1506 N. Main St, Walnut Creek
The boba tea cafe Sinceretea will be opening in downtown Walnut Creek this Saturday, February 16th, where, “all drinks are BOGO free on 2/16-2/17!” Check out their menu here. This will be a record fifth boba tea cafe located downtown. I look forward to pairing a drink with my favorite, mochi egg puffs. 😋😋😋
Moraga Shopping Center
Bay Area Ballplayers, a new batting cage and sports training center, opened last month in the Moraga shopping center right near Loard’s Ice Cream. Check out their services here. Owner Steve Hammond was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005 (6th Round), traded to SF Giants AAA in 2008 and played in Japan, Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Check out his bio here.
From their website:
Bay Area Ballplayers is a 5,200 square foot athlete training facility equipped with functional fitness equipment, a 70 foot batting cage, 2 pitching mounds, the latest technology in performance tracking and data analysis, and a retail storefront with apparel & sporting goods.
City Center Bishop Ranch, San Ramon
Roam Artisan Burgers opened their sixth location today at the new City Center Bishop Ranch shopping plaza in San Ramon. Check out their menu here. Every time I go to their Lafayette restaurant I always get the Tejano burger. Count me in as a huge fan. With Boba Guys and Slanted Door also open in the plaza, this place keeps getting better and better in terms of the food options.
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
A new travel and luggage store called Innovation Gateway to Travel opened recently where Edwards Everything Travel used to be in Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek. When I dropped by over the weekend it looked like the same goods were being carried as Edwards, so much so that I thought Edwards managed to reopen. Even the placement was the same. It turns out a company called Innovation Luggage, which has stores around the country under various names, opened the store and hired back the same employees from Edwards to work there.
2050 Diamond Blvd, Concord
Golden Corral, the buffet restaurant we learned would be opening across from the Veranda shopping center in Concord, is set to open very soon, possibly next Tuesday according to one email I received. Check out nutrition details for their menu items here.
1980 Galindo St, Concord
Thanks to a reader for sending word that Bangkok Kitchen will be closing on Valentine’s Day in Concord. They have been serving customers since 1994 and haven’t decided whether they will be relocating elsewhere. Check out their website here.
This is the same development that was included in the Shops at Todos Santos sale from a couple of years and is why stores and restaurants are scrambling to relocate or end up closing.
Moraga Shopping Center
I dropped by the Moraga shopping center one night where Safeway is located and it turns out the email below is spot on. Dozens of lights are out, the lights that are on are not particularly bright, and some sections don’t have adequate lighting at all. The above photo shows one section of the parking lot with non-working lights circled in yellow. Anyone know who to contact about this?
From a reader:
I am a resident of Moraga and would like to know who to contact regarding the lack of lights at the Moraga Shopping Center. It is very dangerous and I have seen too many people trip due to the lack of light, drivers finding it difficult to see people in dark clothes or small children, and it feels very unsafe. How do I contact those that own and manage the Moraga Center and ask them to take responsibility for the unsafe environment they are creating by not maintain the lights in their parking lots. Someone is going to get hurt if they have not already. The town asks us to shop and support our local businesses but not at the expense of people’s safety.
Rheem Valley Shopping Center, Moraga
Natasha Grasso Jewelry, which opened a showroom three years ago in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center in Moraga, has closed. According to their Instagram page it looks like they’re relocating to Roseville. Check out their online collection here and sign up for their BLING BOX monthly subscription service here.
501 Hartz Ave, Danville
Last spring we learned that Basil Leaf Cafe would be closing on Hartz Ave. in Danville and now the Tex-Mex restaurant Cocina Hermanas has opened in this spot. This the same owner as Harvest across the street. Check out their lunch menu here and dinner menu here.
1935 Mt. Diablo St, Concord
With the sale of The Shops at Todos Santos in Concord a couple of years ago, shops are closing left and right to make room for national restaurants such as Chipotle. It turns out that Half Price Books is unsure whether they will continue to be able to lease at their current location and are considering other options including Willows shopping center, also in Concord. Stay tuned…
