Shopping

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.

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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?

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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
are the main traits of the stores style.From stationery to dining set, we pick our products with extra care, and that’s what makes Entrez! such a unique destination.

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Last week I noted how the women’s sportswear store Title 9 was relocating around the corner on Mt. Diablo Blvd. and it turns out Men’s Wearhouse, located right next door, is going to take over this space from Title 9.

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Zebra Tattoo & Body Piercing, located at 1419 Broadway in downtown Walnut Creek near the Performance Bicycle store has been open since 2008 although they also have a shop in Berkeley for over 20 years. From their website:

Zebra Tattoo and Body Piercing art attracts interest like magic, lasts a lifetime, and stays young forever. With deep experience, insight and creativity our artists create magic especially for you. Zebra opened twenty years ago in the Bay Area and quickly became known for its high art of tattoo and body piercing backed with strict adherence to sterilization guidelines and its use of non-allergenic dyes. Zebra is committed to give you the safest, most artistic experience anywhere. We invite you to explore your creative vision with us.

How hip does this make downtown Walnut Creek now that it has a tattoo and body piercing parlor? Does anyone recommend this place?

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The Broadway Pointe parking garage, located at N. Main St & Duncan St, right next to Starbucks, and a stone’s throw from Neiman Marcus in downtown walnut creek recently put up signs that are very clear and decisive. One says, “NO NEIMAN MARCUS PARKING”, while the other states, “PARKING FOR BROADWAY POINT SHOPPING ONLY $25.00 CHARGE”.

What I would like to know is, what are the Broadway Pointe stores? I don’t believe I see a list so how would one know? Secondly, how could they possibly enforce this? Could you imagine this scenario?

(Woman walks into garage with Neiman Marcus shopping bag)

Parking Attendant: Exsume me Ma’am, where did you shop today?
Woman: Neiman Marcus.
Parking Attendant: I’m sorry, this garage is for Broadway Pointe shoppers only, see the sign?
Woman: Oh, I didn’t know that.
Parking Attendant: It clearly says, “NO NEIMAN MARCUS PARKING”, so I’m going to have to give you a ticket.

(Parking Attendant follows woman back to her car)

Surely this could never happen, right? My guess is that they want Neiman Marcus to pay them a yearly fee to not display the “NO NEIMAN MARCUS” parking sign. Any other thoughts on this?

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