Photo Jana Seshadri/Town Crier

Owner Mike Mansch serves a customer at Alotta’s Deli Caf in Woodland Plaza.

Situated on Grant Road off the intersection of Foothill Expressway and Arboretum Drive, the Woodland Plaza shopping area offers unique services and merchandise that attract and retain clients.

“Business is great,” said Sharon Domanico, owner of Natural Bronzing: Sunless Airbrush Tanning. “I have clients – young and old – coming from all over the Bay Area. My oldest client is 89.”

“My color is more natural, more brown and not orange,” Domanico said. “Also, my sugar-based bronzing method is all natural.”

A spray-and-paint session of less than 10 minutes costs $30, she said. Clients love the transformation one short session accomplishes, she added.

Yelka Vranicic set up Yelka Day Spa at Woodland Plaza 20 years ago. To this day it continues to lure customers into its “calming island in a sea of stress,” creating an atmosphere similar to the island of Hvar in Croatia, Vranicic’s birthplace.

By using natural, organic and vegan-formulated products that are good for the environment, Vranicic offers personalized skin care treatments like de-aging, acne, deep relaxation and facials rendered with care by a professional and well-trained team.

“In this slow economy I depend on my clients spreading the word about my services,” Vranicic said.

Mike and Joanne Mansch, who have owned Alotta’s Deli Cafe since 1985, have expanded and remodeled their family-run business to offer the best possible service to their loyal customers, including catering.

“We’re very fortunate to have long-term customers,” Mike said. “They already know the kind of fresh food we offer and come back for more.”

The Manschs prepare all the food themselves, bake their own sourdough rolls and roast their own turkeys, Mike said.

“We even take special orders for cooked turkey to be picked up on Thanksgiving day,” he said.

The Manschs and their employees pay great attention to detail every single day, Mike said. It’s important for merchants to put extra effort into their business, whether it’s refurbishing their stores or cleaning them regularly, he said. Customers are pleased when merchants invest time and money in their own businesses, he added.

With the biggest shopping season of the year just around the corner, retail business owners are concerned about sales.

Song Lee, owner of Bay Area Health Spa, worries about business being slow. Lee said she moved from the downtown area into Woodland Plaza for more space.

“I offer a great program to lose weight, which my clients love,” Lee said. “My mission is to use all natural ingredients to reduce toxins and boost the immune system.”

Lee offers mineral and infrared body wraps for slimming, colon hydrotherapy for internal colon cleansing, therapeutic massages, sauna sessions, electrotherapy and Ion foot cleanse.

Several merchants at Woodland Plaza provide a unique service or merchandise not readily available in the area.

Gigi Lugonja and Rose Mary Becker started Appletree Uniforms 15 years ago to satisfy a desperate need parents faced.

“Back then we had a terrible time getting uniforms for our kids,” Lugonja said. “So we decided this is our niche.”

It’s been a slow year because their business fluctuates with school enrollment, she said. After selling uniforms, shoes and accessories for private schools and educational academies for 15 years, Lugonja and Becker are ready to expand their inventory by adding medical uniforms in January.

“There’s such a need around here,” Lugonja said.

With a recently renovated El Camino Hospital and several medical and dental offices in the area, there’re not enough places selling medical uniforms, she said.

“Business has been slow but stable,” Lugonja said. “Hopefully with our medical uniforms we’ll make more of an impact.”

Other Woodland Plaza businesses available in the neighborhood include Lucky Supermarket, a full-service supermarket, Allied Auto Works, Theraplay offering Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Shear Elegance Hair Salon, Betty’s Hair Designers and Everlasting Design Center.

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