Leigh’s Favorite Books

Leigh Odum, co-founder of Leigh’s Favorite Books in downtown Sunnyvale, opened the store with her husband. They both have always loved bookstores, so Odum said she hoped to open one of their own.

Odum said she used to be a part of Oakland’s economic development department where she worked with small businesses, helping spur her love for them.

“Small businesses always have really strong ties to their community, regardless of whether the owners live in the community itself,” Odum said. “Starbucks, for example, at some point got too big and closed a bunch of shops. One day, the local Starbucks that you would go to is closed, and it’s very disruptive in a community.

Chain businesses may lack the uniqueness specialty stores have, so Odum said she buys a lot of the store’s stock herself alongside the staff. 

“Every bookstore is unique, unlike a chain bookstore where one person might be buying for many stores,” Odum said. “Our staff decides a lot of what we carry and we decide based on what we hear from customers. We notice what sells, see if there’s something kind of similar and we try that. It sort of develops into its own flavor.” 

When Leigh’s Favorite Books first opened, Odum said she would often hear customers talk about the lower prices on Amazon. 

“It stung as a bookseller," Odum said. "If you own a home in Sunnyvale, why would you ever buy something online, with those tax dollars going elsewhere? One thing that makes a city unique is the shops and things to do in it. If you like visiting a store, you have to shop there and support it so that it stays there. Otherwise, you’ll live in a town without a bookstore, and who wants that?” 

At Leigh’s, Odum said there are employee reviews for some of the staff’s favorite books, and they also offer personal recommendations. 

“Especially if you tell us what you’ve liked in the past, we can tell if people will like one of our recommendations,” Odum said. “I don’t find Amazon’s recommendations accurate at all. For me, their classifications are quite broad and I don’t feel like they pick up on the threads that readers go through that lead them from one author to another.” 

A physical bookstore offers an experience that one cannot get online, especially when opportunities for human contact are becoming increasingly scarce in the modern technological world, Odum said. 

“The experience of going to a shop where the items have been curated, someone chose those items to feature in this limited square footage space [are vanishing],” Odum said. “That experience is like going into a museum. It’s just so exciting to walk in and see what someone has chosen for a space. Walking through and physically picking books up and having an employee help you out, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.” 

Cheeky Monkey Toys

Anna Chow and her husband own Cheeky Monkey Toys, a toy store in Menlo Park that they have owned since 2002. Though originally happy with one location, Chow said they decided to buy Adventure Toys in downtown Los Altos last May. The staff from Adventure Toys have continued with the new management, which has helped Chow in the Los Altos environment.

Cheeky Monkey Toys focuses on specialty toys rather than mass-market toys, unlike bigger retailers such as Target and Walmart, Chow said. 

“We’re focused on more things that you can’t find in other places, and bringing the experience of coming in and shopping,” Chow said. “One of the things we like to say is, ‘We’re picking out the cream of the crop for our customers.’ As opposed to Amazon, where you’re relying on algorithms.” 

There is a lot of research behind what goes on the store shelves, Chow said. The team has to ensure that all toys meet current safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

“That’s a big differentiator [between us and Amazon] because a lot of the things on Amazon have not gone through proper testing,” Chow said. 

Though Chow acknowledges the convenience of online shopping, Cheeky Monkey Toys has its own website where customers can shop and pick up in-store. They also offer delivery, which can be done same-day. 

Having an in-person store teaches kids how to become proper young adults by teaching them necessary life skills, Chow said. 

“It’s really important for kids to be able to come into a store and learn how to make a purchase and transaction. That’s a really important part of their development, especially shopping for gifts with their friends and creating a sense of empathy for others,” Chow said. 

Country Gourmet

Family-owned business and American bistro Country Gourmet has been in Sunnyvale since 1986. Assistant manager of Country Gourmet and former HHS student Leila Salam said the family-owned aspect sets the restaurant apart from corporate-owned restaurants. 

“Our clientele is extremely dedicated and devoted,” Salam said. “We have people who come every single day to get the same omelet or sandwich or dish that is their favorite. There’s definitely a community.” 

There is a large emphasis on the quality of the food and service, Salam said. 

“The business model is a lot more focused on getting people to come back [which is very successful], more than anything else,” Salam said. 

Salam said seeing people and talking to customers has given her a positive outlook on the job.

“Some customers are just such wholesome people,” Salam said. “I really appreciate them, because talking to them makes it a good day. Checking in with them is nice, and having people to catch up with, even if it’s for a few seconds, is really nice.”