mollie Stone's prices are ridiculous high (yes on everything). I wonder how it can survive thus far. Maybe someone can explain the reason behind their high prices.

Posted by KP, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2012 at 11:21 am

Some people with money like to spend it wisely, and go to Trader Joes, Milk Pail or Safeway, etc. - others think that if they shop at more expensive stores they are getting better items or they can name drop to show they have money...they go into Andronico's and Mollie Stone's in their high heels, hair done up, 3 pc. suits etc.! I laugh at them.

I try to keep my money where it belongs...WITH ME!

Posted by neighbor, a resident of another community, on Jul 9, 2012 at 11:38 am

A lot of hostile character judgments about whoever shops at whatever market.

Posted by longtimeresident, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2012 at 11:40 am

Downtown Palo Alto has very few stores that hold any interest for me. They need to have restrictions on what stores can go in the downtown area. Less nail salons, furniture stores and coffee places. More clothing, shoe, book and unique specialty stores.

Posted by paloaltotreewatch, a resident of the Palo Alto Orchards neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2012 at 11:50 am

just what we need more home improvement stores.

No worries they are distant third to

1) restaurants

2) mani/pedi/hair places.

When I grew up in this town there where 7 bookstores on and off University.There was weekend live music at the Varisty and all was well. Now there are zero cultural items left.

The town used to be a unique combination of intellectualism and money

now it is just money and that is very boring.

Posted by Barbara, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2012 at 12:52 pm

I don't get why Mollie Stone's would be named "outstanding specialty retailer" -- What? It's certainly NOT in the same category as Whole Foods!

Posted by local gurl, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2012 at 3:20 pm

I much prefer Mollie Stone's to Whole Foods. Whole Foods is a huge corporation -- despite the veneer.

Posted by Barbara, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2012 at 4:59 pm

Yes, Whole Foods is a huge corporation on the NYSE and doing well, and we want that to continue! Those companies are what keep the USA strong!!

Posted by neighbor, a resident of another community, on Jul 9, 2012 at 5:42 pm

Why do people argue about absolutely everything on this website? It's just bizarre. "My market is better than yours neh neh neh neh neh" Worse than children.

Start a thread on what elements make a community? What makes an adult conversation?

Or do you just like arguing?

Posted by Nora Charles, a resident of Stanford, on Jul 9, 2012 at 11:22 pm

Congratulations to Mollie Stone's! After the very sad closure of Andronico's (I hope another grocery store moves in) I started shopping there. Yes, some items are more expensive than at Safeway, but not all. The employees are very friendly and helpful, and it's a perfect size, not overwhelming like the larger stores. I just hope the ill-advised plan to narrow California Ave. won't be a problem.

Posted by PA Resident, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Jul 10, 2012 at 1:29 am

To those wondering about the popularity of Mollie Stone's — it has carved out a strong niche in the kosher-foods area, offering the widest selection of kosher items I've seen anywhere. That's not a draw for me, but given the large number of conservatively-dressed families I see walking around south Palo Alto on Saturdays, I bet there's a large clientele here in Palo Alto. (I just pick up occasional items there when I'm in the neighborhood.)

We used to go to Thai City quite a bit when our kids were little and adored Thai City's mee krob. When they took that off the menu years ago, and also changed something about their chicken dishes, we stopped going nearly as often. (My guess is that they began slicing and pre-steaming the chicken ahead of time, and then would just throw handfuls of it into stir-fries. It had a rubbery texture and a livery flavor, unlike any stir-fried chicken I've had, and the chicken dishes were negatively impacted. I doubt that we were the only patrons who noticed that something had changed for the worse.)

Nevertheless, we still went there from time to time, enjoying what was still the best tom kha gai anywhere (in spite of the chicken), a fine selection of beers, and one particular waiter who was a real cutup. And yes, as someone mentioned above, they treated the children just great. I hope the family is getting along OK. When I was sick last week and craved some of that tom kha gai, I was disappointed when my husband told me that it had closed.

With the nearly simultaneous closing of Thai Garden/Pattaya when Palo Alto Bowl was torn down, that leaves south Palo Alto with no Thai places. (Yes, I do enjoy Indochine in Midtown, and Thaiphoon downtown.)

I've never tried the Hong Kong restaurant — I guess I'll have to check it out.

Posted by Love Shop Talk, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jul 10, 2012 at 1:54 pm

These Shop Talk articles are great!

Posted by Mary Sue, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2012 at 5:58 pm

I LOVE West Elm! Very glad to see it on University!