Puzzle Shop Closes Doors

After four years on Main Street, has packed up the pieces.

As a popular location for birthday parties, rainy days or a stop for coffee, Jigsaw Java was a staple for Redwood City residents. Owner Mary Albitz is going to be the production manager for the Redwood City nonprofit, , which provides vocational and other opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities.

“The heartwrenching part is seeing everyone so sad,” Albitz said. “But I’m psyched about this new part of my career.

Many residents expressed disappointment at the store’s closing.

“Closing? That's too bad,” said Patricia Corea on Jigsaw Java’s Facebook page. “I really enjoyed spending time there.”

The place offered space for quality family bonding time.

“I can spend 2-3 hours here with my 3 year old doing puzzles and playing games and just having quality time together,” said Kate W. of Redwood City on Yelp. “It's also a great resource at birthdays and holidays to try different games before you buy.”

In the past couple years, Jigsaw Java was hosting one to two birthday parties a month, Abitz said.

Another Redwood City resident, Bobbie M., added on Yelp, “Jigsaw Java has a homey, neighborhood vibe that welcomes folks of all ages to play board games and assemble puzzles while enjoying tasty beverages. There are offerings for babies to adults, and Mary the owner is happy to guide the novice to an appropriate selection.”

Albitz opened Jigsaw Java in 2008 after a year and a half of researching how to operate a puzzle store.

The first two years were slow, she said, but clientele picked up in 2010.

That year, Albitz hosted her first puzzle competition, bringing participants as far as Vermont. Click for the video.

“Watching kids having fun with their parents was my favorite part,” Albitz said.

Albitz has always been an active community member, as the President of the Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club and a sponsor of several events.

Jigsaw Java hosted a Pizza & Puzzle Party as one of the items for the Blossom Birth’s 6th Annual Mother’s Day Online Auction.

She donated gift certificates to any organization or function that asked for them, and always filled a barrel of puzzles for the .

However, puzzles will always remain a part of Albitz’s life. She plans to continue the online site jigsawjava.com, where residents can soon purchase puzzles there.

“People used to come from San Francisco and San Jose because they knew I had the best selection,” she said.

She’ll still sell puzzles at various local festivals, like the and .

“But the best part was helping people pick puzzles for their friends or whoever they were buying for,” Albitz said. “I’m definitely going to miss that.”

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