A couple of weeks ago I noted belatedly that Build-A-Bear closed in Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, and already it’s been taken over by the seasonal store Go! Calendars. It seems like every year Go! Calendars hops from store to store taking advantage of temporary lease opportunities.
A couple of weeks ago I noted that the fashion jewelry shop Bracchiale was coming to Broadway Plaza, previously occupied by Betsey Johnson which left in June. Now Bracchiale is open for business and when I dropped by it was quite crowded with women checking out what kind of jewelry is available.
Check out the front part of the shop below:
This is some of the jewelry available:
According to the owner there will be a wide variety of jewelry available with all price ranges in mind up to $300. By the way, Bracchiale is pronounced Brashale not the Italian way, Brackiale. Bracchiale is located at Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek right across from Nordstrom and next to Swarovski.
For those wondering what’s going on at the Fuz site, a Kelly-Moore paint store will be opening up at 3707 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette at the old Japanese fusion restaurant Fuz (formerly Lafayette Joe’s). As you can see from the photo below it’s getting extensively remodeled.
Back in April I noted that the children’s shoe store Tiny Feet opened in December in Theatre Square in Orinda and passing by recently I noticed it has closed. Not sure when it closed, but if you’re looking for children’s shoes you can drop by Howard’s Shoes in the back of Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek and next door at the Nordstrom children’s shoe section on the 3rd floor.
Broadway Plaza has lost a children’s favorite as Build-A-Bear closed last Sunday. This can’t be good for nearby children’s clothing stores Janie and Jack and Gymboree as Build-A-Bear probably brought a lot of little kid traffic to the mall.
Diablo Style notes that an upgraded and high-tech Build-A-Bear will appear in Pleasanton’s Stoneridge Mall on October 5th. I wonder if Build-A-Bear’s decision to leave Broadway Plaza is in anyway related to the future possibility of the plaza getting demolished a few years down the road to make way for larger stores and higher development?
Back in April I noted that Rochester Big & Tall was closing on N. Main St. across from Starbucks in downtown Walnut Creek, and it turns out that the women’s fashion store Brandy Melville will be moving from its current spot next to the Cheesecake Factory to this location by the end of the month.
In February I made a “Judging Boutiques” post about Brandy Melville and when I stopped by recently it was packed with young women shopping so it looks like the Italian fashion line is doing quite well in Walnut Creek.
By the way, it seems that there was quite some competition for this retail location as I know a couple of stores that were trying to get it although Brandy landed it in the end.
Wolf Camera & Video is bankrupt and the remaining stores will close including the one located in the Lafayette shopping center where Diablo Foods and Trader Joe’s is on Mt. Diablo Blvd. It’s expected to close by next week. However, an imaging company from San Diego is apparently taking over the Lafayette and Dublin locations to handle print processing only. So drop by if you want to pick up a camera or accessory at up to 60% off.
Back in May I noted that Betsey Johnson was closing in Broadway Plaza, located in a prime Walnut Creek spot across from Nordstrom, and next to Neiman Marcus. On October 10th the fashion jewelry store Bracchiale will be opening up. From the Broadway Plaza website:
Embrace the experience at Bracchaile and shop great fashion accessories including jewelry, scarves, hair accessories, brooches, bags and wallets!
I wish Bracchiale all the best, although given its prime location, I do wonder why better known chains have not opened up instead. My guess would be that the retail space is not large enough to accommodate most stores. Anyone know why?
Previously I posted about a Russian grocery, and last month an Indian grocery, now I present to you a Japanese grocery, Diablo Oriental Foods in Walnut Creek (2590 N. Main St.). Note this is a different grocery than Diablo Foods in Lafayette. If you’re looking for Japanese staples such as natto, Calpis or senbei crackers and don’t want to leave Walnut Creek, this is the place to head to. Driving by looks straight out of the 1970s if not earlier, but they pack an enormous amount of items within.
Note the high quality rice at bottom right:
Check out more photos after the jump including natto…
It’s only been a couple of weeks since I posted about the men’s store Atlas (1356 N. Main St.) in downtown Walnut Creek, and within that time they managed to have their store remodeled with a new arrangement, new flooring and more, including slick dressing rooms and a sale section in the back. This is a fun store to browse and shop at. Check out the new look in the photos below:
I’m noticing a trend with the iPad registers:
Cool lounge area towards the back:
Check out more photos after the jump…