The digital signs around downtown Walnut Creek notifying people of the available spaces is a really useful service so people can try other garages that may have more spots available. This sign is next to the Broadway Plaza parking garage near Crate & Barrel. Does anyone know how long this has been there?
Previously someone commented on how the employee spots are on the first floor. Do people think the employee spots should remain there or be moved to the top floor, or to the top covered floor?
Last month I noted how the women’s sportswear store title 9 is moving to Mt. Diablo Blvd, and yesterday saw that they are now open in their new location at 1637 Mt. DIablo Blvd, previously the Le Creuset store.
It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Orinda Theatre Square and I have to say it’s really coming alive with new stores and restaurants. A new florist is having a soft opening on Friday called Anahid Designs. They were originally located in Santa Monica, then San Lorenzo and the owner has been doing floral designs the past 12 years. They are available for weddings and special events.
Check out an example of their work:
The grand opening will be held on May 5th. Just in time for Mother’s Day.
A few months ago Traction Bikes moved from Pleasant Hill to downtown Lafayette, at 3568 Mt. Diablo Blvd, right next to the Milosport snowboarding store. They are an independent bike shop run by owner Mike Brain who ran the first mobile bike repair business in Contra Costa County way back in 1982.
Check out the inside:
They offer bikes for both serious and casual riders, as well as children. Their Facebook page is here. Lafayette now has downtown 3 bike shops, Traction Bikes, Sharp Bicycle and Hank & Frank Bicycles.
Last month I noted the demolition possibilities that may play out if Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek turns the street running between into a pedestrian plaza. Last night the Walnut Creek city council took up the Broadway Plaza master plan again and various concerns were raised. From what I can tell the following are the pros and cons of the proposed development:
PROS
CONS
Considering both the pros and cons, do you think the Broadway Plaza master plan should be approved? If no, are there any changes that could be made to support it? If there are any missing pros/cons please let me know and I’ll add them in. One thing I’d like to know is what will happen to the small stores behind Broadway Plaza, between Macy’s and Nordstrom. If those will not be available that would be unfortunate as it offered shoppers a smaller, more intimate shopping experience that would work well with bigger stores in front. However, based on the number of store closings in that area, maybe not.
In the beginning, there was nothing. No police parking spots that is, at the Walnut Creek Target. Years later two police parking signs appeared in the Target parking lot, closest to the store. And now, as you can see in the above photo, there is only one. According to a Walnut Creek employee I spoke to, the additional spot was no longer needed.
If I remember correctly a few years ago there were some Craigslist exchanges happening in the parking lot here and some people got robbed as they handed over goods they planned on selling. That’s probably why those spots were added. Personally I don’t see why they need to reserve the best parking space for this; a couple of rows back in the corner is right near by and would serve the same purpose I imagine.
Some news off the beaten path: Moraga now has an alternative produce store besides Safeway. Located at 576 Center St. in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center, Moraga Produce offers a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, including an organic section as well. Take a look at the inside below:
I think I noticed Mexican Coca Cola being sold which is great as it uses real cane sugar instead of corn syrup. If the quality of the produce is good I can see this being a popular place to stock up instead of Safeway or a trip to Orinda or Lafayette.
Moraga Produce also has stores in Walnut Creek and Concord, has anyone been to one of them? How is it?
BDB Studio, aka Blow Dry Bar, is opening up in downtown Walnut Creek on April 20th, replacing a Cosmetology Salon. They are located at 1639 North California Blvd. in the Mercer Apartments complex. Their Facebook page had this poster:
It looks like this is a shampoo and styling salon for in-between hair-cut appointments. Check out the inside:
As noted previously, other than Mike’s Bikes and The Counter restaurant at each end, the stores located below Mercer Apartments are generally beauty salons of one type or another.
Last week I stayed in New York City, where I used to live in the 90s, for Easter break while still managing to post 3 updates per day to this blog which I’m quite happy with. As always, New York is a crazy, dirty, LOUD, over-the top place that is also exciting, fun, and offers endless dining and entertainment choices 24×7. It’s truly the city that never sleeps.
Walking around everywhere allowed me to see plenty of shops that also exist in Walnut Creek, including Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Macy’s, even Brandy Melville. Some stores that haven’t yet arrived in Walnut Creek that I could easily see eventually include the Spanish fashion store Mango and the Canadian clothing store Joe Fresh, which recently opened several clothing shops in New York. Who knows, maybe even Uniqlo will show up one day.
Although Walnut Creek does not have the same gritty and lively feel that bigger cities like New York offer, I think downtown Walnut Creek offers plenty of things to do while still maintaining it’s suburban charm. I’ll take that over a strip or enclosed mall, so prevalent in other suburban cities, any day.
Anyway, take a look at the photo at top closely, and then look at the photo below:
Isn’t that cool?
Entrez! Open House is a housewares and gift boutique located at 1507 Cypress St. in downtown Walnut Creek. From their website:
Entrez! Open House is an independent boutique specializing in European contemporary housewares, gifts, and furniture.
We carry over 30 different brands to make sure you find diversity in our items and prices range: Alessi, Iittala, Marimekko, Menu, Esteban, Pacifica, Galison, Sigg, and many more!
We also carry many locally designed and produced items: Elbow Grease Designs and punk rawk purl are the most popular.
Contemporary, Eclectic and European From stationery to dining set, we pick our products with extra care, and that’s what makes Entrez! such a unique destination.
are the main traits of the stores style.
They also have a store in Oakland. Check out the inside of the showroom:
I think this is a great addition to Cypress St. with a colorful and eclectic sense of style. Currently they are not open every day but they plan on expanding their open hours in the near future.