Published in the February 3-16, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Kathy Sullivan
Kathy Sullivan
Big and bold changes are in the works for our downtown businesses in 2016. While everyone is anxious for the end of the current construction and the opening of our new parking structure, each business has its own unique way of planning for Morgan Hill upgraded downtown district.
Some of our well known retail stores will be relocating to different locations. Murphy’s Mercantile is moving a few doors down to where the kids’ consignment shop used to be. We, unfortunately, will be saying goodbye to Sleep, Play, Love, and the Happy Spatula, as they have gone out of business.
Royal Clothiers is moving across the street to where Murphy’s Mercantile is now located. Proprietor Carlos Perez wants to express his gratitude to his customers and the city for their continued support and offers of help with his relocation.
Belinda Ettelbrink, owner of Tryst, is taking it month by month and anticipating having to move sometime next year. She wanted to remind the community it could help ensure the success of our small businesses if everyone spent ten dollars a day here and there on our local retail. This could help keep them afloat until conditions improve.
An area favorite, BookSmart, is also facing an uncertain future with a relocation after April 30, but is actively looking for a new space. Co-owner Cinda Meister said she and husband and co-owner Brad Jones are using a task force of friends and supporters to help them with a 20-year plan to stay in business. They are looking for a nonprofit arm to help defray the costs for some of their community programs and activities to expand on the work they have been doing the past 20 years.
Rosy’s at the Beach seafood restaurant is taking advantage of its outstanding new chef by planning new culinary events as well as new menu items. In additions to co-owner Rosy Bergin’s popular wine-pairing dinners, there will be an added wine dinner during Wine Week later this year.
Jeanie Watson of Morgan Hill Art Gallery is full of many innovative ideas about combining art, music and wine and looking for partners in expansion. This year she hopes to expand her existing art classes and the 36 artists she now represents, but is happy to stay where she is.
A-Jay’s Cheese Steaks’ Andrea Lemos mentioned the downtown eatery increased business last year with the expansion of another A-Jay’s site in Gilroy and expects continued success. Olivia’s Hope Chest Boutique, which is one of our newest retail clothes stores, had co-owner Marilyn Dober share how she is often investing in new inventory as she gets to know the needs of her customers.
Bubbles Wine Bar’s David Dindak is excited about plans to increase the bistro’s hours to include lunch on the weekends. They are going to seek more members to join their wine club to take advantage of the more than 100 world wines they have to choose from.
So best wishes. The Morgan Hill Downtown Association sees promise for the changes to come to our local stores and restaurants in the coming months. To quote poet Rainer Maria Rilke, “And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.”
Kathy Sullivan is a board member of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
