Sprouts & Shutters: Backyard Factory, Oliveta, Patxi's Pizza and More

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

Dig deep-dish? Chicago-style pizza lovers will get a new hangout at the end of February when Patxi’s Pizza is set to open next to Livermore's Bankhead Theater on First Street. The San Francisco based chain’s newest restaurant will move across from Sauced into a 3,300 square-foot space equipped with a full cocktail bar and outdoor patio. Patxi’s stuffs its Chicago-style pizza with gourmet ingredients like garlic-fennel sausage, Spanish chorizo, arugula, whole-milk mozzarella and, of course, your more traditional toppings. Prefer a thinner crust? Patxi’s also makes Neopolitan-style pizzas. Learn more about Patxi’s and view a menu at patxispizza.com.

Last month Milano Joe’s Cucina Italiana closed its First Street restaurant in Livermore. The owners, who also own Livermore’s El Charro Mexican Food, could not be reached for comment about the reason for closure. We’ll keep an eye on what moves into that vacant space.

A new quick-serve healthy foods café opened recently in the Dublin Corporate Center on Dublin Boulevard. Oliveta serves salads, sandwiches, soups and fruit smoothies. The small eatery replaced the short-lived Cabana Dave’s Café, which opened earlier this year. Learn more about the new Oliveta here.

Opening Update: La Boulangerie, previewed in a May column, opened Nov. 8 in Pleasanton’s Stoneridge Shopping Center. The new cafe, which serves coffee, baked goods and light lunch fare, now occupies Gloria Jean’s old space.

More Stoneridge Shopping Center news: Talbots is set to close sometime after the holiday season. We’ll keep you posted on what’s set to replace it. Also, Helzberg Diamonds closed its jewelry store recently. That space will be part of the new 21,000 square foot, two-level Forever 21 store (see earlier Sprouts column for details).

Heading out for Black Friday holiday deals after Thanksgiving? Local Tri-Valley businesses invite you to go shopping Saturday, too, during “Small Business Saturday.” The national shopping day began in 2010 as a way to support local businesses and the local economy. Cities and business associations are promoting the event independently: For example, Discover Danville Association is holding its Spirit of Danville holiday shopping event as part of Small Business Saturday. Learn more at americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small.

Got a little monkey living with you? Danville’s new The Backyard Factory sells trampolines and wooden outdoor play structures that let your energetic kids jump, climb, swing and slide in their own backyard. The new store opened last month on Camino Ramon next to Tuesday Mornings. The Backyard Factory, once located in Dublin, also has stores in Martinez and Sunnyvale. Learn more and preview sets at thebackyardfactory.com.

You can work off that Thanksgiving dinner and stay in shape year round at the new Danville CrossFit, which opened last month on Fostoria near Costco. The new 5,000 square-foot fitness training facility is affiliated with the national fitness company CrossFit, which bases its workouts on intense, constantly varying movements like pushing, pulling, squatting, lifting and running. The new gym also offers group and individual coaching and yoga classes. Learn more at cfdanville.com.

Opening Update: San Ramon’s Dickey’s Barbecue, previewed last month, is now serving it barbecue meats and southern sides. The world’s largest barbecue chain opened its newest eatery in the Crow Canyon Commons shopping center Nov. 15.

Opening Update: The Swedish-based weight-loss and exercise club Itrim, previewed in a September column, celebrates its opening today, Nov. 19, with membership specials, snacks and wine, door prizes, circuit demos, body fat testing and a raffle for a two-year membership. The first 50 people receive free gift bags. Learn more at itrim.us.

Want to find out what else is opening in the East Bay? Sprouts & Shutters now covers 21 cities on 18 Patch sites. Read the latest columns for the Central Contra Costa, Berkeley/Oakland and Fremont/Tri-Cities communities.

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

• Rocky's Place and Flame Broiler in Danville
• Rose Motorcars and Buffalo Wings Update in San Ramon
• Golden Sand Harbor in Dublin
• Main Street Designs in Pleasanton 
• Mario's French Dips and Mike's Cafe in Livermore

Know of a business opening or closing in the Tri-Valley? Please tell Patch about it for a future Sprouts & Shutters column. Simply add it to this short form. Or send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.

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