Back last August I noted the opening of Tulip in Lafayette and it looks like the baby and kids boutique has closed. The past week the store has been papered over and there is now a shut sign in front. I hope this is a temporary shutdown and they’ll reopen soon. Otherwise it’ll join the closure of nearby children stores Giggle and The Right Start.
Last November I noted that the women’s fashion boutique Francesca’s was opening up in downtown Lafayette and this evening at 5pm will be the soft opening followed by the grand opening tomorrow at 10am on Saturday, February 16th. Located right next to men’s clothing store Venture in the Lafayette Clocktower (along with Patxi’s Pizzeria), Francesca’s will complement the area nicely. They have over 300 stores around the country including locations at the Stoneridge Mall and Bay Street in Emeryville. You can see their online apparel here.
I was able to get a sneak preview of the inside of the store recently and it looks great.
Check out photos of the inside after the jump…
UPDATE: According to the developer’s comments below there will be a Mt. Diablo view from the rooftop dining area!
Last February I posted a preview of the N. Main / Mt. Diablo corner lot project diagonally across from Neiman Marcus and now there are new renderings of what the proposed project will look like. According to Brian Hirahara from B.H. Development who is developing the property, the plan is for one retail tenant in the corner taking up two stories and a restaurant on the Mt. Diablo side taking up two stories plus a roof deck.
I look forward to finding out which retailer and restaurant open up here. The developer was also responsible for the project across the street anchored by Tiffany and brought the upscale restaurants Sasa and Va de Vi to Walnut Creek so I imagine similarly upscale tenants will open up here as well. What kind of restaurant would you most like to see here? What retailer would work well?
Check out the retractable windows on the 2nd floor:
The current location has an older rendering displayed:
Last November I pointed out that the baby store The Right Start was closing in Walnut Creek and now the colorful baby store Giggle, located in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek, will be closing by the end the month. In addition to the Walnut Creek closure, the Corte Madera store will also close. Apparently the opening of the baby store Buy Buy Baby, owned by Bed Bath & Beyond in Pleasant Hill a couple of years ago siphoned a lot of business from baby stores.
There’s not much stock remaining but strollers and car seats are 30% off and everything else is 50% off so check out Giggle while you can. Thanks to a reader for the tip!
Giggle’s colorful awning and window displays made downtown Walnut Creek a brighter place so this is disappointing news that they will shut their doors.
I was looking for some jeans needles when I happened upon this quilting store called The Cotton Patch in downtown Lafayette next to Artisan Bistro. Now, I’m no expert when it comes to quilting but when I stepped inside I was amazed at how cool this place is. They have all kinds of sewing machines, fabrics and even offer classes across the street. They will have a Beginning Quilting class on March 4th. If you have any interest in quilting you have to check this store out. And they have been open for 35 years!
From their website:
The Cotton Patch is a one-stop destination quilting shop in Lafayette, California. It was opened in 1978, which makes it one of the oldest quilt shops in the country. The continued success is due to the large selection of everything needed to make quilts of any type.
The shop houses over 4,000 bolts of fabric. There is a large selection of solids, blenders, batiks, black & whites, as well as the latest lines. Books are another specialty of The Cotton Patch. There are hundreds of titles, from the latest to the out of print.
Check the colorful inside:
The Cotton Patch is located at 1025 Brown Avenue in Lafayette.
In business for 32 years, the owners of Clarissa Bridal Salon in Walnut Creek next to the Pacific Bay Coffee Company on N. Main St. have retired after 32 years in business. Thanks to a reader for the tip!
If you’re looking for bridal dresses check out Flares Bridal which recently expanded in Broadway Plaza a stone’s throw away. Also, La Soie Bridal will eventually open in downtown Walnut Creek at the corner of Broadway and Cypress once the new building is completed.
The designer women’s clothing store Max Studio closed earlier this month in downtown Walnut Creek in Broadway Plaza. Back in January I noted that Arden B. would be closing as well so I wonder whether there is beginning to be an impact as retailers wait and see whether the Broadway Plaza long term plan will be approved by the city which would increase the retail space significantly but also demolish much of what is there currently. On February 19th the Broadway Plaza owners Macerich will present a refined development proposal so it will be interesting to see what they offer up.
Great news for oyster lovers! The Point Reyes Oyster Company recently started selling Kumamoto, Pacific and other oysters at the downtown Walnut Creek farmers market. In business since 1989, they farm oysters at Tomales Bay right next to Hog Island Oysters. When I dropped by I peppered the man there with all kinds of questions on preparation and safe food handling and he patiently explained how to tell a good oyster from a bad one (knock on it), how to open it (with a screwdriver and butter knife if you don’t have an oyster shucker) and more.
From their website:
We sell many different types of shellfish, including miyagi and kumamoto oysters, manila clams and bay mussels.
Our miyagi oysters are cultured in floating bags at the top of the water column where algae is most dense. These oysters develop a nicely cupped shell. The purple-brown shells are easily opened to expose a blonde meat nearly filling the cup. The sweet soft meat develops a salty tang as it crossed your tongue.
Our kumamoto oysters are cultured in rack tied mesh bags high in the intertidal zone. These little oysters develop plump meats and an extended shelf life. The silver-brown shells are among the easiest to open. Being diminutive has not hampered the reputation of these oysters. Their buttery-sweet taste and firm texture attract novice and confirmed oyster lovers alike.
I’m definitely coming back ASAP with an ice cooler to try these oysters. How do you eat oysters at home, barbecue-style or raw? What kind of sauce to use? Just some lemon juice?
Last month I was able to get a sneak peak of the new paint and sip studio Canvas and Cabernet in downtown Walnut Creek and now that they are officially open I stopped by to see the progress. You can check out the classes they offer here. According to the owner the most popular class is Red Bridge which will be offered on February 21st (and in March). In case you missed my initial post, Canvas and Cabernet offers painting classes while enjoying alcoholic beverages, hence the term paint and sip. They will also offer food from Harvest Market around the corner.
Check out the results of their first class:
courtesy Canvas and Cabernet
Check out photos of the kid’s section and more after the jump.
Last November I noted that the children’s drawing studio A Colorful Mind closed and now Threads Consignment, the women’s fashion consignment boutique originally located around the corner on Locust St. in downtown Walnut Creek has moved a block away to this location on N. Main St. right next to another women’s boutique Norf London. Keep in mind that this is in an alleyway so as you’re walking on N. Main St. towards Neiman Marcus you need to turn right, before Brandy Melville.
Check out the fashion items for sale:
Now that Threads is next to Norf London anchored by Brandy Melville this alley could eventually become a new fashion hub for downtown. Threads Consignment is located at 1341 North Main St. Suite G in Walnut Creek.