Representatives from Old Town Center went before the Los Gatos Planning Commission Wednesday evening to seek a conditional-use permit to allow retailer Lucy Activewear to open in the former Borders location at 50 University Ave.
A CUP was not required when Borders was established at the location, however, any new retail business opening at the Old Town Center space is being required by town officials to obtain the permit.
On Dec. 14, 2011, planners approved a CUP for which sells women's apparel, accessories and home decor. The CUP approval allowed the subdivision of the lower portion of the former Borders space into suites A280 and A290.
The latter suite would be divided into two suites, with Lucy occupying one section that would be 2,098 square feet, according to a staff report about the project.
Alameda-based Lucy Activewear is a women's athletic apparel retailer with more than 50 stores in the U.S.
The fourth Fusion Academy campus in the Bay Area is set to open soon on the entire upstairs floor of the location, which totaled 22,500 square feet. The private high school enrolls students in grades 6-12.
Oh well, chain store come and they go, but our small independent local stores seem to stay around longer. I hope you shop them first, they need our support after this so called recession that was almost a depression.
Old Town used to be so much better and used to have a nice variety of shops and restaurants at one time. I was talking about it with a friend who's also lived in LG for long enough to remember how vibrant Old Town used to be, with a art gallery downstairs, and another restaurant upstairs (Mimi's Rooftop Cafe), and a couple night clubs (The Cotton Club and Iguana) that would feature live music. Yes, actual live music downtown somewhere besides Number 1 Broadway. The dulling of Old Town began once the renovations of the place were announced and many of the businesses were displaced and folded up for good. That was quite a while ago now, but it goes to show how Old Town, with such an ideal location and spaces with lots of potential for diversity in shopping, dining, and entertainment, has evolved over the years. Let's hope Old Town does not become like a mini version of artificial, see-and-be seen, so on-trend Santana Row. Unlike Santana Row (the former T and C parking lot), Old Town has a rich history in it's town location and real architectural character. Old Town needs to get it's mojo back, at one time it would have given Santana Row some real competition in a lot of ways.