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About Us
The saga of William Glen began in 1963 when William (Bill) Snyder and Glen Forbes joined forces, fortunes and names to open a quality home store offering a full decorating service and a selection of fine candles in Sacramento’s Town and Country Village. The pair had met at Sacramento State University as music majors and had become fast friends, sharing a vision that quality matters, whether the object is a sonata or a candelabra. Coincidentally both owned Chevys to use as collateral, and were able to gather an additional five hundred dollars to turn their dream into reality.
Forty-six years later William Glen’s original floor space of 1.000 square feet has evolved into 40,000 in that original landmark shopping center, and quality still matters. Offering the finest and most innovative of gifts, collectables, housewares, gourmet cooking staples as well as decorative and tabletop accessories, the store now boasts a four-star bistro-style restaurant for luncheons, take-out items and luscious desserts with its own state of the art coffee roaster.
During the years William Glen has been serving the community, it has earned much recognition and many awards. Among those awards, the “GIA” (Global Innovator Award) is one of the most treasured. This award is given by the International Housewares Association and recognizes those in the industry who excel. William Glen was chosen for “The Most Innovative Retailer Award” in the United State in 2006. Additionally, and equally as coveted, William Glen has been honored as the “Best Place to Buy a special Gift” by the readers of Sacramento Magazine each year the awards have been in existence. Bravo!
In 1996 the “Christmas Shop” outgrew its confines in the main store to earn itself the new name of the “Christmas and More Store” and its own separate 5,000 square feet location behind William Glen. Now open all year, the “Christmas and More” store has enjoyed vigorous growth due to its emphasis on design collectables, high quality, and its changing parade of seasonal holiday décor.
Glen Forbes retired in 1998, selling his share of the business to Bill and his wife Terry. William Glen has always been a family affair with Bill’s mother, daughter, son and many other relatives contributing to the store’s success which has earned it the reputation of being one of the most revered, premier specialty stores in the western United States.
Sadly, Bill Snyder passed away on December 15, 2009. As the surviving owner/president Terry and the “William Glen Family” will continue to honor Bill’s legacy by welcoming you to experience the abundance of William Glen where quality still matters.
A special section in this web site entitled “Bill’s World” documents the path William Glen has taken from 1963 to the present. Bill hoped you would be delighted with stories and information about products featured as well as discover helpful ideas to enhance your lifestyle. Bill always said “If we don’t have it, we’ll get it, and if we can’t get it you don’t want it”. The words still ring true.