Issue date: May 13, 1998
By BARBARA WOOD
The Little Store's not dead yet.
Woodside's Planning Commissioners on May 6 voted unanimously not to change town laws to allow the historic Woodside family dining place to be turned into interior design offices.
Unless the decision is appealed and overturned by the Town Council, it means The Little Store, located at 3340 Woodside Road, must remain a restaurant or become part of a residence.
"It'd be hard to do without Kay (Mouney, the current owner), but I'll die without The Little Store," said P.L. Forsyth of Godetia Drive. "I eat at the Little Store twice a day, every day," said Mr. Forsyth, who described himself as a widower and a "certified hermit" who has lived in Woodside for 35 years.
Local historian Jeanne Dickey says The Little Store is the oldest continuously operating commercial establishment in town, "It is a part of our community," Ms. Dickey told the Planning Commission. "It is where we have gone for birthday parties, lunches and dinners for many, many years."
Several speakers and 85 people who signed a petition echoed Ms. Dickey's plea to have the Little Store remain a restaurant.
But both immediate neighbors of the building spoke in favor of putting a less intense commercial use on the site.
"I do like the character and the charm of the building, and would like to see it stay there as a commercial use if it can be done in a less intense manner," said Steve Peterson.
The property's current owners, Marcel and Kay Mouney, say they want to retire and sell the business and their home, which is on the same property. The reported asking price for the 25,000-square-foot lot containing the restaurant building and a 1,450-square-foot home was $1.5 million. The Miller/Dolezal Design Group, interior designers who currently have an office at 1590 Canada Lane, had offered to buy the property for an unknown amount.
The Little Store, which served chicken and burger-type fare for lunch and dinner five days a week, has been closed since December.
Miller/Dolezal has until May 16 to appeal the commission's decision to the Town Council.
In the meantime, at least two other people have expressed interest in buying The Little Store and running it as a restaurant.
One is Mark Sweyer, a Woodside resident who owns Breakers Cafe in the Woodside Plaza in Redwood City. Mr. Sweyer said he would probably serve burgers and ribs at the restaurant as well as weekend breakfasts. Mr. Sweyer is looking for financial backers to help him purchase the property.
The other interested party is Victor Para, an Atherton resident who until a year ago lived a few blocks from The Little Store. In a letter to the town, Mr. Para said: "Lorie, my wife, and I are willing and prepared to step up and acquire the property and continue to operate The Little Store as a restaurant.
Ms. Dickey said The Little Store was probably built in 1907. It was called The Little Store because, she said, the Neuman's store at the corner of Woodside and Mountain Home roads (now Roberts) was "the big store."
Ms. Dickey said that when she moved to Woodside in the 1960s, The Little Store was a small grocery store with a soda fountain offering sandwiches and a wide selection of candy. The food was consumed outside the store on picnic tables.
Ms. Dickey had her own unique idea for saving The Little Store, selling shares to Woodside residents for $100 each. Shareholders would get a free meal once a year.
The commissioners vote was unanimous, with Commissioner Leslie Stepp, who lives near the store, not participating. Commissioner Ursula Eisenhut was absent but sent a letter favoring restaurant use of the site.
Ms. Stepp did speak in favor of retaining the building as a restaurant. "The Little Store is part of Woodside's history," she said. "It's not about the building, it's about the place." Ms. Stepp said as a youth she worked for seven years at The Little Store.
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