The Christmas tree is now up at Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek. Same decorations as last year but fun to see this time of year. More Broadway Plaza events are listed below:
The Christmas tree is now up at Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek. Same decorations as last year but fun to see this time of year. More Broadway Plaza events are listed below:
It’s that time again, Santa’s Workshop, aka photo studio, has been set up in the back of Broadway Plaza across from Boudin Bakery. Photos with Santa will be available beginning November 17th through December 24th. The schedule is:
Monday – Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
Christmas Eve: 9AM – 5PM
Santa’s Breaks, Mon – Sun 2-3PM, Christmas Eve 1PM – 1:30PM
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.
Back in August I noted that Starbucks was opening up in Broadway Plaza’s Macy’s in downtown Walnut Creek, and they are now open for business. There is no sign outside indicating a Starbucks, but it’s literally right inside at the corner near Haagen-Daaz.
Check out the cool wall decoration:
Now downtown Broadway Plaza has two Starbucks. They also just bought La Boulange Bakery around the corner (soon to be serving Starbucks coffee), Barnes and Noble has a Starbucks cafe inside, and there is another Starbucks a stone’s throw away in downtown Walnut Creek as well. Does anyone feel like there are too many Starbucks in downtown Walnut Creek? On a side note, I downloaded the Starbucks app on my iPhone to try out the payment by phone and think it’s pretty cool how gift cards can be stored on the phone.
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.
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 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?
Way back in December of last year I noted that the circular bench next to Nordstrom in the back of Broadway Plaza had been removed, but it looks like it’s coming back. According to a Nordstrom Employee I spoke with recently, there will be a circular bench with a tree or some kind of shrubbery in the center. I’m glad this is coming back!
The construction next to this is for a handicap ramp.
Last week I noted that Diane’s Beach Wear had moved a couple of stores down in Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, and now Toss Designs, a “San Francisco Bay Area design house” featuring “totes, travel bags and all accessories in between” has opened up a temporary pop up store in this location until late January. Apparently they are testing the Walnut Creek waters and may permanently relocate somewhere in Broadway Plaza if they like what they see.
Toss Designs has locations in San Francisco and San Anselmo in Marin as well as being carried by retailers around the country. They have a fresh design aesthetic and the accessories displayed throughout the store make for a fun browsing experience. You may notice an alphabetical letter on their bags. Those are actually monograms that can be customized and they also sell stick-on letters for a less expensive option.
Check out some of their cool designs:
Toss Designs is located in Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek right next to Nordstrom until late January.
Last December this vending machine surrounded by exotic vases in Broadway Plaza next to Macy’s was the Vending Machine of the week. Now look what it has turned into. A giant Diet Coke ad. Part of the charm of Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek is the lack of blatant advertising. Even then it’s usually related to stores within Broadway Plaza itself which is fine. This is just crass. Bring back the vases Broadway Plaza, bring back the vases!
I’m hoping Coke ads plastered around the old Le Virage restaurant is not coming next.