With the coming of Safeway’s “The Market” to downtown San Jose, the other downtown groceries are faced with some hefty new competition. One of those local groceries is Zanotto’s Downtown Market. This locally-owned grocery has been downtown since 2004, and the Zanotto family has been in the grocery business for 40 years. I wanted to give Zanotto’s management a chance to remind San Jose of reasons they might want to shop at a locally owned store, so I pitched a few (admittedly softball) questions at Zanotto’s Downtown Market co-owner Troy Tibbils:

San Jose Metblogs: What’s the connection between Zanotto’s Downtown and the Naglee Ave store?

Troy Tibbils: The Zanotto’s family has been in the grocery business for 40 years. They own and operate the Naglee store. The Downtown store is owned by Dan Zanotto (also an owner of Naglee) and Troy Tibbils. The recipes are from the family and are used at both stores. Items like the Secret Blackened Tri-tip, Corned Beef, other meat specialties, all the salads and other homemade items come from those family recipes.

SJM: What distinguishes Zanotto’s from the big grocery chains?

TT: We like to say we call you by your name because we know you, not because you flashed us your club card. We make everything from fresh ingredients taken right from the store. We cut our own beef—and we’ll do it the way you want. We actually answer emails. We’ll try to stock what people want. We deal with a lot of local companies (like Marianne’s Ice Cream and Sumono’s Bread Co.) Our produce is selected first—most chains just order what they want and take what they get. Our beef is range free—no additives, no growth hormones, cholesterol lower than chicken. One other interesting item—we actually have certain chain stores coming to us and asking how we make things, how we marinate our meat, etc.

SJM: Are there any particular products you carry that don’t show up at the big chains?

TT: Our Montana Ranch Beef is exclusive in the Bay Area to Zanotto’s. As noted above our produce is selected. You can’t find our homemade guacamole, salsa, burritos, salads and dinners anywhere. Our spices are unique—smaller container for less waste. Just the other day someone asked us about Kombucha Tea—which we carry, but they wanted a particular brand and we went out and got it. There are unique olive oils, dressings. Marianne’s Ice Cream is also unique.

SJM: Aside from selling groceries, how else is Zanotto’s participating in the downtown community?

TT: We often provide gift baskets, bags of groceries, etc. to local groups. We just provided free groceries as a raffle prize to San Jose State’s International Student orientation. We’ve supported St. Christopher’s, Horace Mann, and many other schools and churches. We’ve also provided tours of the stores for classes, lectures to special education groups on how to shop and we have a group of students with special learning needs who work at the store one day a week.

SJM: Anything else you’d like to add?

TT: We’ve served the downtown area for the last five years. We hope in that time we’ve built a reputation of quality and service that will keep customers coming back. We’re local, we’re family owned and we pride ourselves in service. We can be flexible and responsive which we believe makes us unique.

I’d like to thank Troy for answering my questions, and wish him good fortune in the grocery business. I will keep Zanotto’s in mind when I’m looking for the special products (Marieanne’s Ice Cream) that can’t be found anywhere else.

Zanotto’s Downtown Market is at 38 S. Second Street in downtown San Jose.

I have seen many storefronts claiming to sell “vintage” clothes but upon entering the store you realize they are just overpriced thrift shops. So when my 17 year old daughter requested a trip to Moon Zooom on West San Carlos Street I was skeptical but willing to go. I looked at their website and they claim to carry items from the 1950s through the 80s, but still I was skeptical.

The truth could not have been further from my expectations. Moon Zooom is awesome. They have racks and racks (and racks!) of well organized, well cared-for clothes, and different rooms assigned to different decades. There are a few newer costumey pieces, but overall this is true vintage material. I saw many dresses that I swear my mother owned when I was a child. My daughter tried on what seemed to be fifty different outfits, from 60s mini skirts to 70s muumuus to 80s aerobics gear, and she ended up purchasing two fabulous dresses for around $20 each and a 70s concert shirt for $15. The store employees were also very helpful and friendly.

The clothes are all in fantastic condition, with only the shoes showing much wear. Speaking of shoes, if you need white go-go boots, this is the place to find some! I did not notice any children’s wear but there was a variety of adult sizes. The entire second floor is devoted to 80s clothing but honestly, I remember the 80s as being a lot prettier. We had the most fun downstairs rifling through racks and racks of adorable clothes from the 60s and 70s.

As an added bonus, when you check out you receive a $3 coupon for a future purchase.

Moon Zooom is located on 1630 West San Carlos Street in San Jose. There is parking on the street.
Cash and credit cards accepted, no checks.
Store hours: 11am to 7pm every day, call for holiday hours 408 287 5876.

John Morris, a member of the family who founded Mervyns, may be planning to revive the chain. It would be good to see the now empty stores back up on their feet – fresh paint, new fixtures, quality goods, and happy employees.

Just to get a guess at how bad the economy is doing, I stopped by Vally Fair Mall and hiked up to the top level of the parking garage. Two days before Christmas, in the middle of the afternoon, there was plenty of parking to be had. Inside, the mall was busy, but not packed. I’m not sure if this is bad news because it means the economy’s likely to remain in the dumps for a while, or if it’s good news because it means that Silicon Valley has rejoined the real world, where everybody doesn’t get whatever they want whenever they want it.

Today I was given a relaxing make-over by my friend Nancy at the Boots aisle in Target inside Westgate Mall.  She’s this sweet woman with a light touch and a magic for makeup.  

Many years ago when I was in England for business and some fun touring, I was introduced to Boots cosmetics, after forgetting to bring my moisturizer.  This product is a must have in England, the weather over there is not very forgiving on a persons skin.  So I was directed to the “Chemist” down the street from my Inn.  Chemist? Skeptical, I headed over not knowing what to expect, my mind raced with visions of  mini chemical bottles and weird potions.  I was pleasantly surprised “the Chemist” is the same as our Pharmacies, and the the aisles are lined with makeup, skin-care and the usual OTC healthcare remedies.  I was directed to the moisturizers by a friendly gal who gave me a thorough look, and handed me a No. 7 product, perfect for protecting my skin in the cooler climate. 

Since then, I’ve had  my mother-in-law from No. Ireland either send me the products, or bring it over on visits.  I found this wonderful skin-care line, and I wasn’t giving it up.  So, when Target added a Boots aisle to their cosmetics I was overjoyed!  Now when I shop at Target, I head to Boots if not to buy, just to browse the products. 

So, today, Nancy asked if I wanted a make-over, and since I had time, I took this offer and we started chatting.  Turns out, she and the other Boots Beauty Advisor Jenna are hosting a Complimentary Make-over in the Boots aisle this Saturday, Oct. 25th,  12:Noon to 5:PM

For those of you in Cupertino, Nancy and her co-Beauty Advisor Carol are hosting a Complimentary Make-over Friday evening Oct. 24th, 4:PM to 7:PM in the Target store at 20745 Stevens Creek Blvd.

All this is all in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month,  a subject close to Jenna’s heart, her mother being a survivor.  And this big bonus, 10% of the proceeds of the  sold Boots No7 Mascara will go to the Susan G. Koman Fund.  They hope to see you!

The Boots Aisle at Target!

P.S. Nancy told me, if you don’t want a make-over, she’s happy to give you a hand/arm massage, what a treat!!!

That is no new news, Mervyns LLC,  headquartered in Hayward, CA declared Bankruptcy in August this year. Shoppers like myself saw it coming months ago, we were always piling in for the giant sales and empty aisles. 

This is sad indeed, Mervyns has been a huge staple in my shopping history.  I grew up in San Mateo, and going to the Mervyns inside Hillsdale Mall was the place to go.  Mervyns and Sears were the biggies to Middle Class shoppers, and rightly so, they have everything. With good quality clothes,  tools and home appliances, all at reasonable prices, it was hard to shop anywhere else.  All my holiday, birthday and occasional gifts for women came from Mervyns, then going to Sears for the men in my life, it made sense. It still does,  but thats my style.  Imagine, when I moved here to San Jose, how excited I was to see a Mervyns only 1 mile from my home. Waking distance! 

We all know that some of the Mervyns stores in the East Bay are having liquidation sales, but I also heard a rumor that my beloved store at 950 W Hamilton Ave, Campbell, CA 95008 will be shutting it doors sooner than anticipated. At one time I heard it was due to shut down in January 2009.  Personally I don’t know which is true, now, or 2009, I can’t find anything confirming the date, and I was unable to talk with a  manager this weekend.  Shoot.  I’ll keep you up to date, I’ll be shopping there until they bolt the door for good.   Currently, they are having a Store Wide sale, 40%, 50% and 60% off most merchandise in every department.  With the American Economy in trouble and people having to tighten their Holiday budgets,  now is the time for a bargain. Go on over, and have a look, I’m very sure you will find something for everyone.

For about a year now I’ve been doing a lot of purchasing from shops on Etsy, for myself or gifts – it’s a great spot (and highly addictive!) If you’re unaware, Etsy.com is a online marketplace. People from all over create shops on Etsy to sell their handmade (or vintage) goods. Paintings, jewelry, furniture, crafts, etc – you name it, you can probably find it on Etsy.

So while buying handmade is awesome, buying handmade AND local is even better.

From time to time, I’m going to share a few Etsy local finds. I invite you to do a Shop Local search on Etsy the next time you are in need of a gift for someone special.

(Also, just to note, I am in no way affiliated with Etsy – I just love the site!)

Here’s a few from San Jose, Los Gatos, and Palo Alto!
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This morning I stopped by my local Safeway to pick up a container of raspberries. Near the front of the store I noticed a display for a free DVD. All I would have to do was to buy $40 in home care products in a single transaction then Iron Man would be mine. They were specific products like Bounty paper towels, Duracell, Kleenex Reynolds foil and others. Pushing the cart down each aisle I saw that the products for the promotion had special price tags indicating that they were participating items. I carefully selected the products worth $40, and then some, the raspberries, other groceries, and the DVD.

The man at the checkout told me that my plastic bags of stuff did not qualify for a free movie. Why not? I had followed all of the rules and surely I had well over the specified $40. He could only direct me to the customer service desk.

Resolving the problem with Tiffany, at the desk, should have been easy. She asked me which of the items would get me the movie. Shouldn’t she have known this? I told her that it would be all that was non-eatable. Using an oh-so bothered tone of voice she asked me to follow her back to a checkout.

Picking off of master list, she would call out the products not found on it. This is where it got ugly. When I told her that she was wrong because I had noted the special price tag for each item purchased, she said that she would attempt to explain it to me. Attempt!!! I let Tiffany know that I did not appreciate her inferring that I was too stupid to shop at Safeway. I followed with, “I might be better off getting a refund”. She was all ready for that, but I wasn’t about to let her win the war! I stood my ground until she marched off to the manager’s office. She returned asking a co-worker to put the stuff back into the cart, for she was letting me have it all. I asked if that meant that the things I bought were actually correct. Not admitting to the mistake she said that she had customers waiting, mumbling something about getting me out of the store. I wasn’t a customer? She obviously found out that some of the products had not been entered into the store computer correctly. No apology for me, and I had to remind her that she still owed me the almost $20 for the so-called free DVD.

File under: Customer Service From Hell.

From the group's July 13 performance at the San Jose Obon Festival.

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Hi everyone!

I’m Sarah, a new author for the San Jose Metblog. I’m very excited to contribute and to start off, I’d like to tell you a bit about myself (it’ll be short – I promise!)

- Journalism was my first love. I studied Journalism at SJSU, graduated with a degree in the fabulous subject in 2005, worked for local weekly newspapers for two years, then decided to leave the business. Not because I didn’t love reporting, but because I figured I should get out while I still had the choice. Anyone who’d like to have a conversation about the current state of Journalism in the Bay Area is absolutely welcome to leave a comment and let me know. :)

- I’m currently back at SJSU in the teaching credential program to be a high school English teacher. Yes, I left a poverty-inducing career where getting laid off is a possibility, to enter another poverty-inducing career that is also in danger financially. But what isn’t these days?

- And last, I love photography. I take photos around San Jose all the time, so I’m making it a mission to bring photos to each of my entries, starting with this one!

OK, enough about me. What I really want to tell you all about is the Spirit of Japantown Festival that is planned for next Saturday, Oct. 4. As a Japantown resident, I love telling people how much I love it here and how they should come by and check out some of the delicious food. Sushi Maru is my personal favorite, but Japantown has lots to offer.

The Spirit of Japantown Festival will go from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the heart of Japantown (Jackson and Fifth streets) and will be packed with activities for people of all ages. Shoppers will enjoy the Main Street full of Japanese fine arts, crafts, food for sale, as well as wares from other local merchants. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy entertainment that ranges from a hula to bellydancing on the Main Stage (Jackson Street between Third and Fourth streets), as well as Martial Arts demonstrations, free Anime movies, and other activities for kids. The San Jose Taiko group is scheduled to perform on the Main Stage, and I have to say they are a must-see. I’ve watched the group perform at the last two San Jose Obon Festivals and they are phenomenal.

While there is usually plenty of street parking in the area, during festivals, the streets fill up fast. However, those who are lightrail savvy will be interested to know that the Japantown/Ayer stop is just a few blocks away from the action. The stop is on First street near Jackson, so just a quick walk and riders can be in the heart of the action.

So if you’re interested, I’m sending you a personal invitation to my neighborhood to enjoy all it has to offer. See you at the festival!

For more information about the Spirit of Japantown Festival, visit their website.

Silicon Valley Business Journal is reporting today that creditors of the former Vallco Fashion Park, now known as Cupertino Square, are seeking to foreclose on and sell the property, while the owners of the mall are fighting back.

When I visited months ago, the mall from the outside had a feel that was somewhat dated yet still post-modern, but inside it was a vacant hall of empty shop bays. When I briefly entered the mall to get to the attached Dynasty dim sum restaurant a few weeks ago, it didn’t look as if anything had changed.

If the owners are truly short of cash (they claim they aren’t), it explains why the mall has been essentially empty for over a year, but ongoing renovations have made little visible progress. Clearly the big losers have been any independent shops that have been caught in leases in the mall: Only destination businesses (like Dynasty or the AMC theater there) could survive without the traffic brought in by being part of a larger marketplace.