Startup Brewery and Blue Star Moms Join Forces

Schubros Brewery will be participating as a donor, sponsor and volunteer, offering its products and time to help out at various fundraising events.

Ian Schuster might be starting a new brewery in the Tri-Valley, but he hasn't forgotten his past and the people he wants to help in the future. Schubros Brewery announced a partnership last week with the East Bay Blue Star Moms and the Northern California Chapter of Gold Star Moms.  (Click this link to read a full story on Schubros Brewery.) Schuster is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, former Surface Warfare Officer and veteran of foreign wars in regions including the Persian Gulf and Kosovo. “Having friends who are no longer here, I’ve seen the hurt that it has caused for their families; so, the goals of the Blue and Gold Star Moms are very dear to me personally,” said Ian Schuster, president and CEO of Schubros Brewery. “Schubros is …

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Terry Parris Jr.

9:56 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Randi Starr: I'm happy to clear this up for you -- he is. Thanks!   more ›

Historical Home Makeover of the James Root House

You may have noticed that the distinctive period building on Railroad Avenue moved last year, and is getting a total makeover. This week we examined the roots of the home that housed some of the town's earliest residents.

If you have been around Danville for a while you may have noticed that historical buildings tend to move from time to time. One of the latest to move is the James Root house at 90 Railroad Ave. The home, designated as a heritage resource on the Town’s “Survey of Historically Significant Resources,” was moved forward on its property this fall, to be closer to Railroad Ave.  It is also being restored, with an added new development on the rear of the property. The new two-story building in the back will feature office space on the second floor, and retail or café/restaurant space on the ground floor, according to the Town of Danville’s principal planner, David Crompton.  This is the second time the James Root house has moved since it was …

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Kirsten Branch

9:46 am on Monday, February 6, 2012

The Alamo Cemetery is amazing! One of my "to dos" is to attend one of their pioneer reenactments at the cemetery, where Museum of the San Ramon Valley docents play the parts of many of the key figures in local history. They usually hold this around Halloween.   more ›

Sprouts & Shutters

Sprouts & Shutters: Pet Stores, Pitas, Poker and More

Here's the latest roundup of retail, restaurant and other business news in the Tri-Valley area.

Wondering what’s moving into your neighborhood shopping center? Our biweekly Sprouts & Shutters column highlights the latest Tri-Valley restaurant, retail and other business news. Chipotle Mexican Grill is coming back to Danville. The burrito and taco restaurant chain, which closed its downtown eatery several years ago, is set to open in the Danville Square Shopping Center near Trader Joe’s. Stay tuned for an opening date. Meanwhile, you can eat at nearby Chipotle restaurants in San Ramon or Dublin. La Buena Vida recently closed its Danville Livery store. The small boutique sold European-inspired home décor and gourmet foods next door to Games Unlimited.   Danville will soon get a second Pet Food Express. The Bay Area based pet food and …

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Terry Parris Jr.

9:33 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

What business are you referring to? Chipolte?   more ›

Hey Business Owners! Claim Your Listing on Danville Patch

Patch Places has all of the info one might need for local restaurants, salons, shops and more—make it yours!

When Patch launched in Danville in February 2010, editors and contributors ventured to local businesses to collect information for our directory. The result: Patch Places. Patch Places is the spot to find descriptions, hours, accepted payment methods and more for spots around town. You can even see what your neighbors think of a business before you try it or write your own review. But local businesses get extra bonuses when they claim their free listing. Owners or managers can sign in and search for their business. Underneath the photos, there is a box with the question: Do you own or manage this location? Claim it! Just click Claim it! and a form will pop up asking for contact information and authorization to claim it. Within a few days, …

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Wine Wednesdays

Concannon Introduces New Irish Whiskey

Local winery unites with one of Ireland's legendary distilleries to release Concannon Irish Whiskey.

Happy Whiskey Wednesday! Hmm. We can get used to that! Monique Soltani in her Wine Oh.tv website shows how Concannon Vineyards is branching out with an Irish whiskey release. Concannon Irish Whiskey will feature a pinch of Petite Sirah in a collaboration with one of Ireland's legenday distilleries. It can be found at specialty shops and fine liquor stores with the suggested retail price of $24.99 for a 750 ml bottle. For more information, visit the Wine Oh.tv site here.

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Monique Soltani

12:19 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012

Me Too! YUM and YUM! Monique:)   more ›

East Bay Loses 4,000 Jobs In December

Number of jobs takes an unexpected tumble even though the local unemployment rate dropped

The East Bay unexpectedly shed 4,000 jobs in December, a month that traditionally sees an increase in employment opportunities. The job loss was in contrast to the region's unemployment rate, which showed slight declines in both Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The jobless rate measures employment among people who live in these communities. It counts people who are willing and available for work. Those who have given up searching are not included. The number of jobs represents what's available in businesses in the region. Some employees come in from outside the area. In December, the total number of jobs in the East Bay dropped from 959,000 the month before to 955,000. Officials at the state Employment Development Department said over …

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Get Great Meal Deals During Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week

Enjoy a bargain lunch or dinner at participating Tri-Valley restaurants the week of Jan. 21 - 29.

Cutting back on dining out? You can afford to indulge a bit more during a special week of dining deals offered at participating restaurants throughout the Tri-Valley. During the week of Jan. 21–29, the Tri-Valley hosts the second annual The Taste of the Tri-Valley Restaurant Week, a culinary celebration coinciding with California Restaurant Month. You don’t need any special tickets or passes to take advantage of the dining deals. Simply show up at any of the participating restaurants between Jan. 21–29. The Tri-Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, a destination marketing organization for the Tri-Valley cities, launched the inaugural event last year. This year 30 restaurants from all five Tri-Valley cities are participating. The following …

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Sprouts & Shutters: Burgers, Bars and Bloomingdale's

Here's the latest roundup of retail, restaurant and other business news in the Tri-Valley area.

Wondering what’s moving into your neighborhood shopping center? Our biweekly Sprouts & Shutters column highlights the latest Tri-Valley restaurant, retail and other business news. A Yarn Less Raveled opened in Danville’s Rose Garden shopping center near Navlet’s Garden Center on Nov. 12. In addition to selling yarns and related accessories, the new store will start offering workshops in February. To see the workshop schedule and browse a list of brands carried by A Yarn Less Raveled, visit ayarnlessraveled.com. Also new to the Rose Garden shopping center is Home Select. Owner Mike Giosso says the new business is a “one stop design center for homeowners” renovating their kitchen, bathrooms or flooring. The new remodeling showroom opens Feb…

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PMI Cuts Jobs At Walnut Creek Headquarters

Home mortgage insurance company is facing bankruptcy.

Update: 12 noon Jan. 13: With comments from PMI vice president. PMI Mortgage Insurance, whose 2011 wound down with disastrous news about the economic future of the company, has started the new year with layoffs. PMI, which was one of the largest employers in Walnut Creek, declined to state the number of positions lost, but the Contra Costa Times reported the number was 155, based on a document filed with the state labor authorities. "Essentially," wrote Bill Horning, PMI vice president, in an email to Patch, "all employees remaining are located in Walnut Creek." PMI stopped writing new home mortgage insurance last August after the Arizona Department of Insurance, citing inadequate company funds to back up policies, took control of PMI. "…

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