Willows Shopping Center, Concord
Spirit Halloween is back for another season this year in the Willows Shopping Center in Concord.
Willows Shopping Center, Concord
Spirit Halloween is back for another season this year in the Willows Shopping Center in Concord.
1823 N. Main St, Walnut Creek
The Walnut Creek Design Review Commission is reviewing a plan to turn the shuttered Target Garden Center in Walnut Creek into an F&M Bank (Farmers & Merchants Bank). This section of Target was recently subdivided into a new parcel and the rendering of the new bank submitted to the city looks great. According to MBH Architects, the “building was developed to stand in juxtaposition to its setting”.
MBH Architects
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
The latest retail store to come to Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek is Pandora Jewelry. It looks like it will be located off the side walkway near Macy’s. As you can see in the above photo, the street “will be narrowed and paved to add to the European-style, pedestrian appeal” according to their Facebook page. Look for a November opening for the initial Broadway Plaza phase.
From their Facebook page:
PANDORA designs, manufactures and markets hand-finished and modern jewellery made from genuine metals at affordable prices. PANDORA jewellery is sold in more than 90 countries on six continents through approximately 9,600 points of sale, including more than 1,400 concept stores.
Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, PANDORA employs more than 12,400 people worldwide of whom approximately 8,600 are located in Gemopolis, Thailand, where the company manufactures its jewellery.
Walnut Creek farmers market, Locust St.
Yesterday we saw the progress on Pressed Juicery coming to downtown Walnut Creek and over the weekend as I was checking out the Walnut Creek farmers market near Target I noticed a relatively new booth called WholeHearted Juice Co. selling their organic juices. They are based in Sacramento and recently opened their first physical location in Midtown Sacramento. Check out their juice menu here. In addition to a cleansing subscription service, you can also purchase one bottle for $10 plus $1 for a glass bottle deposit. I tried Fennomenal (Cucumber, Celery, Fennel, Apple, Lime, Ginger) and it was delicious.
From their website:
There is juice… and then there is WholeHearted Cold-Pressed Juice! Our raw juice blends are 100% organic and the produce we use is local. There are nearly 6lbs of organic goodness pressed into each 16oz. bottle – and we never water it down! We see ourselves as alchemists – each of our juice, nut and coffee (yes! coffee!!) blends are carefully mixed and balanced to be nutritious and enjoyable for the palette!
We always bottle in glass, NEVER plastic! Two main reasons: Plastic contains petrochemicals that leach into the liquid (the juice you are drinking!!) and plastic is wasteful, and bad for the environment. We take a deposit for each glass bottle, encouraging our customers to return them for reuse! Less waste, better health! (We have an extensive 3-part sanitation process that all returned bottles go through before reuse!)
3380 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville
Soo Dance Company & Academy has relocated to Blackhawk Plaza in Danville in a great spot next to the Blackhawk Museum. They offer classes to people of all ages, including adults. Check out their classes here.
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
One more new retailer coming to Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek is Apex by Sunglass Hut, which will feature “sport performance eyewear”. I asked about this at Sunglass Hut, also located at Broadway Plaza and they were not aware of Apex coming however according to my source there are definite plans for this, right next to Macy’s. Check out this new concept store experience here. Looks very cool!
From their website:
Apex by Sunglass Hut is a revolutionary sunglass store committed to carrying the world’s best assortment of sport performance eyewear. Driven by innovation, the N3L retail experience will forever change the way performance eyewear is discovered, ensuring that you will always find the right frame, shape and lens for your specific sport or outdoor environment.
19D Orinda Way, Orinda
Thanks to a reader for sending word (and photo) that the online, “luxury monogrammed accessories” store Parker Thatch (formerly iomoi), has opened a retail location in Orinda in the same shopping center where Village Pizza and The Refined Palate are located across from the Orinda Library. Check out their online shop here.
From their website:
Craftsmanship, beautiful materials and personalization evoke the timeless customs of the Northeast tempered with a comfortable Californian elegance. Patterns and motifs are traditional with a witful wink.
Parker Thatch produces seasonal collections of bags, small accessories, homegoods, and stationery crafted from heavy canvas, napa leathers, lucite, heavy paper stocks and featuring Parker Thatch’s own monograms, stripes and whimsical patterns and motifs.
1365 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek
The mattress store Mattress Discounters recently rebranded their downtown Walnut Creek location and is now a Sleep Train mattress center. The owners remain the same. There is also a Sleep Train on S. Main St. a few blocks away.
1139 S Main St, Walnut Creek
Thanks to a reader for pointing out in a comment that GAP is relocating to Broadway Plaza, across the street from their current location next to the Apple store in Walnut Creek. It looks like they’re possibly planning for an early 2016 opening.
Apple Store, Walnut Creek
Over the weekend I was walking in downtown Walnut Creek when I noticed a protest in front of the Apple store. According to the sign this looks like a labor dispute protest about how Apple is not requiring a construction company to pay stand wages and benefits “on all projects all the time”. My seven year old son was mesmerized by the grim reaper below. He literally was frozen staring at it until I motioned him inside to play some app games on an iPad.
