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• Lodi man beaten to death

• For the love of Ryan

• Oak View District hopes to get $3.7 million for renovations

• Teachers sue Lodi Unified, former McAuliffe principal

• Regional Roundup

November 2nd, 2009

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

November 6th, 2009

• Short sales make up nearly half of Lodi market

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi man accused of smuggling drugs, weapons for inmates at state prison

• 'I-5 Strangler' sentenced to 6 terms of life

• Jury convicts Acampo man of torture, assault of his girlfriend

• Young girl is 200,000th person to assemble AIDS, HIV care kit

• Woman in wheelchair struck by car

November 5th, 2009

• San Joaquin County considers moratorium on new Williamson Act contracts

• Speakers address Lodi Unified School District budget shortfalls, plea to keep programs

• Armed robbers still targeting Lodi shops

• Regional Roundup

• California voters have final say over $11 billion water bond

• Paul Tebbel shines spotlight on sandhill cranes

• Your complete guide to Sandhill Crane Festival

• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy

• Man wanted in Acampo homicide gives up to San Joaquin County Sheriff's detectives

• Weekend bus service to continue until Lodi City Council makes decision

• A lower Lodi Lake

• Streetside scarecrows

November 4th, 2009

• San Joaquin County sues state over prison hospital planned for Stockton

• California sends Democratic loyalist John Garamendi to Congress

• Candle fire

• Rep. Jerry McNerney sets telephone town hall for Thursday

• Jason Behrmann is unanimously named Galt's city manager

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi City Council weighs raising fares to restore some bus service

• Bicycling father raising awareness of teen suicide

• Galt City Council argues over ordinance hiring residents

• Big win for Allen Baroni in reclamation election

November 3rd, 2009

• Clarification

• Correction

• Galt considers ordinance that would require city contractors to hire locally

• Regional Roundup

• Have you seen a missing guide dog puppy in Lodi?

• Jason Behrmann is top candidate for Galt city manager

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

• 500 attend service for Kyle Coumas

• Galt man dies after weekend Highway 12 crash

November 2nd, 2009

• 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home

• Public Meetings

• Correction

• Kyle Coumas funeral today

• Regional Roundup

• Group investigates reports of haunting

• Sandhill Cranes Festival comes to Lodi next weekend

• Lamborghini lovers gather for show, fine wine, luncheon in Woodbridge

• Lodi's 'Biggest Loser' Christy Richesin runs 5K Halloween race

• Downtown Lodi trick or treat

October 31st, 2009

• Izzy Laviola and Seth Siddle-Mitchell crowned Tokay homecoming queen and king

• Tokay High evacuation

• Finishing touches on Hill House replica

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi-area Halloween events

• Lodi a reflection of Halloween's retail emergence

• Area schools have no plans of closing due to H1N1 virus

• In remembrance of Kyle Coumas

• Gated communities in Lodi

• City of Lodi settles case of mistaken identity

October 30th, 2009

• Officials hope new Highway 12 stoplight will make road safer

• Red Ribbon Week

• Logbook

• Roundup of Lodi-area Halloween events

• Lockeford soldier Kyle Coumas' funeral set for Monday

• Lodi sales tax revenue less than expected

• Regional Roundup

• Local reaction to economic growth

• Get an early start trick-or-treating in Downtown Lodi

• When there's something strange ...

• Stockton breaks ground on Delta Water Supply Project

• Possible extention of first-time homebuyer tax credit?

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• Bible is entwined with American civic life (135)
• Gated communities in Lodi (113)
• I predict: A conservative tide will rise in 2010 (99)
• The Treaty of Tripoli hoax (82)
• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy (60)
• Here's what my father knew about the assassination of JFK (55)
• Universal health care solves big problems (41)
• Words from our forefathers (26)
• With resolve and imagination, Downtown Lodi can surge once again (24)
• 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home (18)

ADVERTISEMENT

Making Space

Furniture, electronics and gifts are in store at former Sak's location

Remember Sak's on Lower Sacramento Road? When they went out of business, many Lodians couldn't believe it. The store had been there for what seemed like forever. Well, they're back. Sort of.

Your Space, co-owned by Dave Sasaki and his sister Kathy Takahashi, has opened in the location where Sak's used to be. Sasaki and Takahashi also owned Sak's, which their father and uncle opened in the '50s.

After focusing on their La-Z-Boy Gallery in Stockton, the brother and sister team decided they wanted to reinvent the concept of the furniture store; they wanted Sak's, but better.

The store officially opened in July of last year, but Sasaki considers January to be the grand opening of Your Space. He said they were getting their inventory built and finding their niche.

"We're getting excited about the things we're trying," Sasaki said.

Along with 10 employees, Sasaki is running the store with past employees Carole Appling and Manny Soares.

Appling is in charge of design and is also setting up a line of giftware and accessories, while Soares is in charge of sales. Both are glad to be back and are putting all their efforts into making Your Space a success.

"Each one of us is committed to the success of this business," Appling said. "We're not shareholders, but we're definitely stakeholders."

"We're nicer, kinder and better looking, too," Soares added with a subtle grin.

The store has a variety of furniture and electronics from brands like Ashley, Sony, Temper-Pedic, Mitsubishi and Simmons. They also carry a variety of med-lift chairs, which make it easier for elderly or infirm people to stand up from a seated position.

Each area of the store is elegantly designed with prices that fit just about any budget. Sasaki said that they regularly shop competitors so that they can offer the best prices possible. As they increase their inventory, Appling and Sasaki are constantly looking for new products for the 16,000 square foot store.

"We're going to load this place up," said Appling.

When Lakewood Drugs closed last year, Sasaki said it left a need for giftware in Lodi. That's one of their main goals; making sure consumers have a place to find unique gifts and accessories (as well as a wedding registry). Appling's face lights up even more than usual when she talks about things like wine glass charms (magnets to differentiate wine glasses at larger gatherings) that she just ordered for the store.

They are committed to green products, items made from recyclable materials. Appling said they are also committed to the community.

"We think of ourselves as a 59-year-old start-up," Appling said, "and I love start-ups!"

Sasaki said they are planning on having different month-long specials and they'll be trying various promotions to get Your Space and their faces into Lodi.

Though they are enthusiastic and excited to be running the new business, Sasaki remains realistic about the nature of business.

"The furniture business is tied to the housing market. When Sak's closed, it was a humbling experience for us," Sasaki said. "It was so easy with Sak's. We were doing well, but it was like someone turned the faucet off."

Still, the team knows that with the right approach and new concepts, they'll be able to make Your Space a commercial success.

"We have 200 years of combined experience," Appling said.

"We're not that old," Soares said, smiling.

Your Space is located in the Raley's shopping center at 315 S. Lower Sacramento Road. They can be reached at 333-2222.

Contact Business Editor Marc Lutz at marcl@lodinews.com.