June 15, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

ShopTalk: Palo Alto's antique store swap -- one relocates, another launches

by Daryl Savage

In a city jammed with way too many coffee shops and nail salons, it's refreshing when an atypical store comes to town.

Such is the case with the arrival of Addison Antique, a soon-to-open renovated 4,000-square-foot space at Addison and Alma streets that will house everything from old airplane propellers to 18th-century armoires.

By sheer coincidence, the store's opening comes on the heels of the relocation out of Palo Alto of the city's only other remaining antique shop: Antique Emporium -- which sits on Hyatt Rickey's property. It was forced out as part of the impending teardown this summer, when the entire 15 acres at El Camino Real and Charleston Road will be razed to make way for new homes.

Antique Emporium's move to 558 Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park is serendipitous for Addision Antique.

"That's right. We're the only antique store in Palo Alto," said Ken Alsman, one of the four owners of the new shop. Alsman, a former city planner for Mountain View, and three of his friends, all Palo Altans, hatched the idea for an antique store last December.

"We were all antique dealers who had worked together for years and became friends. We realized there was a need for an antique shop," said Deborah Kohler, another owner. So they began planning.

"The four of us have worked together for years. It was a natural progression," she said. Kohler's husband, Roger, was just reappointed to Palo Alto's Historic Resources Board, reflecting their shared interest in older things.

"I can't tell you how many cups of coffee we've had over the idea of an antique store here, Pamela Garlick, the third owner and a former high-tech worker, added. "It's finally here and we're in this for the long haul," she said.

The fourth owner is a silent partner who wishes to remain silent.

Addison Antique, at 111 Addison St., is scheduled to open July 8, in the rusty-red-colored building at Alma Street, just across Addison from the eclectic Anthropologie store.

IT'S A (RICH) KIDS' LIFE ... "This Little Piggy Wears Cotton" is not a fairy tale but an adorable (and expensive!) children's store that will soon open at the Stanford Shopping Center, facing El Camino Real. Think Gymboree gone Rodeo Drive to get an idea of the merchandise. It features stylish clothing and bath products for kids 12 and younger. Think $159.59 diaper bags.

Another newcomer to the mall is the swanky Louis Vuitton store. It's the first Vuitton to emerge in Northern California this side of Carmel; the others are in Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Costa Mesa.

The recent signing of these two high-end specialty stores continues the trend toward creating a more upscale mall started by Simon Management when it took over direction of the shopping center from Stanford in mid-2003.

STARBUCKS' BUZZ ... The latest buzz along California Avenue is whether another Starbucks coffee shop is likely to move in to the new building where Kirk's Burgers used to be, and whether a petition drive against that happening will have any effect. More than 200 persons had signed the online petition as of Monday, many making comments about keeping California Avenue's local flavor and "charm." The petition is addressed to the Palo Alto City Council, the California Avenue Area Development Association (CAADA) and "Starbucks President." Ronna Devincenzi of CAADA said she has heard the rumor for several months. And it's true, Palo Alto developer Jim Baer confirmed this week: Starbucks has signed a lease for 1,800 square feet, and will have outside seating, Baer said. The "No to Starbucks on California Avenue" petition as of Monday had more than 200 signatures, some with terse, sometimes pungent comments about Starbucks and some noting there are a half dozen coffee shops in the area already. has its own Web site where the petition can be downloaded. Phrases such as "Way too many Starbucks already," and "Enough is enough," and "Resist Starbucks. Go local," show the flavor. The petition was launched by Guy Triphane, a Menlo Park resident who says he used to live near California Avenue and still frequents stores there. "We the undersigned believe that opening a Starbucks store on California Avenue would be destroying the unique character of the street and would unfairly compete with the small businesses that provide for its diversity," the petition reads in part. >

Heard a rumor about your favorite store or business moving out, or in, down the block or across town? Daryl Savage will check it out. She can be e-mailed at shoptalk@paweekly.com.

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