Business: Northern Lights go out Business: Northern Lights go out (November 23, 2005)

** Scandinavian shop to close at the end of the year.

By Jane Knoerle

Almanac Lifestyles Editor

"You can't leave!" is something Ann Marie Van Horn is hearing a lot these days. But she says it's time. After 15 years at 826 Santa Cruz Ave., Northern Lights Scandinavian Shop will close at the end of the year.

Ms. Van Horn is retiring to spend more time with her three children and four grandchildren. She says business has declined since the downturn in the economy three years ago.

She actually planned to retire five years ago, but was talked out of it by customers who count on Northern Lights staff for cooking tips and recipes, translations, and a touch of home. "We've been a cultural center here, not just a retail store."

Transplanted Scandinavians frequent the store to find goodies, such as cloudberry jam or pepparkakor cookies, to buy the mix for Swedish pancakes, or pick up a birthday card printed in Finnish.

"They say the vanilla sugar (a staple in Swedish baking) smells like home," she says.

The shop's high-quality crystal and stainless tabletop ware is sought by many shoppers, about half of whom are Scandinavian. Ms. Van Horn has received more calls for Icelandic products, such as jewelry and sweaters, since Icelandic Airlines started flying into San Francisco International Airport.

Ms. Van Horn was born in San Francisco to Swedish immigrant parents. She and her late husband moved to Mountain View 45 years ago. They both maintained close ties to the Swedish community. The family has a stuga (cabin) at Sveadal, a Swedish summer camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Ms. Van Horn was the cook and manager for the camp for several summers.

She is a former president of the Swedish American Patriotic League and served as its secretary for 30 years.

Several special events have been planned for the shop's last Christmas. On Sunday, December 4, there will be a trunk show featuring iittala glass birds by Toikka. Sam and Marianne Ferris from iittala glassworks in Finland will give video presentation on how the birds are created.

There will be a St. Lucia procession at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 7, with soprano Amy Assarsson as featured singer.

There will also be entertainment by the musical groups Glada Takter (Sunday, December 11) and Nattergal (Sunday, December 18) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Looking back at her years in Menlo Park, Ms. Van Horn says: "Retail is a very expensive hobby. But this business has been a tribute to my parents and to my heritage."

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