10 Questions for Palapa Lounge Beachwear Owner Karen Jensen

Meet the Owner is a weekly column that features business owners in the town of Los Gatos. Los Gatos Patch asks each owner the same 10 questions every week so the community can get to know the people behind our local businesses. 

After ending her 15-plus-year career in the swimwear industry to become a stay-at-home-mom, Karen Jensen dreamed of having her own store yet again and bringing quality swimwear to the town of Los Gatos.

is the only shop in Los Gatos that offers all swimwear year round. Aside from a great selection of suits, the shop also has a wonderful selection of cover-ups, shoes and other essentials. Jensen named her store "Palapa" after a favorite place in her home in Cabo San Lucas. A palapa is an open thatched roof made with dried palm leaves, and in the backyard was a lounge area under the palapa that they called the "palapa lounge." 

10 Questions, Shoot!

Los Gatos Patch: What did you dream of being as a kid? 

Guest: An actress.

Patch: How does your personality play into your business? 

Guest: I was born and raised in Santa Monica. I'm a Cali girl that loves the warm weather and beaches, which is what my shop is all about. 

Patch: At what moment did you decide to open a business? 

Guest: About two months before I actually opened it. I was at a place in my life where I felt like I needed to do something besides being a stay-at-home-mom. I always dreamed of opening up my own swimwear store, and the timing was just right. Los Gatos needed a beach store, and when a lease sign came up on this shop, I literally called them 10 minutes later. 

Patch: What inspired you?

Guest: My love for the industry and my background with it. I worked for a retail chain swimwear company for almost 10 years. I moved to LA and had my own store in LA on Melrose Avenue.  I was able to do a bit of swimwear toward the end of my career as well. I missed working in the swimwear industry. I wanted to open my own store in my own town.

Patch: Describe the biggest challenge of owning a business in the town of Los Gatos?

Guest: Trying to find swimwear lines that would give a brand store the opportunity to sell.

Patch: Describe the best thing about owning a business in the town of Los Gatos?

Guest: Being a part of the community and getting to meet people. I like being connected to the people in this area.

Patch: What is one thing you would never change about your business?

Guest: The simplicity of it. I don't want an overcrowded store.

Patch: What is your business' greatest asset?

Guest: I'm the only all-swimwear store in town that has swimwear all year long.

Patch: What is your favorite spot in town?

Guest: Steamers.

Patch: What's one thing the community should know about you?

Guest:  I have more than 15 years of experience in the swimwear industry. I worked for a swimwear company for almost 10 years. They were a retail chain. I moved to Los Angeles and had my own store in LA on Melrose Avenue.  I was able to do a bit of swimwear toward the end of my career as well.