Spangler Mortuary closed its Menlo Park funeral home chapel at 650 Live Oak Ave. on Feb. 1 after the landlord said the rent would be doubled, Scott Spangler, a spokesman for the family, said in an interview.
"We were not willing to pass this increased cost along to the community we serve," he said.
He said the family, which runs chapels in Los Altos, Mountain View and Sunnyvale, hopes to find a new place in Menlo Park in the near future.
Meanwhile, Spangler Mortuary staff will meet with Menlo Park residents in their homes or other locations of their choice to make arrangements, and will continue to work with Menlo Park churches for services, he said.
"We've been in Menlo Park for 14 years, and we want to continue to support the community," Mr. Spangler said.
Go to SpanglerMortuary.com for more information.
With the Spangler facility closing, Menlo Park no longer has an in-town mortuary. John D. O'Connor Menlo Colonial Chapel at 657 Oak Grove Ave. closed several years ago.
Comments
Menlo Park: other
on Feb 6, 2010 at 10:26 am
on Feb 6, 2010 at 10:26 am
Someone please explain this one to me:
In the middle of a deep recession, with plenty of excess office and retail space around, and no recovery in sight, the landlord doubles the rent, effectively kicking out a solid, long-term tenant.
Makes absolutely no economic sense on the face of it, so what gives? What ulterior motive is at work here or is the landlord just plain stupid?
another community
on Feb 6, 2010 at 3:07 pm
on Feb 6, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Spangler was probably in a long term lease that is ending. Their old rent was probably way below market and "doubling" the rent probably just would bring them to the amount they already should have been paying... Why not put the numbers in the article to see the truth... It's not like less people are dying...
Menlo Park: other
on Feb 6, 2010 at 3:27 pm
on Feb 6, 2010 at 3:27 pm
The Spangler spokesperson declined to disclose the rental rates.
> Richard, The Almanac
Menlo Park: Stanford Weekend Acres
on Feb 8, 2010 at 10:33 am
on Feb 8, 2010 at 10:33 am
Seems like all the family owned funeral homes are being forced out. The only one left around is Jones's Mortuary in east palo alto. At least Mr. Jones chose to stay and serve the community after after Ikea tried to buy him out. He refused to budge so Ikea paid mr jones to have his front entrance put on the side of the building to have more privacy. Way to go mr jones.
He played david and goliath and david stood his ground.
Menlo Park: Downtown
on Feb 8, 2010 at 4:49 pm
on Feb 8, 2010 at 4:49 pm
How sad. The location was once occupied by the Johnson's so it has been a funeral home since I can remember. My grandparents had services at this location. Sad to see it close.
Menlo Park: South of Seminary/Vintage Oaks
on Feb 26, 2010 at 4:24 pm
on Feb 26, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Since we no longer have a mortuary in Menlo Park I did some checking. Jones Mortuary in East Palo Alto is not the only family owned funeral home in the area. Crippen & Flynn Mortuary in Redwood City and Roller & Hapgood Mortuary in Palo Alto are both family owned and just as close.