Business & Tech
Kaleidoscope Shop in Campbell Makes it Official
La Casita de Kaleidoscopes is a unique shop in Campbell's downtown and has now officially opened for customers, family and friends.
Campbell officially welcomed with a Feb. 9 ribbon cutting ceremony.
The shop has been open, but incomplete, since . Founder Pat Asay has been moving kaleidoscopes from the shop’s former location in Albuquerque, NM, to its new downtown Campbell location.
Asay’s son, Doug Asay, and daughter-in-law, Lana, have taken over the business, and together with their part-time help, Derek Ives, they are sharing the optical wonder of the kaleidoscope with the citizens of Campbell.
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“I was kind of surprised that they hadn’t has a ribbon cutting ceremony” yet, says Leonard Cino, a board member.
The ceremony is a tradition for chamber members, a big meet-and-greet for the community, business and city officials.
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“This is an ongoing tradition in Campbell that shows you aren’t alone,” says Mayor Jason Baker.
“I think it’s not only good for the business in the shop but to help the community welcome the shop,” Ives says.
Nearly 50 people—a mixture of family, friends and community members—went to the ribbon-cutting to witness history being made.
“I’ve seen this thing grow and expand; it’s something the community will be proud of," says Neil Collins, executive director of the Campbell Chamber of Commerce.
Grow and expand it has.
Now fully moved, the shop has 200-300 kaleidoscopes to share and has begun planning to get the community involved with this hands-on art.
A personalized kaleidoscope-building class is in the works for the end of March, which will be led by a local artist.
Cino, who has worked with the chamber since May 1995, has observed many ribbon-cutting ceremonies. He notes that there is something comforting about the Campbell tradition.
“Everybody who’s had a ribbon cutting—I don’t know what it is, but they’ve been very successful,” he says.