Design & Interiors of Los Gatos is Closing

Several patrons expressed their unhappiness this weekend with news that Design & Interiors of Los Gatos, 111 N. Santa Cruz Ave., is closing.

Anne Cherry, a local designer, said she thought the announcement "was terribly sad."

Cherry said the company had purchased the business from Ron Martino, one of the most talented home designers in the South Bay, who was in business for about 35 years.

Cherry said the business has been in operation in town for about 10 years. Calls left at the business' number were not immediately answered. A message to customers promoted the same closing sale being advertised on the store's windows.

On the website, it states Design & Interiors also has locations at 170 State St. in Los Altos and at 3590 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette.

"Great $2 million store closing-consolidation sale! Special private sale! 2 days only!" says a red announcement also posted on the business' website. Another smaller post says stores are closed until Jan. 16 and that the sale is open to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18.

An envelope taped to one of the store's windows had invitations to a private sale scheduled 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 and Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013.

Design & Interiors had a great collection of furniture and home decor, Cherry said. "I'm a designer so I shopped here all the time," she added. "Everything is just hurting. It's the economy and there's the big stores like Costco. There are big places and people have a different set of priorities than they did 20 years ago ... These specialty stores have taken the brunt."

Cherry recalled the closing of Los Gatos Porch, which was also located on No. Santa Cruz Avenue.