Karen S. Kim
DOWNTOWN -- Kay Waltz was working as a manager for the city of Los
Angeles six years ago when her friend, a shop owner in Carmel, invited
her to go to Bali on a shopping trip.
Waltz resisted at first because of her job, but then realized she
wasn't meant to be tied down to a desk, she said.
"I love to travel, and I love to shop, and I've always been interested
in other cultures," Waltz said Friday.
Waltz turned that love, with the help of her shop owner friend, into a
business and opened Cat in the Lotus on Maryland Avenue. She spends 20%
to 25% of the year traveling to countries like Thailand, Guatemala,
Indonesia, Mexico and India to shop for inventory.
"It's great fun," Waltz said. "And I plan to keep doing it until it's
not."
Her store looks like a showroom of exotic merchandise, exhibiting
masks, clothing, furniture and folk art from all over the world. Waltz
even carries a few gold-colored Buddha decorations.
"I love the travel, but I've been really delighted with actually
working in the shop, especially when my customers are interested in
hearing more about the objects," Waltz said.
Waltz can tell customers where the pieces are from, who the artist is
and how the artists made them. She seems to have a story to tell about
each item she sells.
But the story that Waltz tells about her latest inventory addition
isn't one of foreign lands and unusual fabrics or stones. Waltz donated a
display of her store to the Glendale Assn. for the Retarded, which began
a jewelry-making business in November, and now sells the beaded necklaces
and earrings in her shop.
All the proceeds go the association, proclaims a card next to the
pieces.
"It's just something I wanted to do," Waltz said. "I think so many of
us are so fortunate in what we're able to do and where we're able to go
that I think every once in a while, it's good to give back something."
THE CAT IN THE LOTUS FILE
WHAT: Store that sells clothing, furniture, jewelry and art from all
over the world.
WHERE: 123 N. Maryland Ave.
INFO: 244-0977.
