By Jason Sweeney

Los Altos locals glance back at the mural on Tom’s Depot at Loyola Corners.

Loyola Corners has seen its share of ups and downs over the last few years. The district has a history as a vibrant commercial center that reaches back more than a

century, but when the dot-com bubble burst and the economy went sour, motorists on Foothill Expressway zoomed past without stopping, and Loyola Corners began losing its businesses and eateries.

A series of recent closings had many wondering whether the district had any future as a commercial center.

But it seems Loyola Corners is bouncing back.

“The corner has gotten a nice face-lift, and it’s really drawn a lot of people here,” said Gary Ross, a developer. “It’s turned into a family corner.”

With some businesses remodelling and others moving in Loyola Corners is regaining the vibrancy of its past. Fitness Solutions has replaced the old Loyola Meats. The popular Hiruko studio, offering martial arts, tai chi and yoga classes, has moved in. There’s a nail care salon and Scizzors hair salon. Just Kids does hairstyling for children, and Bicycle Outfitter draws the packs of cyclists who train on Foothill Expressway.

Tom’s Depot has become a popular local destination for breakfast and lunch. According to Ross, Tom’s Depot is attracting plenty of customers. “They’ve got the best corned beef hash in California,” Ross said. “You can quote me on that.”

A big question mark hanging over the district is whether The Echo, the storied Loyola Corners restaurant and bar that served a loyal clientele for half a century, will be reopening. The owner, Marcel Mouney, closed The Echo a year ago, but rumors have been flying about a June reopening. Mouney has been making efforts to reopen before a June deadline when he will lose his liquor license. Health problems, restrictions and some local opposition to a bar in the neighborhood are making a June reopening a race against time, Mouney said.

“It’s a challenging property,” said Ron Labetich, the owner of the property. The location of The Echo makes remodeling and complying with restrictions a tricky task, he added.

Whether or not The Echo will be back in business in June, Loyola Corners should continue to thrive. “We’ve turned into a nice little corner down here,” Ross said.

New lights have been put in, giving the area a brighter appearance after the sun goes down. It appears the days of shuttered storefronts and darkened nights have ended.

“I see a lot more activity and a lot more foot traffic,” Ross said. “It was dark, but now it’s light and bright.”