‘A charming little place’: Willow Glen dog boutique is closing

Willow Glen’s main drag is about to lose its bark, and dog lovers are devastated.

Gussied Up Dog Boutique, at 1310 Lincoln Ave., will be closing once the store’s inventory is gone. The store’s landlord declined to renew the lease, citing major plumbing repairs.

“Hearing all the stories, how much this store means to people, that’s the hardest part of closing,” owner Kim Lipsett told San José Spotlight.

Lipsett said a main water pipe runs beneath the store and plumbing issues have been ongoing. The landlord tried to make repairs last year, opening part of the floor and sectioning off part of the store for use. Now, the space needs to be vacant for more extensive work.

For 21 years the store has offered a wide variety of specialty pet goodies, with many of its treats, toys and trinkets geared toward dogs and a handful for cats. It’s well known for its selection of baked treats, which come from a variety of the store’s favorite dog bakeries.

Customers shuffled in and out the shop lamenting about the approaching closure. Some were accompanied by their canine companions, who sniffed out their favorite toys and treats from the pastry case.

Willow Glen resident Amaya Ayon-Zarate held their 2-year-old dog Xochitl while their mother picked out different outfits for the dog. Ayon-Zarate said they’ve been bringing Xochitl to the store since she was a puppy, and they always appreciated the store’s welcoming atmosphere and its central location in the community.

“You can go to PetSmart or Petco or whatnot, and that’s fine, but … it’s so niche in this specific store, it’s so homey as far as pet stores go,” Ayon-Zarate told San José Spotlight.

Lipsett worked in the tech industry before opening the boutique. She was inspired by her chihuahua/miniature pinscher Gus to open the store so she could spend more time with him.

Lipsett said the boutique’s community of customers kept the store growing and successful amid rising workforce expenses.

Jane Curry has been coming to Gussied Up Dog Boutique since Lipsett opened. A longtime Willow Glen resident, she’s seen businesses open and close along Lincoln Avenue for years, and said the boutique was one of the neighborhood’s first “fun” stores.

“It’s a really different atmosphere from going to some pet store in the mall, which makes it fun and interesting and a charming little place,” Curry told San José Spotlight. “This store fits this neighborhood.”

It’s unclear what’ll happen to Gussied Up Dog Boutique once the store closes.

Lipsett said she plans to take a break and is considering opening an online store, but hasn’t made a final decision. She’s also gotten offers from other small businesses around Willow Glen to host a pop-up for the boutique.
San Jose District 6 Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, who represents Willow Glen, said the boutique was a great spot for the neighborhood’s many furry residents and will be missed.

He said one of the challenges for businesses along Lincoln Avenue is the aging infrastructure. Many of the buildings are decades old and require maintenance upkeep.

“I would hope that this is an opportunity to again express to the community how important they are to the livelihood of these businesses,” Mulcahy told San José Spotlight. “A lot of people flock to Valley Fair or Santana Row, it’s a one stop shop for everything you need (and) it’s pretty well managed, but small businesses are the strength of our city.”

B. Sakura Cannestra is a freelance reporter who previously worked at San José Spotlight through the California Local News Fellowship. Contact her at [email protected] or @SakuCannestra on X.