With the news this week that the women’s shoe and handbag boutique Footcandy is closing this year due to competition from larger retail stores in Walnut Creek, that got me thinking about where is the best location for a small independent retail store to set up shop, in Walnut Creek or Lafayette?
Walnut Creek has big department stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s and Neiman Marcus, along with mid-tier retailers like Pottery Barn, H&M, Barnes and Noble and Apple, with smaller independent retailers mixed in such as Atlas and Norf London, while Lafayette is home to many independent retail stores such as the recently opened men’s clothing store Venture and children’s store Tulip. It seems to me that Walnut Creek would bring in more foot traffic, but competition would be greater with more choices available. The question is whether the increased foot traffic is worth being overshadowed by the larger stores. If you were going to set up shop as a small independent retailer, where would you choose, Walnut Creek or Lafayette? I also have Orinda on the list but I think it will come down to Lafayette and Walnut Creek. I didn’t bother adding Moraga to the list, because well, cows don’t shop. 🙂
The women’s clothing store Francesca’s Collections will be opening at the Clocktower in downtown Lafayette right next to the men’s clothing store Venture which opened in September. Looks like a great match to me. Francesca’s has a store in the Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton, anyone shopped there?
Shopping at Francesca’s is like finding a gem. Because we’re a boutique, we only carry limited quantities of specially handpicked items so you don’t have to worry about bumping into someone at a party with the same dress as you. The best part is that our prices make everything easy to say yes to, so you know you’ll always find something ah-mazing!
Francesca’s Collections will be located at 3569B Mt. Diablo Blvd. in downtown Lafayette at the Clocktower.
I finally had a chance to drop by the newly opened SusieCakes bakery in downtown Lafayette where everything looked amazing, both in terms of store design as well as bakery items. They even offered free doggie treats out front which you can see in the bottom left of the photo. Nice touch. I noticed a cake sample right away and it was excellent. I bought a chocolate chip cookie as I always do when trying new bakeries out for comparison purposes, and it was superb as well.
However, I have a bit of a pet peeve that I want to see how others feel about. As I was browsing their display case, I noticed there were no prices. When I’m deciding what to order I tend to take price into account. When I go to a cafe I look up at the board and check the prices, when I shop at a clothing store I check the price tag to help me decide what to buy, when I shopped at the Walnut Creek Baking Company (RIP), I looked at the prices listed next to items. Helpful information before deciding to get a snickerdoodle, or mini-cupcake, or frosted holiday cookie.
At SusieCakes, as you can see from the photo, it was rather crowded. A friendly person behind the counter asked if she could help. I looked at her, then looked at the display case to double check that I’m not losing my mind and that indeed there were no prices listed, then looked at her again, and started asking her how much things cost. Not wanting to hold up people as the employee told me the prices, she mentioned that there was a menu with the prices. So now I’m going back and forth between the menu and the display case trying to figure out what to order.
Then I get to the cashier and noticed a postcard mentioning Thanksgiving pie pre-orders. Again, there is no price listed. I ask the cashier why there are no prices listed and she explained that they want to engage us the customer. I was smiling incredulously as people were waiting behind me. So I asked her how much the pies were. She explained that the pumpkin pie and pecan pie are $18.95 and the apple pie is $24.95. Now am I expected to remember these prices as I bring the postcard home to show my wife? Why couldn’t they just put the price on the postcard? I already know it’s going to be delicious I know it’s going to be made from scratch. What’s there to engage about? I just want to know the price! So I took a pen that’s used to sign credit card receipts and wrote the price for each pie on the postcard. Meanwhile the people behind me are probably wondering what the hold up is. Frankly, it felt very awkward.
So for Friday’s question of the day, should bakeries post prices on a board or next to the items for sale à la WCBC, or are prices passé and not really relevant in this day and age?
Now that SusieCakes in Lafayette is open has anyone had a chance to try them out yet? Any recommended bakery items? As you can see in the photo the signage is now up and when I peaked inside I could see sign mentioning Thanksgiving Pies:
Yum, they all sound really tasty! I can’t wait to drop by and try something.
The 2012 Lafayette Reservoir Run was held yesterday under sunny skies with plenty of volunteers, a band and cheering friends and family. Thanks to the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and volunteers for taking the time to put on this event to help support the local community.
This year the sponsors moved to the plaza which was nicer than the parking lot across the street. For some reason it felt smaller than last year, or maybe I’m just imagining things.
Looking at the photo above, the guy in the blue shirt looks pretty speedy doesn’t he? Unfortunately he didn’t even place in the top half of his age group in the 10k race but he’s happy nonetheless. 🙂
There is still time to register for the Lafayette Reservoir Run this Sunday, October 28th. The registration form is available here and you can register the day of race. The 2 mile fun run begins at 8am, the 5k race begins at 8:30am and the 10k race begins at 8:45am. For those not running watch out for road closures. From the Lafayette police:
The City of Lafayette will be closing streets for the 20th Annual Reservoir Run, Sunday, October 28, 2012. The Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the event. The roads the course is run on will be closed from 7:00am to 11:00am on Sunday, October 28, 2012. The Course runs on Mt. Diablo Blvd. between First Street and Lafayette Reservoir. Mt. Diablo East Bound will be closed at Paulson Court (Oakwood Athletic Club will be accessible) to First Street. Mt. Diablo West bound will closed at First Street to Paulson Court. One lane on Mt. Diablo’s North side between Happy Valley Road and El Nido Ranch Road will be open West bound ONLY for local traffic with minimal delay’s, all other streets will be completely closed with no access except in the event of an emergency.
All vehicles parked in posted-signed zones on said streets may be subject to tow.
I’ll be running the 10k for the first time. Good luck to all those running and thanks to the volunteers!
Back in the beginning of the month I noted that SusieCakes, a new bakery opening on October 27th in downtown Lafayette will kick it off with a sock hop from 1-4pm. As you can see the inside is finished and I can’t wait to try some of the pastries. Yum!
I received word from Diablo Foods editor Ethan Fletcher that the special November Food issue including the Food Awards is now available. Check out the Food Awards here, and the November issue here.
The awards are broken down into five areas, “The Perennials”, “Signature Dishes”, “New Restaurants”, “Top Chefs”, and Dining Destinations”. Walnut Creek and Lafayette (sorry Orinda and Moraga) restaurants were awarded:
The Perennials: Prima Ristorante, Va de Vi Signature Dishes: Artisan Bistro (Pan-Seared Wild John Dory), Chevalier (Vol au Vent de Ris de Veau Braise au Madere et aux Morilles), Elive (Market Fish Curry Xao Lan), Ottavio (Gnocci di Ricotta con Sugo di Anatra Affumicata) New Restaurants: Corners Tavern Top Chefs: Steve Jaramillo (Metro)
I think Walnut Creek Yacht Club should have been on the Perennials list. Should anything else have been included or not? Also, check out this week’s Diablo Dish for lots of news and info on the East Bay food scene.
The amazing Lafayette Whole Foods, in addition to selling black water is now selling ostrich eggs for $49 a pop! They come from Tehachapi, CA (a couple of hours north of Los Angeles), home of the Indian Point Ostrich Ranch where you can take a tour to view the ostriches. How cool is that?
Now what do you do with ostrich eggs? Do use them in place of regular eggs? For example if a recipe says to use 6 eggs can you substitute one ostrich egg? Can you use them for Easter egg decorations? How many people would an ostrich egg omelet feed? By the way, the eggs next the ostrich eggs in the photo are actually duck eggs, which themselves are bigger than chicken eggs, so these are some HUGE eggs!
