San Jose vendors host holiday pop-up in South Bay

Many local vendors in San Jose are holding a nine-day pop-up event in the Willow Glen neighborhood, right in time for Small Business Saturday.

“This is Happy Hollow Zoo’s honey. Steve Demkowski, a beekeeper at Willow Glen Honey, told CBS News Bay Area that the funds support efforts to save the gorillas in the Congo.

Starting on Friday, he will be showcasing the benefits of his local honey at the holiday pop-up.

“It’s all local, unfiltered and raw,” Demkowski stated.

Along with a number of other neighborhood sellers, Demkowski, his wife Carole, and their daughter-in-law are setting up shop in an abandoned building on Lincoln Avenue. The location was formerly a Willow Glen Petco building.

“We must find a new method to remake the wheel if we wish to survive, which is what I do; I’m not retired. And doing a pop-up is one way to do that,” said Carole Demkowski, owner of Three Sisters, a boutique in the South Bay.

For over 16 years, she operated a storefront for her vintage antique business. However, when her rent soared in July, she was obliged to close those doors. She now rents temporary quarters for roughly two weeks at a time to keep her business afloat while she is on the go.

“Sell our goods, instead of having to pay you know a five-year lease, which is getting pretty tough,” Steve Demkowski stated.

Many locals stopped by to shop for the holidays on the first day of the pop-up.

“We enjoy having all the local shops and living in this little community. Amy Gallagher, a resident of San Jose, stated, “It’s nice to come down and walk the streets and see them.”

But shopping isn’t the only thing involved. It’s a journey down memory lane for some neighbors.

“They just bring out you know heartwarming memories,” Valorie Rico, a resident of Sunnyvale, said.

“This reminds me a lot of my early years. “I saw a jar of marbles that brought back memories of my brothers playing marbles as kids,” she continued.

Another neighborhood vendor selling her artwork is Joslyn West, who is just a short distance away.

“I upcycle things. West, who owns Joslyn West Design, stated, “I upcycle beautiful fabrics that are undervalued and turn them into wearable art.” “We support each other, it’s fun and we all get it, we all do upcycling in our own way and it’s a community.”

For Carole, the pop-up performances don’t end there.

“We’ll do another pop-up in January, most likely during the first quarter. In order to find an empty building that I can rent, I’ll be out,” she remarked.

The Holiday Pop-up is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until December 7.

This comment was supplied to CBS News Bay Area by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s office:

“Our 60,000 small companies reflect the richness of San Jos, which is one of the most diversified cities in the world. This holiday season, locals may discover the ideal presents while helping their neighbors in Calle Willow, Japantown, Little Saigon, and Downtown.

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