Sprouts & Shutters: Safeway, Mexican Food and Women's Clothing

Wondering what’s moving into your neighborhood shopping center? Our biweekly Sprouts & Shutters column highlights the latest Tri-Valley restaurant, retail and other business news.

Safeway’s new grocery store opens in the new Pleasanton Gateway shopping center by Valley and Bernal Avenues on Nov. 18. At the new 59,000-square-foot Safeway you’ll find a full-service floral department, local and organic produce, gourmet cheeses, an olive bar, a full-service bakery, pharmacy, sushi chef and other conveniences not typically available in more traditional grocery stores. Read more about the new Safeway and new Pleasanton Gateway in Patch’s .

Also opening in the new Pleasanton Gateway shopping center soon is Baja Fresh Mexican Grill. The casual Mexican restaurant chain received its approved zoning certificate from the City but an opening date has not been set.

Lanvie, a women’s boutique with its own line of apparel, shoes and accessories, is taking over Fleet Feet’s old spot on Main Street in Pleasanton. The Alameda-based company will open its new boutique next door to Pans on Fire on Nov. 11. You can get see Lanvie’s clothes online at lanvieapparel.com.

Apricot Lane Boutique, a women’s boutique selling brand-name apparel, fashion jewelry, handbags and accessories, is set to open in Danville’s Blackhawk Plaza on Nov. 17. You can get a preview of what the new boutique will offer at apricotlaneusa.com. Apricot Lane Boutique replaces another fashion boutique, Geoffrey Scott, in July.

closed abruptly in late October. Read more about Blackhawk Plaza salon's sudden departure in .

Opening Update: Blackhawk Beauty Bar, previewed in the , opened in Danville’s Blackhawk Plaza on Oct. 19 across from Restoration Hardware’s old spot.

Opening Update: The Blackhawk Plaza’s new inSpa covered in the , opened Oct. 24.

Opening Update: Starbucks, previewed in the , opened Sept. 29 in the Rose Garden Shopping Center.

Clementine’s will be moving into Marie Callender's old space on San Ramon Valley Boulevard in San Ramon. Owner Peter Kearney says his new restaurant, which will serve American cuisine with a southern twist, should open by Feb. 21, just in time for Mardi Gras. For more details, see Patch’s .

San Ramon’s first mattress store will be opening in the Shops at Bishop Ranch as early as Nov. 11. Vivon, a company that introduced its high-tech mattress lines at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will be moving into Scandia Down’s old space next to Mad Fish. This will be Vivon’s first U.S. location. To see the Vivon’s line of mattresses, visit vivon.com.

Opening update: Lovely Nails & Spa, previewed in , opened Oct. 8 on San Ramon Valley Boulevard. You can browse the list of nail care services at lovely-nailsandspa.com.

A new fusion restaurant is set to open Nov. 1 inside Karma Fusion Lounge in Dublin’s Grafton Station. Owner Mark Milz says his new Unir Restaurant and Bar will specialize in Southwestern Mexican, Asian and American cuisine in an upscale yet casual atmosphere. Restaurant patrons can also take advantage of Karma’s full bar operated by the new Unir during restaurant hours. Get a glimpse of the offerings on the menu accompanying this column.

Opening update: Vito’s Express, previewed in the , opened Oct. 23 across from Lowe’s in the Grafton Station shopping center. The new pizza restaurant plans a grand opening event the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Opening update: Outdoor sporting enthusiasts have a new place to shop: REI officially opened on Oct. 28 with a weekend-long .

The Restaurant at Wente has a new executive chef. Matt Greco, a Texas native and former New York City chef, took over as executive chef of Livermore’s award-winning restaurant on Oct. 1. Read more about the new chef and his plans for Wente in Diablo Magazine’s interview.

Opening update: Big Lots, previewed in the , opened Oct. 27 on Las Positas in Livermore. The national closeout and overstock merchandise department store celebrates its new Livermore store with a grand opening event on Nov. 4. Big Lots shares the space with T.J. Maxx, which .

Opening update: Sanmola Japanese House, covered in the , opened Oct. 18 on First Street (between Trevarno and Mines) in Livermore. The new restaurant offers both Japanese and Chinese cuisine, including an all-you-can-eat sushi option.

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

• and in Danville
• and in San Ramon 
• and in Dublin
• and in Pleasanton 
• and  in Livermore

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