Willow Glen Town Square is Looking Good!

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I have been checking in on the progress of the Willow Glen Town Square since its conception in 2008.  If you’ve driven by the site, you will see that it is getting closer to completion.  In speaking with the leasing office, it is expected that by March 2012 is when construction should be complete and businesses should be up and running.

The new town square will include a gorgeous public plaza at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Willow Street  featuring lush landscaping and a landmark water fountain located in the center of the courtyard.

The main attraction of the square will be the San Jose favorite, Lou’s Village; the original Lou’s located 1465 W San Carlos Street in San Jose shut down in December 2005.  Tim and Tom Muller, the owners of Lou’s Village made a very sound business decision to sell their 5-acre lot that has been in the family since 1946 to Summerhill Homes for $15M.  Today, Summerhill’s Village Square features almost 100 townhomes and a street name called Muller.  If you remember the original Lou’s it was very big; it was ~ 28, 000 sq ft.  The NEW Lou’s Village will only be 3,500 sq ft but from what Tim and Tom Muller have said, it will be more manageable with a much smaller space.  Lou’s will have a nice bar and outdoor seating for all us that love eating al fresco!

If you love breakfast, you will be excited to know that the CrepeVine is coming to Town Square!  CrepeVine, a family run business for the past 15 years prides itself on the natural and organic ingredients that their foods are made from.  All of their foods are made from high-quality product and it is all fresh and made from scratch.  This will be a lovely addition to the Avenue, but it will be interesting how it will fend being so close to Bill’s Café, which has been the breakfast favorite and tradition in Willow Glen since 1977.

Willow Glen favorites like Willow Street Wood Fired Pizza and Willow Glen Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream Company will remain where they are currently located but will be improved.  Willow Street pizza is still undergoing their remodeling project with a brand new lounge area and a larger patio for dining al fresco.  The other favorites like Yuki Sushi, Jamba Juice, Peet’s Coffee, Noah’s Bagels, Powell’s Sweet Shop, Peninsula Beauty and Petroglyph will undoubtedly benefit from increased visitors on the avenue and it can only boost business.

Not directly related to Willow Glen Town Square but very much part of the plans to increase business and revenues in the town is another great eatery that is planning on opening in 2012.  Jim Stump, the much respected chef and business owner in Silicon Valley is opening a neighborhood urban eatery called “the Table”.  Jim Stump’s goal is to make his new restaurant the best that he’s ever done in his career; his goal is to make it sophisticated casual with no pretense and stress … just a very casual neighborhood place to dine.  The Table will be located in the building where Willow Glen Bicycles' previous location was and perhaps expanding into the current home of Vic’s Coin Shop.

There are plans for many more new stores to open in 2012 and great small offices designed for the small business person complete with Kitchenettes, conference rooms, on-site drop off dry cleaners, and auto detailing available.

I will continue to keep you posted on the progress, but if all goes well, I’ll see you at the center of town, at Willow Glen’s Town Square very soon!