COUNCIL OKS $78.8M OPS BUDGET, PULLS $1.3 MILLION FROM RESERVES
Town testing out new finance method to avoid serious number-swings
Drew Penner, Editor
On June 2, Los Gatos approved a $78.8 million operating budget and a $6.5 million capital improvement program for fiscal 2026-27.
That brings the total budget to $85.3 million in expenditures, against $84 million in revenues ($77.6 million for operating and $6.5 million for capital). The Town is pulling $1.3 million from reserves to cover the difference across both budgets, however staff notes Los Gatos still has plenty in the bank.
The budget included $3.2 million in operating spending beyond what staff had originally proposed. At the May 19 budget hearing, Council approved $1.5 million for the Vehicle and Equipment Internal Fund, $335,083 boost to facilities projects in the Facilities ISF fund, $134,368 increase in the General Fund for four Parks and Public Works contracts that came in higher than expected and a new “Long-Term Community Benefit” Capital Fund, among other changes.
“Los Gatos is in a strong financial position, which I’m very proud of,” said Mayor Rob Moore. “Our residents expect that of our Town government.”
The financial plan
LOCAL SHOPS ADAPT TO STAY
Despite See’s Candies closure, owners display positive outlook
Obadiah Casperson, Contributor
There is no single formula for how local companies can succeed amidst economic uncertainty, but many Los Gatos business owners point to a common theme that keeps their doors open: the niche, whether of business format, or product category.
Online shopping continues to reshape consumer habits as Americans compare prices digitally and order merchandise without leaving the house. And so, California retail businesses are facing some of the highest operating costs in the US without any statewide commercial rent control.
Though Los Gatos sits as an affluent pinnacle of Silicon Valley, business owners are not immune to the malaise that can cause the economic pres -
sures of a dwindling downtown. While some storefronts struggle to survive rising rents and shifting market conditions, others have worked around these obstacles by pushing unique products and promoting made-to-order services.
“It’s just a really tough time to be in business,” said Mary Guercio, owner of Out of the Envelope embroidery shop. “It really is.”
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COUNCIL PLEASED WITH BUDGET REPORT BY NEW ADMIN SERVICES DIRECTOR
Budget, from page 1
$366,000-a-year salary for Town Manager Chris Constantin—more than 20% above former town manager Laurel Prevetti’s base salary of 289,572, from 2023.
And it includes a new base salary for Town Attorney Gabrielle Whelan of $310,000, up from the $249,900 she made when she started in 2022—and about 23% more than the former town attorney, Robert Schultz, made back in 2021 ($239,382, according to openpayrolls.com).
At the February mid-year budget update, Council said increased sales tax estimates had helped to reduce the deficit. At that time, the Town Attorney asked for $100,000 more for outside legal costs.
On May 30, Finance Commissioner Phil Koen sent a letter to the Town thanking Constantin and Administrative Services Director Kristina Alfaro for the “rigor” of their financial report.
However, he also questioned the wild swings in Town Hall accounting.
“The FY 2023-24 Operating Budget projected a challenging fiscal path,” he said, noting the five-year forecast showed operating deficits of $3.1 million in 2024-25, $2.8 million in 2025-26, $3.2 million in 2026-27, $3.5 million in 202728 and $4 million in 2028-29. “Based on those projections, the General Fund reserve balance—which stood at $24.5 million at the end of FY 2023-24—was on track to be reduced to approximately $15.4 million by the end of FY 2026-27.”
The Town’s assumptions were not grounded in objective analysis, Koen charged.
“Revenue projections that miss by $10 to $14 million per year, consistently and in the same direction, are not the product of bad luck or a bad economy,” he said. “In my view, the prior forecasts were built around a narrative—specifically, that the Town faced structural deficits serious enough to justify calls for additional taxation—rather than around what the underlying data actually supported. Revenue sources like property tax, permits, and interest income were persistently and significantly underestimated year after year.”
Council has explored new tax measures at various points in the last few years—fearing a dreaded “structural deficit”—but they’ve never quite made it to the ballot box.
At the June 2 meeting, Alfaro explained that to calculate totals this year, Town staff moved away from the department estimates it had relied on in the past and now looks at how spending is going over the first three months for projections. This led to a more than $3.5-million shift in a positive direction.
“We’re trying something a little new this year,” she said. “We did a trend analysis.”
Vice Mayor Maria Ristow asked her to expand on that.
“We needed to adjust our methodology
CIVIC CENTER SUNSET Chalk art spruces-up a sidewalk at Town Hall that, while sporting a crack or two, is mostly in good shape. The Town of Los Gatos budget shows a few cracks of its own, however, Town officials said the community is in relatively good health.
a bit,” Alfaro said, stating—had the current approach been used last year—the estimate would’ve been much closer to the result.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing where we end, and any potential adjustments we need to make as we go forward.”
Recent months have seen politicians raise concerns about Trump Administration funding cuts (causing Council to slash $810,000 in services last May).
Revenues in the General Fund are anticipated to drop by $3.4 million to $62.2 million.
And hotel tax revenue has remained relatively weak.
The estimated $18.8 million in the Capital Program expenditure budget will carry forward to the 2026–27 Capital Program Budget.
“There were real funding gaps that we had last year; we did a variety of things to create efficiency in the budget,” Moore said. “This year was different, because we had tightened our belt pretty significantly, so this year was (about) getting more
realistic about the true costs of services and what our contracts were really going to come out to.”
The budget was approved unanimously.
“I was very impressed with how much the Town Council came together on our most important financial topics,” Mayor Moore said. “We’re in a very fortunate position where we get to continue delivering wins.”
One line item he’s particularly excited about: $100,000 towards the design of a public restroom.
Drew Penner / Los Gatan
WAITING FOR ‘BACKROOMS’ IN A LIMINAL SPACE OF MY OWN
An accidental early arrival to an empty theater proved the perfect introduction
April M. Shimabukuro, Contributor
I accidentally arrived 30 minutes early to the opening-night showing of A24’s “Backrooms” at the Santa Cruz Cinema in downtown Santa Cruz. The room was dark, empty and silent.
Every seat sat vacant, the screen blank and there were no previews. There were no conversations, no rustling popcorn bags and no reminders that I was in a place designed for crowds. I checked my digital ticket and realized my mistake. The movie hadn’t started because I was simply too early.
But sitting there alone, it didn’t feel like a mistake.
It felt like I had accidentally wandered into a liminal space.
The concept of liminality sits at the heart of “Backrooms.” Liminal spaces are places meant for transition rather than occupation. Airports at 3 am, empty hallways, even a shopping mall after closing. Places that exist between destinations. Familiar environments stripped of the people who give them purpose.
As I sat in that empty theater, I felt the strange discomfort that makes liminal spaces so compelling. Nothing was technically wrong. I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Yet the absence of people made the room feel frozen in time, as though I had arrived somewhere I wasn’t meant to see.
The irony wasn’t lost on me. Before watching a film about someone stumbling into a place that shouldn’t exist, I found myself sitting in a space that felt detached from reality.
That feeling was the perfect introduction to “Backrooms.”
The film follows Clark, the lonely and deeply flawed owner of a failing furniture store who accidentally discovers a place that shouldn’t exist—but somehow does. Rather than relying on traditional horror conventions, “Backrooms” builds its tension through atmosphere, isolation and the unsettling feeling that something about the environment is fundamentally wrong.
Part of what makes “Backrooms” especially compelling for local audiences, is that the story unfolds in familiar territory. The film is set in the Santa Clara Valley at Capitol Expressway and McKee Road in East San Jose—just off Interstate 680. Before seeing the movie, I reached out to my followers on Instagram and TikTok and told them I wanted to fully lean into the experience by watching it somewhere that already felt liminal. Dozens of people suggested Eastridge Mall, whose quieter atmosphere has earned a
EMPTY THEATER In A24’s “Backrooms,” ordinary spaces become something deeply unsettling.
reputation among locals for feeling oddly suspended in time. I loved the idea, but I couldn’t secure tickets there at the last minute and ended up attending a showing in Santa Cruz instead. As it turned out, arriving 30 minutes early to an empty theater gave me the exact unsettling experience I had been searching for all along.
What makes the film effective is that it taps into a fear most viewers already carry with them. We’ve all experienced moments when a familiar place suddenly feels unfamiliar. We’ve all walked through a building after hours or found ourselves alone somewhere normally crowded and felt a brief moment of unease.
The movie also reminded me that liminal spaces are often much closer than we think. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, Holy City remains one of the region’s most intriguing examples. Once a bustling roadside attraction and home to one of the area’s most infamous cults, it now exists largely as a relic of another era. The Los Gatan recently revisited its strange history, and last year I created a three-part series on my social media accounts exploring the story behind the abandoned community. Places like Holy City continue to fascinate, because they feel suspended between past and present. What lingered with me most wasn’t a particular scene or scare. It was the way the movie changed how I looked at ordi-
nary spaces afterward. Long empty hallways. Late nights at the office after everyone has gone home. The strange quiet of an airport after a red-eye flight. Places I had passed through hundreds of times suddenly felt different.
The movie leaves your brain operating in a state of hypervigilance. You begin noticing details you normally ignore. Empty corners. Endless corridors. Rooms that feel too quiet. The spaces between destinations become just as interesting as the destinations themselves.
If you’re someone who enjoys immersive experiences, I recommend making the environment part of the movie. See the last showing in a mall so you have to walk through dimly lit corridors after everything has closed. Park far enough away that you cross an empty lot illuminated only by scattered lamps. Or show up 30 minutes early, like I did, and sit alone in a theater before the audience arrives.
You might discover that the movie starts long before the opening scene.
As @spookygirl831 on social media, April M. Shimabukuro covers local lore, legends and forgotten places across Monterey Bay, up to San Francisco and beyond.
Backrooms will screen at the Los Gatos Theatre at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Additional listings can be found at cineluxtheatres.com.
ICEE TREAT At least the author had a cold beerage to keep her company.
Photos by April Shimabukuro
POLICE BLOTTER
MAY 31
• A suspicious man was reportedly walking along the tracks at Winchester Boulevard and Smith Ranch Court, trying to open electrical boxes at 5:21am.
• Miscellaneous items were reportedly taken from vehicles in the neighborhood over the last two days on Las Astas Drive at 8:47am.
• Someone reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and was stopped at Los Gatos Saratoga Road and University Avenue at 11:59am.
JUNE 1
• A drunk driver reportedly hit the caller’s fence on Deadar Lane at 9:22am.
• Two subjects reportedly climbed over the caller’s back fence on Elaine Court and accessed the garage at 11:11am.
• A homeless woman reportedly attempted to store a rug at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting on West Main Street and was “annoying” customers and employees at 4:58pm.
• A vehicle reportedly spun out and was undrivable after an accident on Los Gatos Boulevard at 8:27pm.
JUNE 2
• Someone reported a vehicle with a broken passenger side window and the vehicle’s contents lying on the sidewalk at Union Avenue at Downing Oak Court at 9:33am.
• Jewelry and purses were reportedly stolen from a home on Scott Drive after the caller found the upstairs master bedroom had been broken into at 11:40am.
• A caller said they recovered their stolen business iPad for Coup De Thai on N Santa Cruz Ave. after tracking the device through Find My and confronting the subjects at 4:31pm.
JUNE 3
• Someone reportedly broke into the caller’s vehicle, damaging their locks and took nothing on Camino Del Cerro at 7:31am.
• Someone reportedly stole $20 in change and other items from a vehicle on Cherrystone Drive at 9:02am.
• Someone reportedly cashed a caller’s check for over $13,000
after she left it in the mailbox to be picked up on Alexander Avenue at 3:35pm.
• A caller reportedly stopped a subject from shoplifting at Safeway on N Santa Cruz Ave. As the subject was leaving, they flipped over a display of plants, causing damage to a parked car at 4:37pm.
• Someone reportedly attempted to gain access to the caller’s vehicle, damaging their door handle on Lilac Lane at 4:44pm.
• Checks were reportedly stolen from the mailbox on Blanchard Drive and one worth $4,200 was cashed 5:10pm
• A laptop, AirPods and other items were reported stolen after the caller found his vehicle burglarized at Old Town Parking on University Avenue at 6:49pm.
JUNE
4
• Officers made a warrant arrest after a subject was reported urinating between Blossom Hill Road and Shannon Road at 10:53am.
• A rear license plate was reported stolen on Lora Drive at 7:40pm.
• A vehicle door lock was reportedly broken and a set of keys was taken on Lilac Lane at 7:49pm.
• Officers made a misdemeanor arrest after a man was reported drunk in public at Wedgedwood Manor on Lora Drive at 10:24pm.
JUNE
5
• A caller reported two people banging on his front door on Pine Cone Court at 9:34am.
JUNE
6
• A wallet was reportedly stolen at Trader Joe’s on Los Gatos Boulevard at 2:39pm.
• A patient at El Camino Hospital on Pollard Road was discharged by refusing to leave at 7:16pm.
• A suspicious vehicle was making circles around the plot at Mission Oaks Hospital on Los Gatos Almaden Road at 10:37pm.
These reports are compiled from publicly available information released by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department. Prepared by Anika Kapasi
PARTY ALL NIGHT LONG!
Blast of a send-off at the elaborate alcohol-and-drugfree “Grad Night”
Photos by Jonathan Natividad
On Friday—and well into Saturday morning—Los Gatos High School graduates got to spend one last night together
at the no-alcohol, no-drugs extravaganza known as Grad Night, before heading their separate ways.
While there may have been fewer decorations this year, there were more activities. These included: 9-square, air hockey tables, pool tables, pop-a-shot basketball, jenga, cornhole and line dancing.
There was even a hypnotist and a band
made up of educators to entertain the seniors at dawn.
“Grad Night was an enormous success. We had 417 students attend the all night party. It was really rewarding to see the smiles on their faces as they enjoyed one last evening with their classmates,” said Jodi Bannon, one of the organizers.
“We are so thankful for our incredible
Steering Committee who supported our efforts to continue this rich 40-year tradition. As an example, our fundraising team engaged numerous local businesses and generous families to enable us to create a memorable evening for the Class of 2026.”
She said they had over 300 parent volunteers who helped, adding that’s “proof that Grad Night is truly a community effort.”
OVERHEAD VIEW The “Teacher Band” wrapped up the eventful Grad Night festivities as the sun rose. The event is designed to give seniors a safe place to party after graduating.
Photos by Jonathan Natividad
FAUX INK Graduates had a chance to take part in a wide range of activities, including getting artificial tattoos. SOLOIST Nolan Jones performs.
SAY ‘CHEESE’ These guys will now have a newspaper clipping of their final high school Hurrah!
by
SCHOOL’S OUT Counting down the minutes together until they walk across the stage.
PROUD Tyce Bowen shows off his diploma.
OUTDOORS These grads pose for one final photo on the LGHS front lawn after the formalities conclude.
GRADUATION GLORY Megan Saul takes a selfie with friends.
O SAY CAN YOU SEE Amiya Smith sang the national anthem to kick the LGHS graduation off on Friday evening.
Photos
Jonathan Natividad
TONY-WINNING ‘RAGTIME’ INCL. LGHS GRAD AS HARRY HOUDINI
Rodd Cyrus wants to ensure the arts are celebrated in Los Gatos
Drew Penner, Editor
On Sunday, “Ragtime” achieved the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
And sure, Ben Levi Ross, Caissie Levy, Joshua Henry and Nichelle Lewis got their due in a four-page New York Times Arts & Leisure photo spread in this week’s Sunday Edition.
But another hero of the production was none other than Los Gatos High School graduate Rodd Cyrus (né Farhadi), who portrayed Harry Houdini— which is based on a book by E.L. Doctorow set at the turn of the 20th century.
“The town raised me,” said Cyrus, in a recent telephone interview conducted as he sat outside the Lincoln Center, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. “I was on the Los Gatos Youth Commission.”
Cyrus recalled his days at Daves Avenue, then Blossom Hill Elementary, then Fisher Middle School, then Los Gatos High School—before he went on to UCLA and Juilliard.
Back in the day he’d meet monthly with the chief of police and the Town Council. He pushed the local business community to adopt youth-friendly practices to help kids here have a sense of agency.
“I really am grateful that I did that,” he said.
Cyrus flying high right now, having taken on the role of “James” in director Stevan Lee Mraovitch’s 2024 film “Doctor Doctor,” joined an episode of the TV series “The Equalizer,” completed voice work for the Aline Brosh McKenna and Lauren Weisberger-written spring smash “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” and logged a turn in the upcoming Kevin Hart flick “72 Hours” (as Teyana Taylor’s character’s best friend).
He’s definitely savoring the taste of success.
“You dream about these things for so long, and if you’re lucky enough they end up happening,” he said. “It takes a lot of work—and some luck.”
For “Ragtime,” Cyrus had to undergo a major transformation, in order to make his interpretation of the most iconic magician of all time (Houdini was known for his feats of strength) seem convincing.
“I went to the Houdini Museum and tried on his real top hat,” he said. “I visited his grave site in Queens.”
And, of course, he had to bulk-up.
“It has been a lot of exercise,” he said. “This dude was jacked.”
Out of 11 nominations, the show ended up with three wins on Sunday (Henry took Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical; Levy earned Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical).
“The material itself—it’s so well-written,” Cyrus commented.
But beyond racking up credits on IMDB and furthering his actor-life in the Big Apple, Cyrus has another dream. He says he’d like to see the arts celebrated in
his hometown just as much as athletics or technology.
The community has quite the Hollywood pedigree, what with two-time Academy Award-winner Olivia de Havilland (“Gone with the Wind”) having attended Los Gatos High, he notes. (And at the recent Scotts Valley Alfred Hitchcock Festival, Hitch’s granddaughter reminded the audience that the scary movie pioneer ended up in the Santa Cruz Mountains thanks to a tip from LGHS alumna Joan Fontaine.)
Cyrus says he’s on a “quest” to raise the profile of artistic pursuits in Los Gatos. We’ll have to stay tuned to see what he does to make that a reality.
His favorite production in high school?
“The Pajama Game,” in sophomore year.
“I got to play a good part,” he said. “It felt like magic.”
In 2013, he was nominated for a Jimmy (aka the National High School Musical Theatre Awards) for his work in “Urinetown” at LGHS. That earned him a one-time slot at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway—he sang “Run Freedom Run” with verve.
He may not have secured a Tony for himself yet, but he was a key part of helping “Ragtime” get there.
Cyrus says it’s important for young performers to remember to stay the course—even when things get tough.
“I didn’t stop,” he said. “Just keep going and your dreams end up coming true.”
WINNER Some readers may remember Cyrus from his performance in a local staging of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” years ago.
MAGIC MAN Harry Houdini was reenvisioned by LGHS alum Rodd Cyrus (who previously performed under his birth last name Farhadi).
Lincoln Center Theater Courtesy of Rodd Cyrus
Ad GUEST VIEW
The art of the helpful semi-retirement
A report from beyond the major work-life shift
Jeffrey P. Blum, Contributor
There is a specific kind of serenity that comes with life in Los Gatos. It is a stage of existence where “high stakes” usually involves the outcome of a Town Council vote on the precise height of a neighbor’s new perimeter hedge, or whether the local grocery store has stocked that jicama my wife, Lissa, so relishes.
After 75 years of living, I have discovered that communication in this chapter of my life is a delicate, sometimes perilous art. When you spend your professional life trying to be helpful and caring, you don’t just “stop” once you scale back your hours. Instead, you transform into a walking hazard of unsolicited “guidance” and accidental comedic timing. You become a solution in search of a problem.
The mismatch of the mesh
Recently, I identified a “crisis” in my bathroom: hair stubble in the sink. I attacked this issue with tactical precision. I spent two hours researching on Amazon, weighing the merits of various drainage solutions, cross-referencing reviews and analyzing flow rates. I finally settled on a woven micro-mesh strainer, the gold standard of stubble management.
I purchased it. I tracked the shipping. I prepared for a future of pristine porcelain. Then, three days later—before the strainer had even cleared the San Jose sorting facility—I decided to grow a beard. In an instant, the very need for the product was rendered moot. I now own a high-performance strainer for a problem I no longer have, a monument to a professional instinct that refuses to retire.
Lost in the kitchen
This “expert” reflex is most dangerous in the kitchen. At home, when Lissa asks if I know where the balsamic vinegar is, my brain bypasses, “It’s in the pantry,” and goes straight to, “Before we locate the vinegar, let’s explore the underlying structural issues of our organizational system and how we might optimize the shelf-space for future culinary efficiency.” I expect a smile and a big “Thank you!” Instead, I usually get a look that suggests I should perhaps go for a very long walk toward Vasona Lake.
The strategic mailer
I apply this same “helpful” intensity to my daughter. At 35, she is living a sophisticated, fast-paced life in Brooklyn. She is independent, successful, and seemingly oblivious to the fact that her father, back in the 95032-zip code, browses the New York Times with the focus of a Cold War grandmaster.
Recently, the Times ran a special section dedicated to the intricacies of planning a marriage. Naturally, my first instinct was to mail the entire section to her. I sat at my desk, carefully folding the newsprint into a manila envelope, wondering: Will she find the section on “destination vow renewals” academically interesting? Or will she recognize the unsubtle subtext screaming from the envelope like a flare gun over Vasona Lake? I am playing a high-level chess game where she doesn’t even know she’s at the board, and I suspect I’ve already lost my queen.
The grand finale
But the greatest victim of my observations is Lissa herself. We were recently sharing a quiet, tender moment in our living room. The lighting was perfect, the Santa Cruz Mountains were fading into a purple silhouette outside the window, and the mood was ripe for a romantic milestone.
I looked at her lovingly, squeezed her hand affectionately, and, with a sincere, soul-searching smile, leaned in to whisper the three words every woman longs to hear:
“I love my new belt.”
It is a beautiful belt. Sturdy, functional, and perfectly cinched. In my mind, I was sharing my genuine joy with my partner in life; in the actual world, I was reminded that romance in your seventies is a nuanced business. Sometimes, a heartfelt hand-squeeze is just the physical support one needs to truly appreciate high-quality leather goods.
We mean well. We buy strainers for beards we don’t have, we send unsolicited clippings to Brooklyn, and we buy very reliable belts. If the world doesn’t always take the hint, at least we look sharp while giving it.
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FOR LEASE
AS SOME LG RETAILERS FAIL, OTHERS INNOVATE
Businesses, from page 1
Guercio told the Los Gatan she credits her success to the pride she takes in her work. “I’m doing this because I enjoy doing it,” she said. “I’m very fortunate that I don’t have to worry about putting food on the table. But, I’m the exception and not the rule.” Guercio worked as she spoke, using a heat press to customize an order.
The Butter Paddle, a gift shop on N. Santa Cruz Ave that raises money for children and families in Santa Clara County, has a unique style of operation that keeps its doors open. Marketing Chair Lora Knol explained that their entire staff are volunteers, lessening any labor-cost strains. Though rent is “challenging,” Knol expressed that Los Gatos
still has a vibrant downtown, which she said allows them to “—kind of set ourselves apart from other retailers.” Tariffs on goods resulted in restructured sourcing: they placed more importance on local products. “We try to bring in more local vendors and American-made brands and other things you won’t find in other retail establishments,” she said.
Not all businesses, however, have been able to keep the lights on.
Effective May 11, the Los Gatos location of See’s Candies permanently closed. That left an empty storefront in the Los Gatos Village Square. The Los Gatos Town Facebook announced the closure on May 7, sharing a quoted message, “‘The rent increased and headquarters
HUSTLE & BUSTLE Vibrancy continues to be a hallmark of N. Santa Cruz Ave., such as in this photo taken over the weekend. However, several prominent businesses in the area have shuttered recently.
Some building skeletons—like the former CB Hannegan’s site— are but a memory of their former selves.
PERMANENTLY CLOSED The Los Gatos See’s Candies location officially shut down on May 11.
Obadiah Casperson / Los Gatan
is closing the location, and laying off the entire staff.’” The neighboring location in Capitola declined to talk. See’s Candies corporate office was contacted for comment, but did not respond by press time.
“The stores that are closing up, they can’t compete with online, because online doesn’t have any overhead, essentially,” Guercio said. With digital businesses not having to cough up rent money each month, the competition between in-person and digital ordering may be unsustainable for storefronts, particularly retail.
This sentiment was shared by the owner of JEN Statement Jewelry. Going on its third year with new ownership, the gallery-designed location in Los Gatos attributes its success to their unique madeto-order approach, as well as its elegant showroom (cutting out competition with “loss-leading corporations” online).
The See’s Candies closure is one example of a theme mirrored by other Los Gatos business owners: rising rent prices. This local case is mirrored in regional data. According to a 2025 Cushman and Wakefield report, Silicon Valley retail vacancy rose to 5.2% while more space was vacated than leased. Average rent for commercial real estate in Los Gatos is $46.99 per square foot according to Commercial Cafe, which reflects an overall high-cost market. The real estate broker for the vacant C.B. Hannegan’s Irish Pub, Mark Millen, expressed the “Covid hangover” as a key factor for business struggles.
Hannegan’s doors closed in 2017 and has collected dust since. Millen explained that if it were not for Covid, there would not be “any doubt that that building would be occupied and operating today.” This “hangover,” as he described it, has lowered the “appetite for risk” for local business owners. His perspective is that statewide regulations and changing consumer habits—such as younger people drinking less and therefore not stimulating bar and restaurant revenue—have had bigger negative effects compared to difficulties from landlords or Town bureaucracy.
Millen expressed overall optimism for the health of Los Gatos businesses, citing the inclusion of different types of commerce and a gradual improvement over the past five years. “Things continue to improve every quarter and every year,” he said, adding he believes the community is “doing a pretty good job with its mix of different types of restaurants and retail.”
Whether from shifting markets or evolving consumer habits, the Los Gatos business landscape has changed significantly since 2020. Many business owners agree that standing out is becoming more important. Though closures and vacancies test the community’s economic mettle, in many ways, the local commercial sector continues to buck negative trends. “Los Gatos is still one of the most wonderful communities I’ve ever been to—and certainly one of the best I’ve ever lived in,” said Millen.
Ad(North Santa Cruz Ave photo)
HUSTLE & BUSTLE Vibrancy continues to be a hallmark of N. Santa Cruz Ave., such as in this photo taken over the weekend. However, several prominent businesses in the area have shuttered recently.
Let us help you with your next rebranding, product launch, media campaign, digital initiative, website redesign or image refresh.
Credit: Obadiah Casperson / Los Gatan (For Lease)
FOR LEASE Some building skeletons— like the former CB Hannegan’s site—are but a memory of their former selves.
Credit: Obadiah Casperson / Los Gatan (Permanently Closed sign)
identity + strategy + design
PERMANENTLY CLOSED The Los Gatos See’s Candies location officially shut down on May 11.
Credit: Obadiah Casperson / Los Gatan (End for Print)
Some businesses adapt to economic pressures, others close
Garage Sales & Auctions
LOS ALTOS ESTATE SALE
Sat 6/13 9am-4pm Sun 6/14 9am-4pm everything must go 1825 Austin Ave
Name Change
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME. Case No. 26CV492931 . Notice of Petition of Eric S.K.Zhang. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. To all interested persons: Petitioner: Eric S.K.Zhang filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. Eric S.K. Zhang to Proposed name: Eric Haidong Zhang.
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
Notice of Hearing: Date: August 4, 2026, Time: 8:45am, Room: Probate. The address of the court is: 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113, Downtown Superior Court. A copy of this Order To Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los Gatan, 380 S 1ST Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Date: May 06, 2026. /s/ Charles F. Adams /s/, Judge of the Superior Court. Filed May 06, 2026 by /s/ A. Syrel /s/, Deputy Clerk. ((Pub LGN: 05/20, 05/27, 06/03, 06/10/2026)
Fictitious Business Name Statements
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #726566
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Sacred Knot, 18640 Overlook Rd., Los Gatos, CA, 95030, Praveena Johnson, Trustee, Godwin Johnson, Trustee. This business is being conducted by a Trust. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Praveena Johnson, Trustee. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/06/2026. (pub LG 05/27, 06/03, 06/10, 06/17/2026)
File Number: FBN726632 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. DYNAMIC SOLUTIONS, 599 Tuscarora Dr, San Jose, CA 95123. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, DYNAMICSOLUTIONS LLC, 599 Tuscarora Dr, San Jose, CA 95123. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 05/07/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. DYNAMICSOLUTIONS LLC, Article/Reg # B20260154647, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Remington Mills /s/ Manager. (Pub LGN: 05/20, 05/27, 06/03, 06/10/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #726696
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Posh Petals, 18 E. Main Street, Los Gatos, CA, 95030, Posh Petals LLC. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 05/11/2026. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/ Vaishali Singh-Sood. Manager. #B20250402557. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/11/2026. (pub LG 05/20, 05/27, 06/03, 06/10/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #726836
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Plum Hvac, 1074 Wentworth St, STEB, Mountain View, CA, 04043, Plum Hvac LLC. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 04/14/2026. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Seyed M Moosavi. Managing Member. #B202601775095. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/15/2026. (pub LG 05/20, 05/27, 06/03, 06/10/2026)
File Number: FBN726735. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. CRATEHQ, 1426 Calle Alegre, San Jose, CA 95120440. This business is conducted by: An Individual, VINAY PADMANABHI, 1426 Calle Alegre, San Jose, CA 95120440. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed
PUBLIC NOTICES
above on 05/10/2026 and 05/12/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Vinay Padmanabhi /s/. (Pub LGN: 05/27, 06/03, 06/10, 06/17/2026)
File Number: FBN726884. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. BESPOKE FRONTLINE SOLUTIONS, 14685 Oka Rd Spc 59, Los Gatos, CA 95032. This business is conducted by: An Individual, HOLLY LATTA, 14685 Oka Rd Spc 59, Los Gatos, CA 95032. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 05/18/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Elaine Fader /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Holly Latta /s/. (Pub LGN: 05/27, 06/03, 06/10, 06/17/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #725647
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Lu Construction, 364 Caribe Way, San Jose, CA 95133, John Lu. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 03/04/2016. /s/John Lu. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 04/09/2026. (pub Metro 05/20, 05/27, 06/03, 06/10/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #726841
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Handy Drain Guys, 1975 Hamilton Ave., STE 39, San Jose, CA, 95125, Anthoniel De Jesus Quintero Gutierrez. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Anthoniel De Jesus Quintero Gutierrez. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/15/2026. (pub Metro 05/27, 06/03, 06/10, 06/17/2026)
File Number: FBN726172 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. AFFASCINANTE BY KATTY HENAO, 2. PERFFETO BY KATTY HENAO, 3. NOTTE BY KATTY HENAO, 4. MASCHIO BY KATTY HENAO, 3505 S Bascom Av Unit C 6, Campbell, CA 95008. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, KATTY HENAO LLC, 3505 S Bascom Av Unit C 6, Campbell, CA 95008. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 04/24/2026 and 04/24/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Elaine Fader /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. KATTY HENAO LLC, Article/Reg # B20260170084, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California. /s/ Katty Henao /s/ Owner. (Pub LGN: 06/03, 06/10, 06/17, 06/24/2026)
File Number: FBN727031 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. AT HOME AT REST PET EUTHANASIA , 1039 Lakeside Drive, Felton, CA 95018. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, DR MARIA KUTY HOUSECALL VETERINARIAN INC, 1039 Lakeside Drive, Felton, CA 95018. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/01/2024 and 05/21/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Mike Louie /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. DR MARIA KUTY HOUSECALL VETERINARIAN INC, Article/Reg # 6027422, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Maria Kuty /s/ CEO. (Pub LGN: 06/03, 06/10, 06/17, 06/24/2026)
File Number: FBN727066. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. Red Fox Realty, Home Loan & Property Management , 115 Calfhill Ct, Los Gatos, CA 95032. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, Red Fox Realty Corp., 115 Calfhill Ct, Los Gatos, CA 95032. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 05/21/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. Red Fox Realty Corp., Article/Reg # C3786557, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California. /s/ Shuang Li /s/ CEO. (Pub LGN: 06/03, 06/10, 06/17, 06/24/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #727209
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Cuesta Park Medical Center Partnership, 2204 Grant Road, #105, Mountain View, CA, 94040, Kenneth Goranson, Peter & Fredda Morris, Leonard Doberne, J Ronald Hess, Terese Tricamo, David Lewis, Munir Javed, Peter Naruns, Saul Eisenstat, Johnathan Butner, Russel Butner. This business is being conducted by a General Partnership. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 03/23/1987. /s/Mark Lewis. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/27/2026. (pub Metro 06/10, 06/17, 06/24, 07/01/2026)
File Number: FBN727275. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. WINDOW GRAPHICS SIGN COMPANY INC., 281 E MCGLINCY LN, CAMPBELL, CA 95008. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, WINDOW GRAPHICS SIGN COMPANY INC, 281 E MCGLINCY LN, CAMPBELL, CA 95008. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/04/2015 and 05/29/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. WINDOW GRAPHICS SIGN COMPANY, INC, Article/Reg # 3847684, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Greg M Vasquez /s/ President. (Pub LGN: 06/10, 06/17, 06/24, 07/01/2026)
File Number: FBN726955. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. TATTVE INC., 14435C Big Basin Way #PMB1029, Saratoga, CA 95070.This business is conducted by: An Individual, DEBASREE BANERJEE, 14435C Big Basin Way #PMB1029, Saratoga, CA 95070. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 05/19/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Debasree Benerjee /s/. (Pub LGN: 06/10, 06/17, 06/24, 07/01/2026)
File Number: FBN727408 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. THE BOUGIE HANDYMAN , 4550 Brunswick Ave, San Jose, CA 95124.This business is conducted by: An Individual, LOUKE BOURGEOIS, 4550 Brunswick Ave, San Jose, CA 95124. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/01/2026 and 06/04/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Louke Bourgeois /s/. (Pub LGN: 06/10, 06/17, 06/24, 07/01/2026)
File Number: FBN727310. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. SAN JOSE SOFTBALL TRAINING CENTER, 2. SJSTC, 3. SAN JOSE SOFTBALL TRAINING CENTER CATCHERS AND HITTING BOOT CAMP, 4. SJSTC CATCHERS AND HITTING BOOT CAMP, 132B Gilman Ave, Campbell, CA 95008. This business is conducted by: An Individual, MARYSSA SARINANA, 132B Gilman Ave, Campbell, CA 95008. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 06/01/2026 and 06/01/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Mike Louie /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Maryssa Sarinana /s/. (Pub LGN: 06/10, 06/17, 06/24, 07/01/2026)
SOUTH COUNTY GEM
Dramatic and Elegant, Yet Warm and Inviting
$1,995,000
Lucy Wedemeyer Broker
lucy@serenogroup.com
408-891-6861
DRE# 00640875
Keith Andry Associate/Broker
408-891-4151
keith@serenogroup.com
DRE# 01470
Situated in a “prestigious tree-lined serene cul-de-sac” near downtown Morgan Hill with views of El Toro.
Extraordinary marketing expertise fueled with contagious enthusiasm defines Lucy Wedemeyer as a “RockStar” Real Estate Broker. She’s one of the most recognized and highly respected Realtors in the Bay Area, consistently awarded Top 1% distinction Keith Andry with a BS in Finance joined his Award-Winning Mother-in-Law in 2000.
As founding members of SERENO, they’ve curated an extensive network of professionals as an integral part of enhancing clients properties for market. Both exude unsurpassed proactive visions as Brokers and Certified Negotiation Experts; reflective of 90% referral business as they strive to exceed expectations to accomplish client’s goals and dreams.
