1633 Bonanza St, Walnut Creek
Last month I noted that a new cafe focusing on South American cuisine will be opening in downtown Walnut Creek called Cafecitos Cafe and now the signage is up. The door is marked, “Discover South American Savories, Sandwiches, Salads and Sweets”. I can’t wait to see this place!
“Savor a Moment in Time”
1372 N. Main St, Walnut Creek
Thanks to a reader for pointing out that the ice cream shop CREAM in Walnut Creek is now open. The grand opening is still this Saturday, but judging by the crowds that already have found out about the new opening I have a feeling it’s going to be PACKED on Saturday as they hand out free ice cream sandwiches! So get there early if you can.
Inside there is a big menu explaining how to order:
Step 1: cookies
Step 2: ice cream
Step 3: toppings
They also offer vegan and gluten free cookies, as well as sundaes, milkshakes and ‘cream tacos’, not to mention plain scoops, brownies and more. The cookies are warm and soft and ice cream is not super-hard so it’s easy for employees to smoosh it together to make the sandwiches. Has anyone been here yet? What’s your favorite combination?
The Squirrel’s Coffee Shop will be closing on August 15th in downtown Lafayette. Located on Moraga Rd. in front of the Lafayette Park Plaza, it has been in business for close to 30 years according to a quote by the owner in the Lamorinda Weekly, which reported the closing. The neighboring stores (cleaners, thrift store, and temporary art gallery) are all gone as well so it looks like that section will get a facelift soon, followed by a higher-end restaurant and other stores. Check out the developer’s page for the Park Plaza shops here.
Check out the inside of Squirrel’s after the jump…
3545 Mt Diablo, Lafayette
Last month I posted about San Francisco-based Smitten Ice Cream possibly coming to downtown Lafayette and it looks like this is going to really happen. A source I spoke with recently told me that Cold Stone Creamery will close some time in August with Smitten possibly opening in November. The transition should be made easier since they are both ice cream shops.
Last week I noted that the ice cream sandwich store CREAM would be opening on August 10th in downtown Walnut Creek and the signage is now up!
With news this week that the ice cream store CREAM and frozen yogurt place Pinkberry are opening this month in downtown Walnut Creek, it’s clear the city is becoming a real destination for frozen desserts. Don’t forget about recently opened Vitality Bowls which offers frozen acai bowls and the gourmet ice creamery Lottie’s Creamery (pictured above). Quite a difference from last year when I posted about this.
So for Friday’s question of the day, what is your favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt place that is in, (or will be) in downtown Walnut Creek? Is there something else you’d recommend in Walnut Creek or Lamorinda?
1372 N. Main St, Walnut Creek
@CREAMNATION tweeted that their Walnut Creek location will be opening on August 10th:
Walnut Creek’s Grand Opening is Saturday, August 10th from 1pm to 3pm! Don’t miss this sweet party! #CREAMnation#CREAM#WalnutCreek
And Diablo Dish is reporting that they will be offering free ice cream sandwiches from 12pm – 9pm (until supplies last) on opening day.
I’ve driven by this sign countless times on N. Main St. in Walnut Creek and always wondered about the store named Pasta. Was this like the Pasta Shop in Rockridge? Was this some kind of specialty store selling wholesale pasta? I finally parked my car to get a closer look and it turns out to be an Italian restaurant called Pasta Primavera. The Primavera sign is at right. Now it makes perfect sense!
Last week I noted that the indoor dog space Zoom Room will be opening on August 3rd at the Avalon apartment complex in the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village located across from the Pleasant Hill BART station, and now Diablo Dish and the Contra Costa Times is reporting that a new Peruvian restaurant called Mochica will be opening on Treat Blvd. and Sunne Ln. later this year or early next year. See photo above for the ‘Leased’ sign so it looks like that’s the location although it might be elsewhere. As the Contra Costa Times article notes, “most of the storefronts remain vacant in Avalon Walnut Creek, the mixed-use development at the Pleasant Hill-Contra Costa Centre BART station.” When I dropped by last week to see what was going on down there I have to agree with that statement. It felt really desolate. I hope the new restaurant will bring in more interesting stores so I can enjoy strolling around there every now and then.
From Diablo Dish:
His Walnut Creek restaurant, however, will be a more casual affair, closer in spirit to Altamirano’s Mochica, which specializes in elevated-but-affordable Peruvian specialties for dine-in as well as take out.
1179A Locust St, Walnut Creek
Back in February I posted some scuttlebutt about Pinkberry opening in the old Brandy Melville location in downtown Walnut Creek next to the Cheesecake Factory and have now learned from the store manager that they are planning on an August 10th grand opening with a special sneak preview 5pm – 10pm pre-opening on August 8th and 9th. Free, small frozen yogurts plus toppings will be served during these pre-opening events so stop by and check it out!
There is a possibility the opening gets delayed by a week due to signage issues so check back for updates… There will be bar seating in front of the store, bathrooms in the back, and most interestingly plenty of tables (seen in photo below) outside the store in front.
The inside so far:
