Sprouts & Shutters: Bombay Nick's, Shoe Biz, Build-A-Bear and More

Wondering what’s moving into your neighborhood shopping center? Our weekly Sprouts & Shutters column highlights the latest Tri-Valley restaurant, retail and other business news.

San Francisco’s Shoe Biz is opening its first East Bay store in Danville’s Blackhawk Plaza. The popular purveyor of funky footwear first launched on Haight Street back in 1979. Today Shoe Biz stores carry everything from Hello Kitty Vans to black tapestry ankle boots. The store is set to open in the new building next to Francesca’s Collections around Thanksgiving. Browse the selection at shoebizsf.com.

Prim Affordable Couture closed its Danville Livery location last month. But you can still browse the boutique’s eco-friendly women’s clothing, accessories and furnishings at the original Prim in Pleasanton.

Pooch need a little pampering? San Ramon’s new Elite Canine offers doggie daycare and specialty grooming services reminiscent of a day spa. Here canines can get vanilla blueberry facials, pedicures, paw massages and color enhancing conditioner treatments. Elite Canine even offers taxi service and canine birthday parties. Elite Canine opened in July on San Ramon Valley Boulevard next to Kelly Moore paint. Learn more at elite-canine.com.

Sample Tri-Valley foods and wines at Dublin’s Splatter: Not Your Ordinary Food, Wine & Art Festival on Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. at Emerald Glen Park. Taste food from local eateries like Vito’s Express, Johnny Garlic’s and Eddie Papa’s plus sip wines from Darcie Kent, Cancannon, Wente and more. Visitors can also enjoy art, live music, carnival games and creative events such a chef demos on a culinary stage and unique performances by a "bubblesmith," chalk artist and balloon sculptor. An aerial fireworks show at dusk tops off the daylong event. The festival is free but there is an entry fee for the Tasting Pavilion. For more information and to order your “tasting passport,” visit the Dublin Rec Guide website.

Build-A-Bear Workshop reopens in Pleasanton’s Stoneridge Shopping Center on Oct. 5, unveiling one of six newly designed concept stores in the country. According to the company, the new interactive store “merges the Build-A-Bear Workshop hands-on bear-making process with the power of technology.” With the pending closure of Walnut Creek’s Build-A-Bear, Pleasanton’s new store should be hopping.

Want to venture beyond Starbucks for your morning brew? Livermore’s Bombay Nick’s Chai Bar specializes in chai drinks such as Spicy Simla and Choco Chai as well as wellness teas such as Holistic Tumeric and Tulsi Leaf Tea. The new teahouse, which opened June 18 on East Avenue in the Chardonnay Center, also provides tea tasting and sales of its Cardamom & Curry retail line. Learn more at bombaynickschaibar.com.

It’s that time of year again: Halloween pop-up stores are creeping into town with their ghoulish garb and devilish décor. Spirit Halloween opens on Amador Plaza Road in Dublin, on Rosewood Drive in Pleasanton and on Arroyo Vista in Livermore. Halloween City opens in Livermore in the Vasco Plaza and in San Ramon (corporation is hiring for a San Ramon location but could not be reached regarding specific location). These seasonal stores typically open by mid September and close a day or two after the holiday.

Patch Business Workshop: Patch is inviting local businesses to attend a free workshop about social media and online marketing in Danville at 1 p.m. Sept. 26 at Danville's Town Hall. Click this link for more information or to RSVP to our Main Street U.

Did you miss Patch's last retail and restaurant roundup? Read about these and more in our last Sprouts & Shutters column:  

• and in Danville
• in San Ramon
• and in Dublin
• and in Pleasanton 
• and in Livermore

Know of a business opening or closing in the Tri-Valley? Please tell Patch about it for a future Sprouts & Shutters column. Simply add it to . Or send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.

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