Sprouts & Shutters

Sprouts & Shutters: New French Bakery, Candy Store, Fashion Boutiques 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 weekly Sprouts & Shutters column highlights the latest Tri-Valley restaurant, retail and other business news. Cartridge World opened Feb. 27 next to Subway in the Rose Garden shopping center in Danville. The retail chain is the world’s largest specialty retailer of ink and toner printer cartridges and has more than 650 stores in the United States and Canada, including stores in San Ramon and Livermore. Spring has sprung, and so have garden décor options at Danville’s Yard Art, one of the few remaining businesses in the Danville Hotel. Owner Jason Levine has increased his store hours (11 a.m. – 4 p.m. during the week) and has expanded his inventory into the hotel’s …

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Julie Dowling

2:07 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012

Thanks CK. I'll look into this and include it in a future column.   more ›

Poll: Did You Shop Today?

Did you return gifts, use gift cards, look for deals or stay home?

Downtown Danville was pretty crowded on Monday afternoon. That would leave one to believe retail businesses were busy the day after Christmas. Did you go out shopping today? Take our poll and then tell us more in the comments section.

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Where Do You Go If You're In Alamo?

Both downtown Danville and downtown Walnut Creek offer something to shoppers who come from Alamo.

If you live in Alamo and you want to do some serious shopping, which direction do you head? North or south? Downtown Walnut Creek and downtown Danville are both short drives for most people who reside in Alamo. Granted, there are places to shop in Alamo itself. Alamo Plaza and Stone Valley Shopping Center are two of the malls along the town's main strip. However, if you want to hit a major department store or broaden your selection of clothing outlets or restaurants, Alamo residents need to drive one direction or the other on Danville Boulevard to reach one of their neighboring cities' downtown areas. Walnut Creek offers one of the more popular regional shopping districts with Broadway Plaza as well as its shops on Main Street, Locust …

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Wine Wednesdays

Donate a Toy, Sip on Wine and Toast to the Holidays!

Local wineries to celebrate holiday season by helping bring gifts to needy children.

Livermore Valley Wine Country is toasting to an annual tradition festive enough to make even the greenest Grinch change his tune from Bah, humbug to Ho Ho Ho! In this week's Wine Wednesdays, Monique Soltani shows us how Holidays in the Vineyards has Santa Claus coming to town...literally!  Holidays in the Vineyards Date: Saturday, December 3 & Sunday, December 4 Time: 12 to 5 p.m. Cost: Tasting fee varies by winery Location: Participating Livermore Valley Winery tasting rooms Participating wineries include: Bent Creek Winery, Big White House, Bodegas Aguirre Winery, Cedar Mountain Winery, Charles R Vineyards, Chouinard Vineyards, Concannon Vineyard, Crooked Vine Winery, Cuda Ridge Wines, Darcie Kent Vineyards, Eagle Ridge Vineyard, el Sol…

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Video: ABC7 Spotlights Walnut Creek Shoppers Counting Down to Black Friday

The deals are waiting to entice the wallets to open.

Need help deciding where to shop? Not sure what time the stores open? Check out our Black Friday map for store locations and other helpful info.

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Map Out Your Black Friday Holiday Shopping Plans

If you're going to be anywhere in the greater Bay Area this holiday weekend, it's safe to say there's probably a mall open somewhere nearby.

Have you mapped out your Black Friday shopping strategy yet? If not, you'd better get busy. Just figuring out which stores are offering which deals at whatever wee hours of the morning can be a daunting task — especially for the turkey-and-pie impaired. Patch is giving you a head start with this map of East Bay shopping centers and Friday opening times. Scroll over a bubble for more information, including some special events and deals for shoppers. Click the little "x" to close a box. Did we miss something cool? Let us know in the comments below. Here are some highlights of Black Friday deals we've seen offered so far: Hot Deals Walmart Opens: Customers can come in at 10 p.m. Electronics sales begin at midnight. Hot deals: TVs $98 and up…

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Hidden Gems on Hot Summer Days

Ways to stay cool and shop smart this week in the Tri-Valley.

Looking for local places to take your kids where they can enjoy some of the freebies in life? You can shop or simply browse while they are entertained. Did you know that Whole Foods in San Ramon offers a kids club? Just go to the customer service counter to sign up your child. Each time you visit Whole Foods, your child gets a snack. This month, they are featuring a bag of sweet potato chips for each participant. My children love to go on our own scavenger hunt around Whole Foods, looking at and eating all of the free samples, from fresh fruit to sweets in the bakery to sometimes even temptations in the deli area. Happy hunting! My children also love to go to Trader Joe’s in Danville. What makes the Danville location so special? It’s all …

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9-10-11: Here Come The Brides!

East Bay wedding industry will be hopping on the 'I do' day of the year.

One particular date in September will push Debra LaSpina Goldwater's bridal shop, Dori Anne Veils in Castro Valley, over the top. It's 9-10-11, as in Sept. 10, 2011, this year's "it" day for brides. Goldwater will be dressing 15 brides that day — two or three times her average, she said. And that's counting only what she has booked so far.  She has been selling wedding gowns, veils and other bride-to-be accoutrements for 25 years, so Goldwater knows bridal fancies change. Knee-length is the new tea-length, hats are out and strapless is in, she said. But the “dream date” trend has endured for years, Goldwater said. She recalls a mobbed City Hall 23 years ago when she went for her own marriage license.  “We said, ‘What the heck’s going on?’ …

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Garage Sale Roundup: Scuba Gear, Camping Tents, Patio Sets and More

Here's a list of garage sales in Danville, Alamo, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore on Saturday and Sunday.

Here's your weekend roundup of garage sales taking place in the Tri-Valley on Saturday and Sunday (June 11 and 12). Livermore: Pleasanton: Dublin: San Ramon: Danville: Alamo: Know a garage sale missing from our list? Please share it with your neighbors by adding it in the comments box below. You can also advertise your garage sale on Patch's community calendar. It's free!

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Kirsten Branch

9:14 am on Friday, June 10, 2011

Another one for San Ramon: 7628 Northland Pl, San Ramon, CA 94583 (From Davona, turn west on May Wy and left on Northland) Saturday June 11 8 AM - 2 PM No early birds please Furniture Electronics Home decor Good supply of unused items - tags on Clothes Toys Bargain bins And if you love board games/puzzles...don't miss it--even unused ones to be had!   more ›

Sprouts & Shutters

Sprouts & Shutters: New Indian Restaurant,Yoga Studio and Sprouts Farmers Market Update

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

Wonder 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 new Indian restaurant called Masala Time opens July 1 in Lucky Pizza’s old spot on Amador Valley Boulevard in Dublin. Chef Kamal Wand will create Pakistani and Indian Halal dishes such as tandoori fish, chicken tikka masala and goat curry as well as several vegetarian entrees. The restaurant also will offer event catering. Dublin finally has its own yoga studio. Get Fit Yoga opened in April on Village Parkway across from the Dublin Post Office and behind Casper’s Hot Dogs. See a class schedule. Opening updates: Sprouts Farmers Market, covered here on Patch, is set…

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