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.
will close its Livermore store on First Street by June 25. Owner Carol DiSalvi says she is taking her business back to Pleasanton and will now offer bra-fitting consultation by appointment, specializing in hard-to-find sizes. DiSalvi hopes to open another store in the future as the economy improves. , located next to LilyAnn’s, also closed this month. (Thanks to the Livermore Patch reader for this news tip.)
The results are in: and the new are the “People’s Choice” winners of Livermore’s chili competition that took place during the annual Chili Shooters Stampede on June 2. Did you miss out on the tasting? Don't worry: Both restaurants feature chili on the menu daily.
Dublin’s Farmers Market, like San Ramon's, is treating its residents to cooking demonstrations. This Thursday--and every second Thursday--you can watch chefs prepare new recipes during “Dublin Cooks Night” at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. See the full season’s event lineup.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue will be opening in El Balazo’s old space on Rosewood Drive in Pleasanton. The national chain, which originated in Honolulu, focuses on Hawaiian-style dishes ranging from garlic mahi-mahi filet to noodles with grilled spam. The city’s economic development director says that the eatery is undergoing tenant improvements and an opening date has not been set. We’ll include an opening update in a future column.
Lavandu Face & Body opens June 21 in Pleasanton’s Mission Plaza shopping center across from Curves. Owner and Pleasanton resident Patricia Workman says Lavandu offers advanced skin care, makeup application and touch therapy services plus features an “aroma bar” with essential oils and an expansive skin-care products boutique. Clients will also be treated to organic free-trade tea, dark chocolate lavender truffles, fresh local fruit, purified air, and even a trickling water fountain. Check out Lavandu’s “Westminster Abbey Chandelier” that was flown in from Scotland in the accompanying photo. Learn more on Lavandu's facebook page.
Television's popular Food Network comes to San Ramon this Saturday at 9 a.m. to film San Ramon Farmers Market's new “Home Cooking at the Market” event. For the “Andy Bates Street Feasts” show, British Food Network star Andy Bates and San Francisco chef Azalina Eusope will create Penang Curry Bomb with market vendor Soul Food Farm pastured chicken and ingredients from the Farmers Market. The new “Home Cooking at the Market” will take place every Saturday, when local chefs, home cooks, nutrition educators and cookbook authors will show shoppers how to prepare simple meals using fresh finds at the market.
San Ramon’s new Schubros Brewery secured its license June 5 and will celebrate by selling its Nico American Wheat in the beer tent during this weekend’s in Danville. Ian Schuster, the brewery’s president and San Ramon resident, says that they’ll have their new craft beer in about a dozen local restaurants and bars soon after this launch. Also, he says construction is still underway at their on Alcosta Boulevard. The revised move-in is scheduled for mid June. Read more in .
Danville’s The Vine at Bridges recently introduced “Weekly Winemakers” themed tasting nights to its calendar. Each Thursday from 6 – 8 p.m. you can taste select wines from local and regional winemakers. Hill Family Estate, Jonata Wines, Glennhawk Vineyards, Hilliard Bruce Winery and Joyce Vineyard are a few of the many wineries scheduled to visit Danville’s popular downtown wine bar this summer. See the calendar at thevineatbridges.com/events
Starbucks will buy , a Bay Area chain bakery with a location in downtown Danville. Read the full story in Danville Patch's Starbucks Buys .
Opening update: Kids & Teens World, covered in a , opened in Danville’s Rose Garden shopping center off Camino Ramon on June 1. View products, including summertime outdoor play structures, at kidsnteensworld.net.
Looking for an edible outing for Father’s Day? First, work up an appetite during Pleasanton’s Father’s Day Spirit Run, starting at 8 a.m. on Main Street. Then try the new Clementine’s in San Ramon for a hearty Father’s Day brunch and live music by the Black Pearl Project. Later you can head to Livermore’s Concannon Vineyard for “Tapas for Papas” for a Spanish-style flight paired with savory tapas. Or enjoy a casual snack at the hot dog cart during Father’s Day at the Blackhawk Museum, featuring free admission for dads, live music and a car show. Top it off at Danville Chocolates, where dad can get a free Double Rainbow ice cream. For other options, including places for brunch and special dinners, browse Patch’s online restaurant directory.
Did you miss Patch's last retail and restaurant roundup? Read about these and more in our last Sprouts & Shutters column:
- and in Danville
- 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.
