Berkeleyside » Local business

New Berkeley winery Urbano Cellars throws opening party

Frances Dinkelspiel — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:00:37 +0000

Urbano Cellars took over the old Donkey & Goat space at 2323B Fourth Street. Photo: Fred Dick

For the last two years, Urbano Cellars has had a nomadic existence, storing its barrels of wine at other wineries and not having a place to call home.

The winery, run by Fred Dick and Bob Rawson, had rented space for years at Periscope Cellars on Hollis Street in Emeryville. That operation had to shut down. For a while it looked like the 15-year old Urbano would open a place in Oakland. The longtime friends had found a space near Jack London Square, but it needed retrofitting. The city of Oakland tempted the partners with tax breaks, but had to rescind the offer when Gov. Jerry Brown and the legislature eliminated redevelopment agencies.

Then Donkey & Goat winery moved, in 2011, from its Fourth Street home to new quarters on Fifth near Gilman in Berkeley’s burgeoning “drinks district.” Urbano Cellars took the old space and brought in the 100 barrels and assorted bottles of Zinfandel, Chenin Blanc, and Syrach-Grenache blend that had been scattered around the East Bay.

On Saturday, they are throwing a big party to celebrate the move.

“Donkey and Goat’s space became available,” Dick said earlier this week as he rushed around to ready the place for the Grand Reopening. “Low and behold we had a turnkey winery with everything we needed.”(...)

Read the rest of New Berkeley winery Urbano Cellars throws opening party (282 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: Bob Rawson, Donkey & Goat, Fred Dick, Urbano Cellars

Rare works from Serendipity Books to be auctioned

Frances Dinkelspiel — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:30:01 +0000

Interior of Berkeley's Serendipity Books, which had an estimated one million books. Photos: Ken Sanders

The collection the late Peter Howard amassed for Serendipity Books was so vast that it will take Bonhams six different auctions to sell it off.

Once stuffed into an old winery on University Avenue, the collection, estimated at one million volumes, has now been sorted – and resorted and resorted – for sale.

“The bookstore on University … is a warren of rooms filled to the roof with titles from the mundane and popular to the erudite and obscure,” Catherine Williamson, Bonhams’ director of fine books & manuscripts explained in the auction catalogue. “Peter wanted people to search for their books, looking carefully and hopefully finding not only what they were looking for, but far more.

“While working to clear the store in advance of this first sale (and the others scheduled throughout this year) we have found ourselves going over shelves once, twice, three times and on the fourth time finding something else worth pulling out and putting in the catalog. I‘m sure that is as Peter would have wished it,” said Williamson.(...)

Read the rest of Rare works from Serendipity Books to be auctioned (554 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | 4 comments |
Post tags: Bonham's, Peter Howard, Serendipity Books

Berkeley files suit against owner of blighted Telegraph lot

Frances Dinkelspiel — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:00:17 +0000

The city of Berkeley holds $640,000 in liens against this lot at 2501 Haste Street. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel

The city of Berkeley has filed a lawsuit against Ken Sarachan, telling him they intend to seize his lot at the intersection of Telegraph and Haste to pay off the $640,000 he owes in liens and interest.

Berkeley filed the suit against the businessman in Alameda County Superior Court on January 28^th and served Sarachan’s place of business, Rasputin Records, on Monday, according to Zach Cowan, the city attorney.

“The city is alleging that Mr. Sarachan has not lived up to his agreement to pursue development of the site in a diligent and timely manner,” said Cowan. “As a result, we want to recover the liens we offered to waive if he did so.”

Mr. Sarachan could not be reached for comment. The suit also names Laurie Brown, his wife, as a co-defendant since California is a community property state.(...)

Read the rest of Berkeley files suit against owner of blighted Telegraph lot (407 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | 21 comments |
Post tags: 2501 Haste, Haste and Telegraph, Ken Sarachan, Laurie Brown, Pagoda Project, Zach Cowan

City council to consider switch from Wells Fargo

Lance Knobel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:30:09 +0000

Wells Fargo, the nation's largest mortgage lender, is also the bank for the City of Berkeley. Photo: Lance Knobel

Update, 01.31.12: Wells Fargo spokesperson Ruben Pulido sent us the following statement at 4:30 pm today:

“Wells Fargo is committed to the city of Berkeley. We are working with local leaders to support the community and help people who are facing financial challenges. Over the past three years, Wells Fargo has donated more than $3 million to 89 nonprofits in Berkeley. Wells Fargo works diligently with customers to find solutions that prevent foreclosures. Over the past year, less than 2% of homeowner-occupied loans in our servicing portfolio have proceeded to foreclosure sale. Wells Fargo currently owns less than 10 properties in the Berkeley market.”

Original story: The City of Berkeley might switch its banking from Wells Fargo, seen as one of the major banks at the heart of the financial crisis and mortgage meltdown.

At tomorrow night’s City Council meeting, a proposal by Jesse Arreguín and Darryl Moore asks staff to evaluate shifting the city’s banking relationship from Wells Fargo when the current contract expires at the end of 2012.

“We have a responsibility to show we are investing the taxpayers’ money not only in a fiscally responsible way, but in a socially responsible way,” said Arreguín. “We want to do business with someone who invests in our community.” (...)

Read the rest of City council to consider switch from Wells Fargo (266 words)

By lance. | Permalink | 11 comments |
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Will Berkeley pass a plastic bag ban soon?

Frances Dinkelspiel — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:05:15 +0000

Berkeley drew up a model ordinance about banning plastic bags in 2009, but nothing has happened since then. Photo: Creative Commons

Kriss Worthington is tired of waiting.

More than six years ago, the Berkeley councilmember suggested that the city ban the use of plastic grocery bags.

At the time, the idea was new and Worthington liked the notion of Berkeley leading the nation by passing an environmentally friendly law.

Since then, more than 100 cities, counties and countries have banned the use of plastic grocery bags. In 2007, San Francisco was the first city in the country to pass legislation outlawing the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and pharmacy chains.

Berkeley has done nothing.

“It’s an important environmental policy,” said Worthington. “To me, it’s sort of embarrassing that it was proposed in Berkeley before anywhere else. Now all these other places have policies. It’s time we get a policy.”(...)

Read the rest of Will Berkeley pass a plastic bag ban soon? (474 words)

By Frances Dinkelspiel. | Permalink | 19 comments |
Post tags: Alameda County Waste Management Authority, Jeff Becerra, Kriss Worthington, plastic bag ban

Breaking: Berkeley Lab chooses Richmond for 2nd campus

Tracey Taylor — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:34:30 +0000

Design for the Richmond Field Station Lab campus

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has selected Richmond as the site for its second campus. The Lab annnounced the news this morning on its website, saying the University of California-owned Richmond Field Station site “presents the best opportunity to solve the Lab’s pressing space problems while allowing for long term growth and maintaining the 80-year tradition of close cooperation with the UC Berkeley Campus.”

Three Berkeley-connected sites were on a shortlist of six for the campus. They were: Berkeley Aquatic Park West, located in West Berkeley; Emeryville/Berkeley, (which included properties currently occupied by the Lab in Emeryville and West Berkeley); and Golden Gate Fields, spanning the cities of Berkeley and Albany.

The Lab had originally said it would announce its decision in November 2011, but revised that to “early in 2012″ in late November, saying it needed more time to fully evaluate its options.(...)

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By Tracey Taylor. | Permalink | 10 comments |
Post tags: Berkeley Lab

Darryl Kimble: 27 years cooking breakfast at Bette’s Diner

Sarah Henry — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:00:03 +0000

Chef Darryl Kimble takes a break from behind the stoves to talk breakfast. Photo: Sarah Henry

In the restaurant business, chefs change jobs about as often as the lead in a Superbowl playoff. So to have stayed the course at one spot, worked your way up the ranks almost since the inception of a beloved eating institution, and still genuinely enjoy going to work every day, well, that’s worth noting.

Such is the case for Darryl Kimble, the manager at Bette’s Oceanview Diner on Fourth Street, which celebrates its 30th year in 2012. Kimble has been cooking there for 27 and a half years; he joined the kitchen crew at 19.

The perennially popular restaurant serves breakfast and lunch to an astounding 135,000 people a year, although it only sits about 50 inside.(...)

Read the rest of Darryl Kimble: 27 years cooking breakfast at Bette’s Diner (921 words)

By Sarah Henry. | Permalink | 2 comments |
Post tags: Bette Kroening, Bette's Oceanview Diner, cafe rouge, Darryl Kimble, kirala, Manfred Kroening, Rivoli

Marmot Mountain Works to close after 36 years

Tracey Taylor — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:18:39 +0000

Marmot Mountain Works will close its doors in March after 36 years in Berkeley. Photos: Tracey Taylor

Specialist wilderness equipment store Marmot Mountain Works, which opened on Adeline Street in Berkeley in 1976, will close its doors permanently in March.

Founder and owner Lock Miller said changes in consumer buying habits and the state of the economy have led to a steady decline in sales over the past 5-10 years. The lack of a snow season so far this year was the final straw, he said. Marmot’s 12-strong staff will all lose their jobs.

“The internet is like a whole stack of stores in one corner and people go there to look for the best prices,” Miller said. “It doesn’t help that people are playing golf up in Tahoe right now.”

Tom Purcell, who has managed the store for the past 15 years, said employees have been scrabbling to try to keep the store open, looking to find a possible 11th-hour investor. “I don’t have high hopes — there is a limit to the number of millionaires who want to invest in brick-and-mortar businesses. But I also believe there are people who are passionate about this type of shop,” he said. “[The closure] is going to leave a hole in the Bay Area [mountain store] scene.”(...)

Read the rest of Marmot Mountain Works to close after 36 years (310 words)

By Tracey Taylor. | Permalink | 10 comments |
Post tags: Marmot Mountain Works

Awards tap Berkeley taste makers for national contest

Sarah Henry — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:30:32 +0000

Good Food Awards Berkeley-based judges: Dafna Kory (photo: Jeffery Kong); Michael Pollan (James Collier) and June Taylor (Leigh Connors)

Berkeley’s food mavens will likely be out in force tonight at the Good Food Awards at San Francisco’s Ferry Building and many of the judges for this annual event — sponsored by Seedling Projects and now in its second year — hail from this city’s gourmand ranks. But only one Berkeley name may find a place on the winners’ podium.

The concept behind this socially and ethically responsible food contest is to highlight “best in show” from five regions of the country in various edible categories. This year, prizes will go to makers of beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, pickles, preserves, and — a new area — spirits.

At last year’s soirée — with a keynote address by restaurateur and sustainable food champion Alice Waters — three Berkeley winners emerged in the beer, charcuterie, and pickles categories.(...)

Read the rest of Awards tap Berkeley taste makers for national contest (741 words)

By Sarah Henry. | Permalink | No comment |
Post tags: Aaron French, Alex Hozven, Alice Waters, cafe rouge, dafna kory, Good Food Awards, Michael Pollan, Rick Debeaord

The “big clean-up” of downtown Berkeley begins

Tracey Taylor — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:45:52 +0000

An $850,000 clean-up operation will take place in the 30-block downtown Berkeley area over the next three months. Photo: Tracey Taylor

A clean-up has begun in downtown Berkeley, part of a larger campaign to improve the area’s environment and boost economic development. It is being funded to the tune of $1.2 million by the Property Based Business Improvement District (PBID) that was passed by 71% of local property owners last June.

Last Friday, following three days of training, ten members of the new Downtown Berkeley Association (DBA) Cleaning Team in their neon yellow shirts hit the streets en masse. The first day was spent painting furniture and fixtures, and general litter removal and weeding. On Sunday, the team started pressure washing sidewalks on Shattuck north of University.

The downtown cleaning crew: Front row, L to R: Jerrid Hilliard, Drakori Glaze, Jamie Bush, Valentina Austin, Larry Kazuo. Back row, L to R: Kirk Jacob, Marcus Miles, Okoye Jones, Nelson Chavarria, Operations Manager Lance Gorée

The intention is to deep-clean and beautify the entire 30-block area of Downtown Berkeley, and the work will include the removal of all graffiti and gum stains, painting all furniture and fixtures, and new landscaping, including new hanging flower baskets. Around $850,000 is being allocated to beautification services and improvements.

The DBA hired Louisville KY-based firm Block By Block to oversee the clean-up and ambassador services. The company has worked on similar projects in downtown Oakland, Santa Monica, and Pasadena, among others. Block By Block is also committed to hiring employees locally, as well as second-chance programs for hiring from social service agency partners.(...)

Read the rest of The “big clean-up” of downtown Berkeley begins (89 words)

By Tracey Taylor. | Permalink | 12 comments |
Post tags: Downtown Berkeley, Downtown Business Association, PBID