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Sprouts & Shutters

Sprouts & Shutters: New Japanese Restaurants, Clothing Boutiques and More

Here's the latest roundup of retail, restaurant and other business news in the Tri-Valley area.

 

Prim Affordable Couture, the popular women’s boutique that recently opened in downtown Pleasanton, is expanding to Danville. Co-owner Alicia Shaffer says she hopes to open her second shop in August. Prim will move into the space currently occupied by Pleasant Thoughts in the Livery next to Luna Loca and Pinkies. Pleasant Thoughts, a stationery and gift store, will move to a new building in the Livery in July.

Another women’s apparel shop, Plum Boutique, opened on June 18 next to Lucy Activewear on Railroad Avenue in Danville. The boutique, which replaced M Clothing, sells contemporary clothes, shoes and accessories. You can see some samples on Plum’s new facebook page.

Claire’s, a national retailer of fashion jewelry and accessories for girls and teens, will open in Blackhawk Plaza next to Laurus and across from DBar. An opening date hasn’t been set yet, but a center representative said the jewelry story aims to open this summer. Stay tuned for updates.

Opening updates: Francesca’s Collections, previewed in February’s Sprouts, opened June 4 in Blackhawk Plaza. Living Lean, mentioned in January’s Sprouts, opened June 20. And Piatti Ristorante reopened on June 17 after completing an interior remodel.

San Ramon’s Marie Callender’s closed abruptly earlier this month after the parent company filed for bankruptcy. Get the details in “Marie Callender’s Closed for Good.”

Another shuttered San Ramon Blockbuster will soon be replaced: Chase Bank will open a branch in the former video store on Market Place in late July or early August. And, as we reported in last month’s Sprouts, Panera Bread recently replaced the old Blockbuster on Crow Canyon Place. The Blockbuster in south San Ramon in the Country Club Shopping Center closed in March and is still vacant.

Four Paws Veterinary Center plans a summer opening in the Dublin Corners Shopping Center near Tomatino’s. The full-service small-animal veterinary hospital will provide medical, surgical and dental care for dogs, cats, small mammals and fish.

Looking for summertime academic enrichment for your children? Your kids may not like us sharing this with you, but a couple new tutoring centers opened recently in Dublin and Pleasanton: Kumon of Dublin West opened on Dublin Boulevard and Pleasanton’s ThinkTank Learning opened on Main Street. College Nannies & Tutors plans a July opening in Danville’s Blackhawk Plaza. You can find many other tutoring centers near you in Patch’s business directory.

A new Japanese restaurant, Sushi Hanabi, took over Pizza Hut’s old spot on Pleasanton’s Main Street next to Subway in May. The elegantly decorated restaurant offers a large menu with innovative dishes, such as Spicy Tuna Mango Salad and Tostada de Bescado plus clever creations like “Victoria Secret” (Shrimp Tempura, avacado, salmon tuna, deep fried baby lobster).

Mall shoppers will find plenty of new options at the Stoneridge Shopping Center: Buckhorn Grill, a quick service restaurant chain, should open in December or early 2012 in the former CPK ASAP, set to close when the new full-service California Pizza Kitchen opens in August. A new 2,400 square-foot LEGO store is scheduled to open this fall on the lower floor next to the Apple store. A completely remodeled Children’s Place reopened last week. The new Love Couture and Color Me Mine, covered in April's Sprouts & Shutters, are now open. And the Art of Shaving, a high-end shaving chain, will soon start construction next to MAC Cosmetics.

Opening update: Specialty’s Bakery and Café, previewed in May’s Sprouts, opened June 16 on Stoneridge Mall Road.

T.J. Maxx and Big Lots will move into the old Mervyn’s building on Las Positas in Livermore this fall. According to the city’s economic development department and the builder, the building will be divided into smaller spaces for the new T.J. Maxx, a national discount clothes retailer, and Big Lots, a national closeout and overstock merchandise department store. Pet supply store Petco will also share the space but likely won't move in until spring 2012. In the meantime, you can visit the T.J. Maxx, Big Lots and Petco stores in Dublin.

A new Japanese restaurant is heading to downtown Livermore. Yamato Steakhouse, a quick-service restaurant focusing on foods cooked on Hibachi grills, is shooting for a late fall opening on First Street in Cranberries Gifts & Décor’s old spot. Stay tuned for updates.

Diablo Magazine released its Best of the East Bay 2011 winners and many Tri-Valley restaurants and shops topped the list:

Food and Drink Picks: Diablo's readers selected Chow, with a location in Danville, for “Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant," "Brunch Spot" and "Comfort Food.” Pleasanton’s The English Rose came out on top in the “Tea House” category. Dublin’s new Snowflake and Danville’s The Prickly Pear Cantina took home “Editor Pick” awards for their “Icy Treats.” Danville’s That Bar was the readers’ choice for “Hippest Bar/Lounge” while Livermore’s First Street Alehouse gained an “Editor’s Pick” for “Spot to Pop In.” Uncle Yu’s, with restaurants in both San Ramon and Livermore, took home a “Reader Pick” for “Asian Restaurant.” Readers’ favorite chef was Rodney Worth, who owns Alamo’s The Peasant’s Courtyard and Danville’s The Peasant and the Pear, The Prickly Pear Cantina and The Little Pear. Readers selected Zachary’s Chicago Pizza, with a location in San Ramon, as the best “Gourmet Pizza Place.” And Danville’s Maria Maria gained a Reader Pick for both “Mexican Restaurant” and “Margarita Joint.” Livermore’s Wente Vineyards was the favorite for “East Bay Winery” while Livermore’s Underdog Wine Bar got it for “Place for a Girls Night Out.”

Shop and Salon Picks: Danville’s Rakestraw Books came out on top for favorite book store. Pet lovers selected San Ramon’s ShamPooches as their favorite groomer and Pleasanton’s Murphy’s Paw as their favorite pet shop. Readers chose Danville’s Skin Ovations for best “Place to Get a Facial” and “Place for Waxing.” Bollinger Nail Salon, with locations in Danville, Livermore, Pleasanton and San Ramon, was the preferred place for manicures and pedicures. Danville’s Stork’s Nest was the favorite for “Maternity Couture.” Readers voted for Danville’s Elegant Clutter as the best “Home Accessories Store.” Pleasanton’s Prim Affordable Couture got the Reader Pick for best “New Boutique.” For best thrift store, readers chose Hospice of the East Bay Thrift Shoppes, with locations in Alamo, Danville and Dublin. Pleasanton's Studio Seven Arts came out on top for best Art Gallery. And chocolate lovers voted Danville Chocolates as their favorite “Sweet Shop.”

Nearly 12,000 Diablo readers logged onto the magazine's website to vote for their favorite East Bay businesses. Browse all the reader and editor picks in the July 2011 issue of Diablo Magazine.

Did you miss Patch's last retail and restaurant roundup? Read about these and more in our last Sprouts & Shutters column:

Know of a restaurant or shop opening or closing in the Tri-Valley? Please send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.

About this column: A weekly roundup of retail, restaurant and other business news in the Tri-Valley area. Related Topics: Buckhorn Grill, Children’s Place, Color Me Mine, Downtown Yoga, Handles on Main, Lego store, Love Couture, Murphy’s Paw, Specialty’s Bakery and Café, and california pizza kitchen

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In This article

  • Pleasant Thoughts

    Pleasant Thoughts

    606 Sycamore Valley Rd W, Danville, CA
  • Luna Loca Mexican Restaurant

    Luna Loca Mexican Restaurant

    500 Sycamore Valley Rd W, Danville, CA
  • Pinkies Nail Salons

    Pinkies Nail Salons

    508 Sycamore Valley Rd W, Danville, CA
  • Lucy Activewear

    Lucy Activewear

    402 Railroad Ave, Danville, CA
  • Blackhawk Plaza

    Blackhawk Plaza

    4040 Blackhawk Plaza Cir, Danville, CA

  • Laurus Bistro

    3554 Blackhawk Plaza Cir, Danville, CA
See more

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