New Owner at Palace Art in Capitola

COMMUNITY NEWS

New Owner at Palace Art in Capitola

After 72 years, Palace Art & Office Supply has a new owner — putting a halt to previously announced “We’re excited to carry on this legacy and help preserve what the community has always loved about Palace,” says plans to close the store at 1501 41st Ave., Capitola.

Besides art and office supplies, the store sells gifts, cards, frames, photo albums, journals, games and lots of things for children.

The new owner, Charles Meier, owns The Crow’s Nest restaurant, and more recently took ownership of Santa Cruz Diner (2018), Paradise Beach Grill in Capitola (2020), and Gilda’s on the Wharf in Santa Cruz (2020).

The Trowbridge family posted an announcement on Facebook: “We’re honored to hand the keys over to a new Santa Cruz family who will carry on the Palace tradition of making every day a canvas for creators of all ages.

“The Trowbridge family will continue its legacy through the success of Palace Business Solutions. We hope you’ll keep in touch with us there.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported Palace Art & Office Supply over the decades; it’s your passion and loyalty that have helped to make this new era possible.” Here is the formal announcement: Effective Nov. 16, 2021, Palace Art & Office Supply will open its doors with a new family at the helm. Local family Charles Maier along with his wife, Al-lee Gottlieb and their four children, will carry on the Trowbridge family legacy as the new owners of the beloved retail store. Charles Maier. “Everyone can expect to be able to get the same great products and the same service from the same friendly staff.” Maier is also the owner of other longtime Santa Cruz institutions, all of which have remained successful by sticking close to the original vision for each business. Palace will continue to operate out of their longtime location at 1501-K 41st Ave. in Capitola and customers can expect ‘business as usual’ and a seamless transition of ownership. “When we made the decision earlier this year to end our retail journey, we didn’t imagine this turn of events,” says Roy Trowbridge, whose father originally purchased Palace in 1949. “We are honored that the Palace retail store will live on with another local family.” This change does not impact Palace Business Solutions, the commercial division of Trowbridge Enterprises, which remains under original ownership. n

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