Located inside the old Kitchens Unlimited showroom since November, Salonamour is an Aveda lifestyle salon featuring, what else, Aveda products. Although the salon is all new, they have actually been in business in Walnut Creek since 1997, behind their current location.
Take a look at the modern salon area:
Aveda products are featured in a separate section:
Salonamour is located at 1459 East Newell Ave in Walnut Creek.
When Neiman Marcus open its doors in March, where did you think all those employees would park? It turns out they purchased a parking lot located next to the San Miguel Center at the corner of Newell Ave. and S. Broadway, and apparently the lack of parking is impacting retailers in the center as customers have trouble finding parking.
After 3 years, Quiznos closed in March, and word on the street is that other retailers near that part of the San Miguel Center are having a tougher time as well.
Not all retailers in the San Miguel Center are experiencing problems with less available parking, so I guess we’ll see what happens in the future. Has anyone had problems parking at the San Miguel Center recently?
photos courtesy of The Jam Brothers
Imagine you’re the former bassist for Metallica, and you need to pick up a new guitar. Where are you going to get it? San Francisco? Berkeley? Guitar Center? How about right here in Walnut Creek! The Jam Brothers music store (next to Morucci’s deli) recently celebrated their 1st anniversary in Walnut Creek and offer a huge selection of high quality guitars as well as drums and other instruments. The owner, Shawn Steen used to work for Gibson Guitar.
Private guitar lessons are available for both children and adults and you can even pick up a new guitar there for $69 to start off.
Check out their cool guitar wall:
In addition to lessons they occasionally host small performances in their store. Word is that the next gig will be sometime this summer. Stay tuned… The Jam Brothers is located at 1208 Boulevard Way in Walnut Creek. If you’re in a band or want to start playing the guitar definitely check them out.
Oh, and the former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted bought 2 guitars and an amp there.
Handlebar Toys in Lafayette has closed. A sign posted in the store window says:
After 42 Historic Years, HANDLEBAR TOYS has closed its doors. Thank you to all our loyal customers over the years…
Lamorinda Weekly has an article about the closing here.
Rochester Sport for Big & Tall Men closed last week in downtown Walnut Creek. They were located in a prime spot next to Spitz Jewelers, across the street from Starbucks. Being neither big nor tall I never stepped inside this store, but for those missing it you can go to their San Francisco location at 700 Mission St.
In March I noted that U Threads was closing in Broadway Plaza, and it didn’t take long to find a new tenant. The furniture store Elegant Living Furniture will be opening today at 48 Broadway Lane. Check out some of what they have to offer:
Tiny Feet, a new children’s shoe store in the Orinda Theatre Square, opened last December, and is I believe the only children’s shoe store in all of Lamorinda. There is a little play area in one corner and is nicely decorated throughout. Check out the interior below:
If you’re in the market for high quality children’s shoes I would definitely check this place out.
Last December I noted that the mattress store Duxiana had closed back last July, and now a new hair salon called, Insignia Hair Salon, will take its place, opening early this summer. From their website:
Insignia Hair Salon will offer luxurious, glamorous hair services & treatments with
a pampering touch in the trendy downtown Walnut Creek neighborhood!FEATURING:
Great Length Cold Fusion Hair Extensions
Keratin Complex Smoothing Treatment and Express Blow Out
Brazilian Blow Out
Yuko Straightening
Highlights
Gloss
Color Correction
Precision Cuts
Styling
and more…
Insignia will be located at 1530 Locust St. in Walnut Creek, across the street from the Mancini’s Sleepworld.
Walnut Creek gets Neiman Marcus, Lafayette gets Whole Foods, and Moraga gets… Dollar Tree. Before it opened last year, there was quite a debate as to whether it should be approved or not, but obviously it was, and the result is the store pictured above. Some people argued that it would lower property values while others proclaimed that it would increase tax revenue for the city, as well as supporting the notion of a free market.
So if anyone from Walnut Creek, Lamorinda and elsewhere is looking for a marijuana drug test, the Moraga Dollar Tree has you covered:
And if you just can’t find a masculine enough aftershave at Target or The Art of Shaving, come down to the Moraga Dollar Tree for this:
Any opinions on the Moraga Dollar Tree? Are you happy with how it turned out, or would you have rather waited for another retailer?
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?