After an enjoyable 15-month stint, Montebello Market in Los Gatos is shutting down for a significant revamp, as it prepares to merge with Yvonne Khananis' Grocer+Goddess. As the owner of other successful businesses in the area, including Reverence Catering, Polentaria, and OY! Gluten-Free bakery, Khananis is eager to bring an invigorated atmosphere and menu to the former Montebello location, according to Silicon Valley.
Having initially opened in May 2022 under the vision of Jim Foley and David Cohen, Montebello Market was a noteworthy blend of deli, market, gift store, and bottle shop. However, in a collaborative effort with Khananis – also Foley's tenant at Polenteria – the pair have decided to embark on a new adventure with the integration of Grocer+Goddess, which has been increasingly popular since its inception during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to the pandemic, Khananis had invested her last $70,000 in Grocer+Goddess, experiencing early support from her then-high school son, Luke. Now attending college and majoring in business administration, Khananis confidently envisions a future where Luke will play a larger role in the company's growth once more, as mentioned in the Silicon Valley report.
As Los Gatos residents prepare for this upcoming transition, one certainty is that Grocer+Goddess will maintain its existing name. Khananis is eager to retain many customer favorites from Montebello's menu, while simultaneously introducing fresh items, including Chicago-style hot dogs, in-house corned beef and pastrami, and a variety of gluten-free baked goods from her renowned OY! bakery.
Of course, the transformation doesn't stop there. The interior will also undergo a significant overhaul, as reported by Silicon Valley. The space will gain more seating by relocating the refrigerators to the walls and opting for custom-built shelves instead of metro racks. Khananis even plans to introduce a "cute little booth" and potentially add table service to enhance the experience for customers.
As for the current Grocer+Goddess location, Khananis plans to transform the space into an event venue, catering to clubs and organizations like the Kiwanis Club, which desperately needs meeting spaces that can accommodate larger groups.
The changes at Montebello Market were officially announced on Instagram yesterday. With an ambitious timeline in place, Khananis hopes to complete the renovation process and reopen the new Grocer+Goddess location by mid-September.
