Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
Canadian-based shoe store ALDO is the latest store to open in Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek. Check out their website here.
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
Canadian-based shoe store ALDO is the latest store to open in Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek. Check out their website here.
La Fiesta Square, Lafayette
Douglah Designs opened a showroom in La Fiesta Square in Lafayette late last year and they have now expanded next door where Caroline’s Salon used to be. Check out their reatil showroom page here.
1356 N. Main St, Walnut Creek
The women’s clothing store Bryn Walker closed suddenly in downtown Walnut Creek. Previously they were in Broadway Plaza a few blocks away.
Encina Grande, Walnut Creek
Whole Foods has finally opened where Safeway used to be in the Encina Grande Shopping Center in Walnut Creek. Located in a newly built building, it’s HUGE and looks amazing, with a long coffee, beer and wine bar as well as tables on the far side at front. The other day they had three brews from Berkeley-based Fieldwork Brewing Co. Aisles are spaced out wider than the cramped Lafayette Whole Foods which is nice. One interesting point are the registers. For small purchases they have ONE line with multiple cash registers so you won’t get stuck behind one that’s lagging. On the way out I spotted a mochi ice cream stand which you can see below. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a self-serve mochi ice cream stand before. Pretty cool!
The juice, meal and snack company Urban Remedy opened last week in La Fiesta Square in Lafayette and while at the nearby Whole Foods I noticed a new section dedicated to Urban Remedy products.
3416 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Taylor & Jacobson Custom Jewelers is coming to the El Diablo Forge building in Lafayette next to where the Lafayette Art Gallery used to be. Check out their online gallery here.
From their website:
Catherine Galloway, the current owner and chief designer, has been in the jewelry business for 30 years. From working at the bench producing jewelry for other designer, to teaching the jewelry arts to hundreds of students, to running her own business, she has vast experience in many aspects of the jewelry business.
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
After being gone from downtown Walnut Creek for over two years, the stationery and greeting card store Papyrus is back in downtown Walnut Creek, this time in Broadway Plaza. If you need a greeting card, this is the place to check out. Don’t forget that Paper Source, a much larger stationery store is also located in downtown Walnut Creek, a short walk away.
1950 Market St, Concord
The game store Black Diamond Games recently expanded their game center to a two-story section in the back of their shop located near Fry’s Electronics in Concord. According to their website they sell “board games, trading card games, collectible miniatures, and classic games like poker and chess”.
When I dropped by I was amazed by the variety of games available. Even their playing cards are fascinating. (Take a look at the photo after the jump to see what I mean.) They also have life-sized knight armor on the second floor. When I dropped by the game center in back I was amazed at how intricate the models were. Check out their schedule here to see what events and games are being played. If you’re interested in the business side of board games check out the owner’s blog here which is quite an interesting read.
They’ll be hosting a grand re-opening party on November 5th. For more information click here. If you or your kids are interested in games definitely stop by and check this place out!
More photos including the game center after the jump…
250 Buskirk Ave, Pleasant Hill
Maryland-based Total Wine & More opened their first East Bay location today in a giant, 20,000 s.f. store where Office Depot used to be, a couple of stores down from Best Buy in Pleasant Hill. In addition to a huge selection of wine, beer, and spirits, they also feature a humidor room with plenty of cigars.
In the back is a classroom section where you can sign up for classes to learn about specific types of wine or beer which lasts 90 minutes and includes samples for about $20 – $40 per class. It will also be possible to book the entire meeting space for business, community and social events for free when not in use.
There are separate wine and beer tasting areas available to try for 10 cents. Old world wines are organized by country whereas new world wines are grouped by varietals. In addition, there are separate sections for “highly rated”, and descriptions such as “elegant & soft”, “big & robust” and plenty more types to make it easy to find the perfect pairing for your meal. As for beer, they offer a huge variety of international and local brews, and have a keg section in the back that you can check out as well. (See the photo of the kegs after the jump).
More photos of the inside after the jump…
1041 Market Pl, San Ramon
Back in August we learned that Sports Basement would be coming to San Ramon where Orchard Supply Hardware used to be and they have now opened.