Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
In September we learned that the New York-based activewear shop Yogasmoga would be opening in Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek and they have now opened where the Athleta popup store used to be, next to Starbucks. However, according to the store manager they will be relocating to the soon-to-be vacated lululemon store, which will be relocating to Broadway Plaza this spring. Talk about musical chairs…
San Miguel Center, Walnut Creek
Looks like it’s time for Dunkin’ Donuts (and coffee) fans to celebrate; according to the latest permit information from Walnut Creek a Dunkin’ Donuts is coming to the San Miguel Center in Walnut Creek diagonally across from Whole Foods and across the street from Broadway Plaza where the parking garage is located. Check out their bakery menu here. Stay tuned to see if this actually happens.
Willows Shopping Center, Concord
UPDATE According to the owner The Jungle is not closing. They “got short lease extension and working on long term lease“.
The indoor children’s play center The Jungle, with massive amounts of jungle gym structures throughout is closing sometime early next year in Willows Shopping Center in Concord, possibly this spring according to an employee I spoke with. Taking its place will be a giant Total Wine shop based on its 15,000 sf footprint. Stay tuned…
1548 Bonanza St, Walnut Creek (photo provided by WC Historical Society)
You can’t walk more than a few blocks in downtown Walnut Creek without strolling past a wine bar or beer cafe but in 1947 there was the Kitty Milk Bar, (located where Hubcaps is).
According to the Walnut Creek Historical Society:
The white building behind the Bar is the first Walnut Creek fire station. The bar was named for Katherine, sister of the owner. It opened in 1947 and was the Copper Skillet before being Hubcaps.
Life sure was different in the 1940s in Walnut Creek. Seems so innocent. More on milk bars here.
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
Continuing with the latest store openings in Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek is the women’s sports clothing store Athleta which opened last week. Below you’ll see the old pop-up location next to Starbucks, also within Broadway Plaza.
Has anyone read this Contra Costa Times guest commentary by former Walnut Creek mayor Kristina Lawson? Apparently members of the Walnut Creek city council traditionally rotate the mayorship among themselves and the youngest council member, Justin Wedel, was passed over for an “almost retired” CPA since the other, older city council members believe, “young people don’t have the requisite time to devote to public service.”
To get a better idea of what’s going on, check out the official Walnut Creek city council photograph here.
From the guest commentary:
Silva, the self-described “senior member of the City Council,” explained that she would not support Wedel because she believed that the council was his third priority, behind his family and his career. She explained in detail that she didn’t think he had the time, or maybe it was that, in her opinion, she thought he didn’t want to devote the time.
Do you feel the Walnut Creek city council is being dismissive of the younger generation or is there something else going on? Should the mayor of Walnut Creek be an elected position?