Sprouts & Shutters: New Toy Store, REI Grand Opening and More

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

The Amazing Wok, a full-service Chinese restaurant, opened Sept. 23 on Camino Tassajara on Crow Canyon Road next door to Aryana Afghan Cuisine. Amazing Wok replaces Brandy Ho’s Hunan Food, a small San Francisco-based restaurant chain, which closed its Danville location Sept. 22. See The Amazing Wok’s expansive menu options, such as Basil Chicken, Hot & Sour Wonton Soup and Steamed Fish with Ginger & Scallion. (Thanks to the Patch reader who sent the news tip.)

Restoration Hardware closed its Blackhawk Plaza store at the end of September after its lease expired and consolidated with the Walnut Creek store. (Thanks to the Patch reader who sent in the news tip.) Brookstone’s holiday store will move into Restoration Hardware’s old space in early November and stay through the holiday season.

The children’s clothing store Sweetie Face made a short move into a much larger space in Danville’s Blackhawk Plaza, celebrating with a grand opening event Oct. 15. Sweetie Face, which had occupied a small temporary space in the plaza since , is now in Georgiou’s old spot. Georgiou moved its clothing boutique next door and across from Dollhouse.

Opening Update: Danville's and opened to the public Friday. In Miglet’s new retail section, you can buy fresh-made salads, sandwiches, granola parfaits and pizzettes and other gluten-free goodies.

Vitality Bowls, a quick-serve eatery with a health food spin, opened Oct. 10 in San Ramon’s Market Place next to the shuttered El Balazo. San Ramon residents Tara and Roy Gilad say their new restaurant focuses on fresh, fast, healthy options like acai fruit bowls, smoothies and paninis. Learn more and see the menu at vitalitybowls.com.

Also new to San Ramon’s Market Place is Learning Express, a toy store set to open next to Nob Hill and Fitness 19 on Nov. 11. The locally owned franchise toy store will carry educational toys, puzzles, science kits, books, dolls and other toys by manufacturers like American Girl, LEGO, Playmobil, Melissa & Doug and Alex. You can get a preview of what the new store will carry at learningexpress.com.

Chevy’s parent company, Real Mex Restaurants Inc., Oct. 4. There is no word yet on the whether any restaurants will close. San Ramon’s Chevy’s is located in the same shopping center as the former Marie Callender’s, after its parent company filed for bankruptcy.

Opening Update: BevMo, previewed in the , opened Sept. 30 in the Diablo Plaza shopping center in San Ramon. Read more about BevMo’s opening day on .

The long wait for Dublin’s new REI store is almost over: The outdoor gear retailer opens Oct. 28, celebrating with a weekend-long grand opening event featuring free continental breakfasts, gifts for first 200 people through the door, author signings, athlete appearances, story times and more. Get the details at rei.com/stores/143.

Mathnasium, a math learning center with locations throughout the United States, opened in Dublin Oct. 1 on Amador Valley Boulevard next to Dollar Tree. Mathnasium has other Tri-Valley tutoring centers in San Ramon and Pleasanton.

Opening Update: Target celebrated the grand opening of its new 135,000 square-foot store in Dublin’s Fallon Gateway Shopping Center on Oct. 9. Read more on Patch in .

Opening Update: , previewed in the , opened Sept. 20 in Dublin Boulevard near the new Koko Fit Club.

Formosa Café will open at the end of October or early November on Stanley Boulevard in Pleasanton. Owner Amy Fung says her new casual eatery will serve Asian cuisine, including Chinese food, sushi, Thai dishes and some Vietnamese curries. Formasa Café replaces Bo Happy Chinese Cuisine.

Glad Tidings, a Christian book and gift store, moved from its Court Furniture Plaza location (next to Trader Joes) to a smaller space next to the newly opened Domus on Main Street in September. Glad Tidings replaces Euphoria Nail and Body Bar.

Sweet Sinsations, an online “cupcake and dessert bar,” opened recently in Pleasanton. The new bakery operates out of a commercial kitchen on Koll Parkway, where customers can pick up their treats like Chocolate Explosion cupcakes, “Cake in a Jar,” Cake Pops, candy dipped fruit and more. Sweet Sinsations offers free delivery to residents in Livermore, Pleasanton and Dublin. See the dessert menu at sweetsinsdesserts.com.

Opening Update: After months of planning, Pleasanton’s moved into its new space Oct. 7. As previewed in the , Fleet Feet decided to move from its space at 310 Main Street because the larger space at 234 Main St. allowed the sports store to expand inventory.

Ashley Interiors opened a new home remodeling showroom in Livermore at the end of September on First Street behind Kelly Moore Paints. The new store displays kitchen, bath and flooring products and is open to designers, contractors and the general public.

Dawn Schubert Photography moved into a new studio on South Livermore across from Uncle Yu's. Livermore photographer Dawn Schubert’s new studio features a gallery of her work and a larger portrait studio. See Schubert's online portfolio at livermore-photographer.com.

Opening Update: The Winemaker’s Pour House, previewed in the , opened Oct. 7 next to Demitris Tavern on First Street in downtown Livermore. Visit winemakerspourhouse.com to see a sample menu and read more about the wine bar’s featured Livermore wineries.

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

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

Know of a restaurant or shop opening or closing in the Tri-Valley? Please send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.