Wondering what new businesses are opening and changing in your town? Our biweekly “Sprouts & Shutters” column highlights restaurant, retail and other business news in Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Concord.
Need help planning a kid’s birthday party or elaborate corporate event? Two Orinda moms recently launched The Garden Party Company, a new service that handles all aspects of your party from planning to cleanup. The “Afternoon Tea” package, for example, includes a server, table menu, China for ten, fresh-baked scones, fresh preserves and butter, cream tea or coffee, decorated table and chairs and custom decorated bunting. Learn more about the company and view party packages at thegardenpartycompany.com.
Plenty of local education centers focus on math skills. Now there’s a new school in Lafayette that helps students in grades K- 12 improve their writing skills. The Writing Studio provides writing courses that include class instruction, writing practice, peer review and one-on-one consultation. The Writing Studio opened last month on Golden Gate Way near the library. Learn more at lafayettewritingstudio.com.
Need some sparkle to spruce up that holiday evening dress? Bracchiale, a new jewelry and accessories store, opened last month across from Nordstrom in the Broadway Plaza. The small Fairfield-based chain — with retail stores in Santa Monica, Los Angeles and now Walnut Creek — sells fashion necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings and scarves. Learn more about the new store and browse the collection at bracchialestyle.com.
Opening Update: Le Gateau Elegant, previewed earlier on Patch, opened its new Walnut Creek bakery Nov. 13 on Newell Avenue next to Babushka Russian Deli.
A few Walnut Creek shutters to report: Art & Science of Eyewear and A Colorful Mind recently closed. The Right Start and Footcandy will be closing at the end of the year. You can get steep discounts during those two stores’ going-out-of-business sales.
The Chicago-born Corner Bakery Café will open its newest eatery soon in downtown Pleasant Hill. The chain bakery offers a large menu of made-to-order items ranging from breakfast pastries to egg dishes to seasonal soups and paninis. You’ll also find hand-roasted Java City coffee, Mighty Leaf teas and freshly baked desserts. The new bakery will move into former Yan Can and Kaplan Tutoring spaces on Crescent Drive. Find out more at cornerbakerycafe.com.
Pleasant Hill kicks off the holiday season with Light Up the Night this Wednesday, Nov. 28. Starting at 5 p.m. in downtown Pleasant Hill, you can shop at the holiday arts and crafts fair, meet Santa, ride on horse-drawn carriages, watch the tree lighting and even enjoy free handmade cookies (courtesy of the DVC culinary students). For details, visit the Downtown Pleasant Hill facebook page.
Craving curry? Spice Grill, a full-service Indian restaurant, opened last month in Concord on Willow Pass Road next to El Salvador. The new eatery, which specializes in Northern Indian cuisine, replaced Biryani Mania. For more information, see Spice Grill’s facebook page and Yelp reviews.
Opening Update: G by Guess, previewed in an August column, is now open in the Sunvalley Shopping Center. The new clothing store, a division of GUESS, markets “fashion for the next generation of men and women.” It’s located on the upper level across from Gap.
Learn about the sale of Concord’s new My Dawg House in Patch's My Dawg House Sold to Oakland Owner and the new Pacific Service Credit Union in Pacific Credit Union Opens in Concord.
Patch is inviting East Bay business owners to its next Main Street U, a free workshop about social media and online marketing. The workshop is 8:30 a.m., Dec. 13, at Hotel Shattuck in Berkeley. For more details or to RSVP, click here.
Want to find out what else is opening in the East Bay? Sprouts & Shutters now covers 21 cities on 18 Patch sites. Read the latest columns for the Tri-Valley, Berkeley/Oakland and Milpitas/Tri-City communities.
Did you miss Patch's last retail and restaurant roundup? Read about these and more in our last Sprouts & Shutters column:
- Francesca's Collections and Yan's Restaurant in Lamorinda
- Freebirds World Burrito and Redux Bistro & Lounge in Walnut Creek
- Zachary's Pizza update in Pleasant Hill
- FHL Styles and Wentling Studios in Concord
Know of a business opening or closing in Lamorinda, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill or Concord? Please tell Patch about it for a future Sprouts & Shutters column. Simply add it to this short form. Or send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.
For more local business news, follow Patch on Twitter@EBayPatchBiz.
About this column: A biweekly roundup of retail, restaurant and other business news in the Central Contra Costa area.
