Sprouts & Shutters: Father Nature's Hideaway, Zentrum Furniture, Corner Bakery Cafe 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.

Madison Avenue Mobile Consignment launched last month in Livermore, bringing new and “gently worn” formal wear and new accessories to local public venues—ore even right to your door for pre-prom, birthday and “ladies’ night out” parties. Madison Avenue’s store-on-wheels, “Kurbi,” was originally a Modesto SWAT vehicle and has been completely renovated into a chic colorful mobile consignment store. Find out where Kurbi will park next and browse the latest available fashions on Madison Avenue’s Facebook page.

Livermore’s Double Barrel Wine Bar recently introduced Sunday jazz brunches from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Starting at 1 p.m. you can listen to live bands like Greg Chambers Jazz Band as you sip a Rosemary Lemon Sparkler and dine on the Farmers Market Omelet of the Day. See the full menu at doublebarrelwinebar.com and find out who’s playing next on Double Barrel’s Facebook page.

Two new furniture stores recently opened in Dublin, sharing the 15,000 square-foot space next to Sahara Market on Dublin Boulevard. The family-owned Zentrum Furniture relocated from Berkeley and sells an “eclectic collection of solid wood furniture, American-made sofas and unique accessories.” Crossroads Furniture, owned by a Pleasanton family, carries “American contemporary furniture and bedding.” These two stores replaced Furniture Warehouse—the furniture store that many thought would have a permanent “going out of business sale” and never close.

The Chicago-born Corner Bakery Café will open its newest eatery by early December in the Pleasanton Gateway on Bernal. The chain bakery offers a large menu of made-to-order items ranging from breakfast pastries and egg dishes to seasonal soups and paninis. You’ll also find hand-roasted Java City coffee, Mighty Leaf teas and freshly baked desserts. Find out more at cornerbakerycafe.com.

Carl’s Jr. closed its Pleasanton fast-food burger joint on Sept. 21. The franchisee denied that it lost its lease, saying only that “it was just time to close” and that there were no plans to open another Carl’s Jr. in Pleasanton. Dublin’s Carl’s Jr. closed in May.

What do you get when you merge Danville’s Wild Vine Hideway with Father Nature’s restaurant? You get Father Nature’s Hideway. The new restaurant, located in the original Father’s Nature location on East Prospect, opened Sept. 18. It’s now co-owned by Father Nature’s owner Tae Pak and Wild Vine owner Tami Bean, who are working together to create a new menu and new business model. Nature’s Hideway now offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, comedy shows on Tuesdays and live music Wednesday through Saturday.

Pick up some home décor or jewelry while helping local schools during the two-day Art in the Park this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Central Park in San Ramon. The event features paintings, ceramics, photography, jewelry and other handcrafted works by more than 60 local artists. The event helps raise money for elementary and middle school art programs in the San Ramon Valley School District.

ThinkTank Learning recently opened one of its two tutoring centers, both located in the Plaza at Gale Ranch. The first center, located in the Chase building, holds SAT and other large classes. The second center, set to open by mid October, will offer consultations and one-on-one tutoring. San Ramon’s new two-suite ThinkTank Learning center is the Bay Area based education center’s largest location.

Want to find out what else is opening in the East Bay? Sprouts & Shutters now covers 16 cities and will soon expand to 21. Read the latest columns covering the Central Contra Costa 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:  

• Danville Travel and Amber Bistro brunch in Danville
• Bodylines makeover and Walmart Neighborhood Market in San Ramon
• Chemmeen Indian restaurant in Dublin
• Domus home accessories store closing in Pleasanton 
• Roppongi Sushi and Mario's French Dips 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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