One of the East Bay’s original consignment boutiques is celebrating its 30th anniversary. At 2220 Mountain Blvd., Sola Lucy in the Oakland hills’ Montclair district is riding a wave of interest in high-end thrifting made more popular by inflation and environmental awareness.
Lucy Ross appears recently in her consignment shop, Sola Lucy, which is celebrating its 30th year in business. (Ginny Prior for Bay Area News Group)
From cowgirl chic designer boots to comfy cardigan sweaters, Lucy Ross has a knack for finding treasures that “pop” in her stylish shop in Montclair Village Square. Customers appreciate her keen eye for fashion.
“As a small business, I have felt supported and welcomed by the community,” says Ross, adding that she’s proud to run a locally-owned, woman-owned and Latina-owned small business. She also feels fortunate to make a living using her passion for fashion – something she developed at a very young age.
Sola Lucy opened its Montclair location in 2010 after operating in Berkeley for many years. Ross says both of her kids attended elementary and middle school in Montclair and have been a motivation for her to succeed.
“They’ve also taken on my love for recycling and repurposing,” she says, “and even inspired their friends to shop at Sola Lucy.”
Also celebrating: Another Montclair Village staple, the Montclair Egg Shop, is 50 this year. The comfort food restaurant opened its doors on Aug. 9, 1974, and its history was documented in a recent article in this newspaper. Check out the Egg Shop’s anniversary specials and Thursday surprises at montclaireggshop.com.
Bike business: Willem Bosboom has been doing a brisk business with his mobile bike shop, which he operates out of his van. On weekends, he’s parked by a cycling hotspot — the corner of Skyline Boulevard and Pinehurst Road at the top of the Oakland hills.
This past Sunday, Bosboom’s visibility was especially high as cyclists competed in the Grizzly Peak Century, with rides of up to 100 miles. Cyclists streamed up the steep, winding road from Moraga, through the enclave of Canyon and to Skyline Drive, where many stopped to say hi to the young entrepreneur, who can fix anything on a bicycle from a flat tire to a broken gear.
“I’ve worked on bikes for 12 years and managed several shops,” says Bosboom. “This kind of marketing is completely free. I make as much as when I was managing shops and in about two-thirds the time.”
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He acknowledges that riders may not need anything when they’re cycling by Bosboom’s van, but down the road he’s betting they’ll call him when they need repairs. You can find his shop online at tastycycle.com.
Pool time: The popular Roberts Pool has reopened in Roberts Regional Recreation Area, just in time for the summer season. The pool closed for renovations several months ago and is now double the size with six competition swim lanes and two cool-down lanes, along with more shallow areas for recreation, swim lessons and training.
In fact, the Roberts Pool project recently won a California Association of Recreation and Park Districts award for an outstanding renovated facility.
Fragrant offering: Ji Clothing & Living/The Atelier, at 6134 Medau Place, in Oakland’s Montclair Village, is hosting a spring floral workshop from 2 to 3 p.m. this Saturday, just in time for Mother’s Day. The class, with local florist Anne Rizoulis, is meant for ages 12 and older, and all the materials are provided.
Ginny Prior can be followed on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and at ginnyprior.com. Email her at ginnyprior@hotmail.com.