Category Archives: Local business
Nano-brewpub and lounge planned for Alcatraz Ave.
A new nano-brewpub in the Lorin District recently won approval from Berkeley’s zoning commissioners, and looks poised to join the ranks of Berkeley’s burgeoning beer scene later this year.
Owner Viet Vu, who lives in San Francisco with his wife, said he’s aiming to open the spot, at 1763 Alcatraz Ave., within seven months. Vu, 37, said the atmosphere will be intimate and laid-back, with several kinds of house-brewed beer for sale along with 10-13 other local craft beers to drink on-site. Wine and light snacks will be available, but distilled alcohol will not be served. … Continue reading »
Sierra Nevada to open beer tasting room on 4th St.
Sierra Nevada, the craft brewing company known for its pale ale, is planning to open a tasting room on Fourth Street by the end of the year.
The Chico-based company will serve around 16 different types of beer in a 1,700-square-foot space in the Read Building at 2031 Fourth St., next door to Title Nine. There will be a long bar and a number of high tables. The emphasis will be on beer, not food.
“It will be a small, intimate tasting room,” said Sierra Nevada spokesman Ryan Arnold. “It will not be a place where you get a meal or lounge around. We want you to be next to the bar where you are engaged with the staff, learning about beer.” … Continue reading »
New Berkeley home found for displaced food trucks
Three food truck vendors who were displaced by UC Berkeley’s construction at Sproul Plaza have been found a new location at the corner of Bancroft and College. According to an announcement from Mayor Tom Bates, the vendors will be able to renew their permits to operate in the new location for an additional two years.
Michael Koh, owner of Dojo Dog, Ann Vu, owner of Healthy Heavenly Foods, and Jack Huynh, owner of Kettle Corn Star, were forced to vacate their previous location near the intersection of Telegraph and Bancroft in December, when construction started.
Koh spoke at the Telegraph Avenue brainstorming convened by the mayor last month, and local councilmember Kriss Worthington had asked the city manager to assist in the relocation. Worthington’s referral is on the City Council’s action agenda for tonight’s meeting.
Worthington’s referral points out that, although the Lower Sproul project construction has been planned for years, the food vendors were given just two days’ notice to vacate their locations. … Continue reading »
City approves sour-beer brewery for ‘beer geeks’
A new West Berkeley craft brewery, with a focus on ‘sour beer,’ was approved last week by a city zoning panel.
Business reps for The Rare Barrel, at 937 Carleton St., said they’ve already “started brewing and barrel aging,” and expect their first sour beers to be ready towards the end of the year. (The public entrance to the facility, which is not yet open, will be located at 932 Parker St.) The 14,000 square-foot beer production facility will offer beer and food on site — with 42 seats in a 1,380-square-foot sales area — as well as beer for sale to-go.
According to The Rare Barrel’s application to the city, sour beer goes through a different aging process than traditional beer. It’s produced in smaller volumes and, rather than a three-day fermentation process in a large tank, it’s left for a week in a smaller tank, then aged for a year in oak wine barrels. … Continue reading »
Zachary’s taps local talent for 30th anniversary
Berkeley-born and raised designer Ian Ransley loves Zachary’s Pizza. Who in Berkeley doesn’t? But Ransley has found a way to graphically express his admiration for the famous deep-dish, Chicago-style pies — not once, but a dozen times.
First-inspired in 2005 by his then 7-year-old son, Dylan, Ransley has become a frequent entrant in the periodic contest that Zachary holds to design a poster for the walls of its four restaurants. And he has won the competition no less than 11 times. So, when 2013 rolled around and Zachary’s sought out someone to create a special look for their 30th anniversary T-shirt and related items, they naturally turned to Ransley, who came up with another eye-catching illustration. … Continue reading »
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
CRUZ SKATE SHOP The world of female roller derby competition is flourishing, and California’s first brick-and-mortar derby shop has relocated to Berkeley. Sandy “Motley” Cruz and Marci Daniels decided to move Cruz Skate Shop from the San Francisco’s Mission District to 2505 San Pablo Ave. (near Dwight) to be closer to customers in the East Bay and in Sacramento, Chico, Stockton and other Central Valley cities. Cruz Skate Shop is the only place where people can come to try on a variety of roller skates, said Daniels. “We specialize in outfitting roller derby girls, but we serve recreational roller skaters, too.” The store had a soft opening March 2 and will hold a grand opening celebration Saturday, March 16.
Berkeley a jobs magnet, restaurants, Apple have impact
Berkeley has lower unemployment rates than the county and the state, and the city remains something of a jobs magnet, according to the first ever quarterly economic development report prepared for tonight’s Council meeting by the city’s economic development department.
The report, which draws together data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey with the city’s own tracking of retail sales tax and other sources, provides a portrait of Berkeley’s economy following the national recession and the slow recovery in recent years.
“Over time, what you’ll get with these reports is a very good overview of what’s going on in Berkeley,” said Michael Caplan, economic development manager for the city. This week’s report will be followed by a workshop focusing on Telegraph Avenue in May, and a second report and second workshop in the second half of the year. … Continue reading »
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
NEXT DOOR RESTAURANT Looks like the old Addie’s Pizza Pie space at 3290 Adeline St. has a new tenant and a new eatery called Next Door Restaurant should be opening there soon. Addie’s, a New York-style pizzeria, was run by Jennifer Millar, who owns Sweet Adeline Bakeshop a block down the street, and Thomas Schnetz of Doña Tomás, Flora and Tacubaya fame. It closed in May last year after barely two years in business. Interestingly, one of the two names on the ABC application (pictured left) is Henry August Alvarez III. Could this be one and the same as the director of the San Francisco Housing Authority? More details to follow. … Continue reading »
Tackling Telegraph Avenue: Is this time different?
Nearly 200 Berkeleyans came to Willard Middle School on Thursday night to hear and offer ideas about improving Telegraph Avenue, which has suffered in recent years from declining retail sales, empty lots and plenty of handwringing.
“I have great enthusiasm and great optimism that we’re going to make things happen,” said Mayor Tom Bates after the meeting. “I’m not going to hold back, it’s too important an issue. I’m going to really immerse myself in the issue. I’m not going to let this drop. I have this term of office, and I intend to fully maximize what I can do.”
Bates said there are a number of factors that mean current efforts could really mean a new start for Telegraph, particularly the three concrete projects planned for the unused corners of Telegraph and Haste, and the university’s redevelopment of the student center on Bancroft Way, which could encourage much greater activity and flow of pedestrians. … Continue reading »
New building proposed for Sequoia site on Telegraph Ave.
The owners of the property at 2441 Haste St. at Telegraph, scene of a devastating fire in Nov. 2011 that destroyed the five-story Sequoia Apartments, have submitted a proposal to the city of Berkeley to build a new 42-unit, 43,000 sq ft apartment building.
The project would also include retail spaces intended for two restaurants that burned down that night: Café Intermezzo and Raleigh’s Bar & Grill.
The proposal, which was submitted to the city by Kenneth and Gregory Ent on Friday, Feb. 22, would be designed by Berkeley architects Kahn Design Associates, working with developer ROEM. … Continue reading »
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
GORGEOUS AND GREEN Gorgeous and Green, which specializes in local flowers and local, sustainably made gifts, cards and jewelry, has moved from San Pablo Avenue to 2946 College Avenue in the Elmwood. Owner Pilar Zuniga says her vision “is to provide thoughtful gifts, floral designs and events that illustrate love, happiness and joy while allowing those feelings to permeate the environment and people they touch.”
STELLA NONNA Stella Nonna, which has focused on catering and company lunches since its founding in 1997, is opening a full-service restaurant at 1407 San Pablo Avenue, just south of Camelia. A Berkeleyside reader reports that the construction has “nice wood, brushed stainless, etc.” Chef/owners Tim Carlon and Sarah Nasgovitz plan a neighborhood restaurant “with unique regionally accented cuisine at high-value prices, encouraging repeat visits.” … Continue reading »
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
LINDGREN’S COFFEE & CAFE We tipped you off in September that a new coffee shop was coming to downtown Berkeley, and now it’s here (hat-tip to David Sanger for the alert). Lindgren’s Coffee and Café, which has opened at 2120 Dwight Way just off Shattuck, roasts its own coffee, and offers fresh pastries (baked in-house), sandwiches, beer and wine, as well as coffee of course. There’s also free wifi.
MVMNT STUDIO A new urban dance space has opened at 2973 Sacramento St. near Ashby. MVMNT Studio describes itself as a creative space that provides training, facilities and encouragement in urban art forms such as capoeira, breaking, house dancing and street art. MVMNT or “Movement” began as a dancer/artist based night in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, WA. The studio’s 1,800 sq ft open floor space is also available to rent. Check out MVMNT’s Facebook page for the latest schedule of classes and events. [Hat-tip: Sofia Zander] … Continue reading »
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
SAN PABLO & UNIVERSITY The area around San Pablo and University Avenues is buzzing with new tenants moving in to vacant retail spaces. As previously noted, eco-friendly mattresses and sleep products store Keetsa is moving into the building at 2117 San Pablo, having relocated from the 811 University. Keetsa, which also has stores in New York and San Francisco, is in the process of building out the space and will open in a few months. And a furniture company has taken the lease at the beautifully restored 2001 San Pablo Ave. The identity of the furniture company has not yet been released. Expected move-in date is around April. And the intersection may soon see the arrival of a convenience store if an application by 7-Eleven to take over 2000 San Pablo is approved. … Continue reading »
