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GC’s Tasting Cafe and Specialty Market, located at 657 Oak Grove Ave. in Menlo Park, is closing Friday, June 18, according to the owners. The store, which featured wine and cheese tastings as well as a large selection of mostly California wines, opened in September 2008.
In a farewell letter to customers, the owners said: “Like many other establishments and businesses over the last two years, GC was hurt by the economic meltdown that started only two weeks before we had our Grand Opening. Only with your wonderful support were we able to stay open for as long as we did.”
Co-owners of the establishment were brothers-in-law Carl Rabe, Gerrard Culas and Bruce Tomlinson.
The store has greatly reduced its prices to reduce inventory before closing.
GC’s Cafe is located in combined spaces formerly occupied by Cindy’s Flowers and Menlo Colonial Chapel.
● New market cafe features cheese and wine tasting (August 6, 2008).
Too bad for the owners and Menlo Park, everyone loses. No sales tax, employees let go, vacant buildings. WOW, hopefully the city will be more business friendly than they have been for new tenants. Case in point, vacant auto dealerships on El Camino, Gateway office project, vacant movie theater etc. Granted the city was not responsibile for their business failure, how many hoops did these and other people have to go through just to open a business here ?? Too many I am sure.
It is disappointing to see interesting businesses fail. This one was in a difficult location, and clearly its timing was unfortunate in this difficult economy.
It is totally inappropriate to blame the city for the long list of potential projects “disappointed” lists. Except for the auto dealerships that failed when American car companies did not pay attention to the marketplace, the others were proposals that sought major changes to city zoning rules, and even the city’s general plan.
Retail businesses do not have city hoops to open their business. Retail uses are permitted by right. Downtown, most of the business failures are due to greedy landlords raising rents.
I’m really sad to see this go – it was delicious, had a wonderful selection, and the people I met there were incredibly welcoming. I hoe they reopen in a better location.