Bob’s one of the good guys. I bought many hot tub covers from him over the years. Always friendly service and a good price.

Best wishes, Bob! Hale and farewell!

Not surprised, but bummed. Certainly a one of a kind - unique in every way.

I had cushions refoamed by Tallman’s sons a few years ago and was totally not impressed by their failure to replicate the original shape of the foam which I brought with me into the shop. I got the feeling that the sons did not have a strong passion for the work. They gave me very squared foam cushions, tho the original foam I dropped off at the shop was rounded.

I refoamed the rest of my cushions on my own with what turned out to be a higher quality foam, cut it with an electric turkey knife to achieve the original rounded shape - this was not hard, and I actually ended up using the original thick poly wrap to bring my cushions back to the appearance and comfort that they originally were. If you want something done right, I guess you have to do it yourself.

Regardless of my experience, it’s always sad to see a long time institution close and I hope the Tallman family finds meaningful work elsewhere.

Does anyone know where we can buy foam for cushions now?

It's sad to say goodbye to a wonderful store run by the type of person who always gave you individual attention. Another goner that comes to mind is Peninsula Hardware. Too bad age and retirement now get in the way of keeping businesses open.

Bob always took back and recycled clean, unused foam. Where can I get this service now?

Also he had many densities and varieties of foam. Who carries this anymore?

I was just thinking about reupholstering my dining room chairs which have rounded foam seats that badly need replacement. Where can I get that foam now and where can I recycle the old foam? Any ideas, friends?

Thanks, in advance!

@Crabbycat - really nice of you to bring up your personal bad experience about a business that has satisfied the majority of its customers for decades, when you go to a funeral to bring up all the bad memories you have of the deceased? I would suspect so. You are aptly named.

I met Bob about 1970 after mivimv to Palo Alto. He help me do many a project my home over the years.. To this day, I drove by and smile at the sign FOAM and there is no technology
Bob - whateer you deccide to do and live --- there are many who will think of you fondly and remember your guidance to do a project

Wishful thinking the the new tenant leave the sign an a vital decades old business in Palo Alts

oops - need computer glasses - for typos

Lived in Sunnyvale in the 60’s and 70’s and House of Foam was the place to go for the pellets to fill our bean bag chairs.

Try foamorder.com. They are in Richmond.

The brothers did a nice job on latex foam seat cushion wedges for me, just in December. I got lucky!

I’m no longer in Palo Alto, but fondly remember the House of Foam--from buying the filling for beanbag chairs (@LKA) to dropping off old foam for recycling. Blessings to Mr. Tallman and to that “fantastic landlord” who helped him serve the community so long.

Sad to see them go. Nice people. Gave downtown a small-town feeling, which was nice. Thank you also to the landlord that kept things affordable for a traditional business in a non-traditional town and enabled them to stay as long as they did.

Oh my, I just cannot figure out why a business that wants to charge many hundreds of dollars for a simple seat cushion or mattress, and justified it by saying the price of oil is at an all time high, which it isn't, wouldn't be thriving.

Seems like HOF made a living gouging people who had nowhere else to do for top dollar. I guess you can call that a business or service. ( not a very good one )

I can join people who lament the loss of local businesses from Internet competition, but in some cases, there is more competition and better service from the Internet.

Not a happy potential-customer of HOF. Buh-bye.

NOOOOOOO!!!!!

Spouse is a NASA employee who regularly gets stuff from House of Foam. Frys, HoF, Keeble & Shuchat -- less opportunity now, this is not just about convenience.

Wow, some of you are harsh. When someone dies, what do you say? His store has closed, no need for reviews or dissing.

I shopped there in the past for my Halloween costumes. It was nice to be able to see the materials vs. ordering online and the owner was SO nice. Best wishes to him.

My impression was that HOF received lots of business. Customers came and went while I was there and my 2 cushions took over a month to get done.

Of course HOF had to charge a lot to be profitable and people here can usually afford it.

For some reason I thought they owned their building, but from the article it sounds like not, which is unfortunate.

Aw we'll miss ya, house of foam. We've brought our foam there for everything from home improvement to school projects to Halloween costumes. Thanks for giving us a soft place to land all these years.

Comments by the store owner precluded the usual "greedy landlord" vitriol which occurs in the case when a site closes.

My dad created Martorana's House of Foam and cherished the many patrons and friends he made running the store for many years. After this passing it was sold to Tallman. Every now and then as I drive by I remember the many hours of joy the store brought to my dad and his customers and am glad that the Tallman's kept the spirit of what was established many years ago. Thank you all for your patronage throughout the years.