Los Gatos Discovery Store celebrates 25 years

After 19 months of dealing with the impact of the pandemic, Rita Melamed, manager of the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop at 39 E. Main St., says “We are on track to celebrate our 25th anniversary in the town of Los Gatos on Saturday, Sept. 25.” (File photograph by George Sakkestad)

Surviving 25 years as a business is a noteworthy achievement. Making it through the last year and a half is even more of an accomplishment. For Rita Melamed, manager of the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Los Gatos, it’s something worth celebrating, especially after 19 months of dealing with the impact of the pandemic.

“We are still chugging along and surviving,” says Melamed. “We are on track to celebrate our 25th anniversary in the town of Los Gatos on Saturday, Sept. 25.

“We have the mayor of Los Gatos confirmed to honor us with a 12:30pm ribbon-cutting, attended by the Los Gatos Chamber and community members. We will be offering 25% off everything throughout the shop for the occasion.

“Our local Trader Joe’s will donate snacks and refreshment for that day. We will have a wheel to spin for prizes. Silver items will be a focus in the shop as we celebrate our silver anniversary.”

Melamed hopes to get a permit from the town to park a classic car in front of the shop, or perhaps a 1996 model.

The Discovery Shop is owned and operated by the American Cancer Society (ACS), and supports the fight against cancer through the sale of high-quality, gently used, donated merchandise. For more than 56 years, this network of specialty upscale resale stores, staffed largely by volunteers, has supported the ACS.