Wondering what new businesses are opening and changing in your town? Our biweekly “Sprouts & Shutters” column highlights restaurant, retail and other business news in the Central Contra Costa cities of Pleasant Hiill, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, and Concord.
Some Orinda news: Yan’s Restaurant is set to open at the end of October, replacing the recently closed Hsiangs. Yan’s Chinese Bistro, like Hsiangs, specializes in Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine with dishes like Szechuan Fried Prawns, Mango Fish Fillets and Spicy Orange Flavored Baby Pork Chops. Yan’s has two other restaurants, one in Walnut Creek and another in Alamo. The manager said that the new Yan’s will be similar to the one that closed a few months ago in Lafayette. For more about the new restaurant and to browse a menu, visit yanschinabistro.com.
Lafayette’s new Susie Cakes, first covered in an August Sprouts column, celebrates with a grand opening sock-hop on Oct. 27 from 1 – 4 p.m. The whole family is invited to dance to 50s music, enjoy kids’ activities, sample desserts and enter a raffle to win a cake each month for a year. The new bakery is located on Mt. Diablo Boulevard next to Pizza Antica.
A new family-owned restaurant specializing in California cuisine opened Oct. 11 in Fig Tree’s old space on Oak Park Boulevard in Pleasant Hill. Co-owner and executive chef Gerardo Wence, who brings 18 years of culinary experience (including a brief stint at 1515 Restaurant) to his new Wence’s Restaurant, hand selects the seasonal produce and fresh seafood he uses in his dishes. The full-service restaurant features a full bar, patio seating and a large menu of specialty seafood plates, steaks, burgers, salads, fish tacos and more.
Pizza My Way is set to open Friday on Contra Costa Boulevard next to Subway. Pleasant Hill resident Derek Mashal, who also owns Pizza My Way in Pacific Grove, says his new full-service restaurant specializes in gourmet pizzas such as Chicken Masterpiece (fancy twisted crust, white sauce, mozzarella, fresh garlic, mushrooms, marinated grilled chicken topped with fresh cilantro and lemon black pepper). You’ll also find unusual gourmet topping options like Alaskan shrimp and smoked salmon. Learn more and see the menu at pizza-myway.com.
Walnut Creek’s new Mixed Grain offers hearty yet healthful Korean dishes, including its signature “The Works,” made with mixed-grain rice, eleven different veggies and your choice of meat or vegetarian substitute. Mixed Grain opened Sept. 19 in Koreana Kitchen’s old space on Bonzanza next to Hubcaps.
Remodeling your kitchen or bathroom? Accent European Kitchen & Bath is relocating its Broadway Shopping Plaza store to San Francisco and heavily discounting all its display cabinetry. The sale runs until the end of October, when the store expects to close. Learn more about the custom Italian cabinetry store at accentkitchen.com.
Opening Update: Chick-Fil-A pushed its opening date back yet again. According to the national chain’s website, Walnut Creek’s controversial new fast-food eatery is set to open on Main Street on Nov. 8--just after the election. You can read earlier Patch coverage about planned protests and reader feedback here.
Two new stores opened in Concord’s Sunvalley shopping center on Oct. 1: The new Fresh and the new Gail both sell apparel for men and women. Fresh features brands like True Religion, Seven Jeans and Rock Revival. Gail’s garb appeals to teens and young men and women with brands like Fatal, Tall T and Marc Ecko. You’ll find Fresh on the lower level across from Shoe Palace and Gail on the lower level near Macy’s Women’s.
You have just a few more chances to go antiquing in Concord before Concord’s new monthly Antique Faire closes for the season. This Sunday’s fair takes place in Todos Santos Plaza from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and features antiques, handmade arts and other collectibles. The final shows are Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. The fair then resumes next spring. For a market map, visit concordantiquefaire.com.
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:
- Mooyah and Lottie's Creamery in Walnut Creek
- Mighty Fine Guitars and Venture in Lamorinda
- Chop Chop Korean BBQ in Pleasant Hill
- Barka Lounge and Ravioli's in Concord
Know of a business opening or closing in Walnut Creek, Lamorinda, 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.
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About this column: A biweekly roundup of retail, restaurant and other business news in the Central Contra Costa area.
