Business Features

Megan V. Winslow/Town Crier
Tyler Goloubef, standing, and Casey McConnell stain a fence for a Project Jobs client. The two are now running the company.

It’s pretty common for high school and college students to work doing odd jobs over the summer. What is unusual is creating a successful business that connects students with community members who have work that needs to get done.

However, Jake Klepper did just that when he launched Project Jobs in 2017. Klepper, a 2015 Los Altos High School graduate, was home from college for the summer and looking for work to supplement a part-time internship.

Megan V. Winslow/Town Crier
Olivia Zinoni owns clothing shop Olivia Boutique, which has relocated down the street to 315 Main St.

It’s been 19 years since Olivia Zinoni opened her clothing boutique in Rancho Shopping Center, a vision she created with her younger brother after the native Italians decided to stay in the U.S. following college. This week, after moving twice, she officially opens the doors to her third storefront in Los Altos.

“I wouldn’t change anything,” Zinoni said of her journey, her eyes creasing as she smiled through strong sunlight.

Zoe Morgan/Town Crier
Nature Gallery owner Carol Garsten wears a larimar and quartz necklace that she created for her new “87Rocks” jewelry line.

Carol Garsten, owner of Nature Gallery at 296 State St. in downtown Los Altos, launched her new jewelry collection, “87Rocks,” Friday, the first day of summer.

Garsten said her latest collection “presents jewelry with a bold geologic aesthetic.”

Melissa Hartman/Town Crier
An assembled BIZIBOT, designed for kids by Virginie Manichon of San Francisco, is among The White Mulberry’s selections featured in their customized gift boxes.

Los Altos resident and The White Mulberry co-founder Mansi Bhatia hands me a plastic bookmark to decorate, bake and gift to my father to show my appreciation on the day that specifically honors the ways in which he chiefly made me the person I am today.

Standing under a tent in 85-degree heat at the Los Altos Farmers’ Market, Bhatia and Tanu Pant, the woman with the concept that made their entrepreneurial dream a reality, walk children through a craft and advertise The White Mulberry’s custom gift boxes to those who troop along State Street.

When Gene F. Lee began brainstorming titles for his 282-page, self-published book, he wanted to title it “The Investing Handbook for Millennials” because it was written with his two millennial-aged daughters in mind. However, one of his daughters quickly shot down the idea.

“When I told my daughter that, she said, ‘No. We millennials don’t like to be called out as millennials,’” the Los Altos resident said. “So I changed it.”

Megan V. Winslow/Town Crier

Los Altos Hills resident Jean-Luc Kayigire is incorporating personal touches at his new bar, currently referred to as the Amandine Project, in the old Honcho space at 235 First St. The bar is in the soft-opening phase, enabling local residents to note the project’s progress.

Jean-Luc Kayigire came up with a code name for his new Los Altos cocktail bar while it serves as a pop-up with limited, spontaneous hours: the Amandine Project.

Until the old Honcho digs at 235 First St. are remodeled to Kayigire’s liking and he and his staff decide among three names floating around, that’s the only name that will be advertised.