Features

Ozzie’s Wins One-Month Reprieve as Talks Continue By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday May 24, 2005

Ozzie’s, the soda fountain at the former Elmwood Pharmacy, has been granted a one-month reprieve from its scheduled June 1 closing, said operator Michael Hogan. 

“We have an extra month so that I can review the leases and hopefully work out something that will enable us to stay in business,” said Hogan. 

Ozzie’s was the last Bay Area example of a once ubiquitous institution, the drugstore soda fountain, until Elmwood Pharmacy owner Victoria Carter closed her prescription drug business last year. 

Renamed Elmwood Health & Mercantile, the 2900 College Ave. business has been converted to a gift shop and over-the-counter medication business. 

Hogan said that a mediator will work with him and Carter in hopes of formulating a lease that both parties will find acceptable. 

Carter declined to comment for this article other than to say that she felt it necessary to raise the cost of the monthly lease because she hadn’t raised it in more than a year and during that time the cost of her master lease had increased.