Sprouts & Shutters: Burgers, Bars and Bloomingdale's

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.

Studio 52, a 1,000 square-foot photography studio, opened in September in Dublin on Village Parkway near the . Owner Eric Muetterties specializes in studio, on-location and event photography. For more information and to see sample photos, visit beautifulcommercialimages.com.

Oyas Hair Supply opened in October on Dublin Boulevard next to . The salon specializes in “West African hair braiding, cornrows, Senegalese twists and sew-in hair extensions.” Learn more at oyashairsupply.com.

More new businesses to report in the new Pleasanton Gateway on Bernal Road: The fast-food Chinese restaurant chain Panda Express opened an eatery in the center Dec. 21, joining the new that . The Habit Burger Grill, a “fast-casual” burger joint, has begun tenant improvements at the center. A spokesperson for the small California-based restaurant chain says the new eatery should be open later this winter or early spring. And the walk-in men’s and boys’ salon Sports Clips is set to open a new place in the Gateway in mid to late February. For a list of other new businesses that will open in the Gateway, read Patch’s .

A couple of Pleasanton closures: closed its Main Street gallery in late November. And closed its Stoneridge Shopping Center skincare products store earlier this month. The clothing boutique Francesca's Collections will be relocating into that spot this spring.

Opening Update: Grape Times Wine Bar, previewed in the , celebrates its grand opening Jan. 26. The new wine bar, which opened in mid December, serves local wines and bistro fare daily on Railroad Avenue next to Meadowlark Dairy and near the Firehouse Performing Arts Center.

A new home décor boutique called In Your Space opened Dec. 3 on First Street in Livermore. The 1,100 square-foot shop sells its Vietri Italian dishes, spiced apple candles and other home accessories and gifts next door to Lily Ann’s Lingerie.

Bloomingdale's will open an outlet department store in Livermore’s new Paragon Outlets, set to open this November off El Charro Road. For a preliminary list of tenants, see Patch’s .

Livermore’s Curves recently relocated from Catalina Drive to a slightly bigger location on L. Street. The new women’s fitness and weight loss facility, which opened Nov. 28, is one of nearly 10,000 Curves clubs open worldwide.

Opening Update: Yamato, previewed in the July Sprouts, opened Dec. 20 on First Street next to Baughman’s Western Outfitters in Livermore. The quick-service eatery features food cooked on Hibachi grills and a variety of sushi dishes.

Opening Update: Double Barrel Wine Bar, previewed in the August Sprouts, opened Dec. 29. Livermore’s newest wine bar serves its tapas and wines next door to First Street Alehouse. Co-owner Kristin Armstrong says they’ve had a “full house every night with standing room only” and plan to add blues, acoustic guitar and vocalists Thursday through Sunday along with its current lineup of band performances on weekends.

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. 1 in Elisa Wen Boutique's old space.

Kids-N-Teens Beauty Salon moved from San Ramon to Danville in November. Stylist and owner Daniela Brotoiu opened her new children’s hair salon in the Danville Livery on Sycamore Valley Road. Besides cuts, the hair salon offers extras kids love such as French braids, ribbons, glitter and temporary color. 

La Finestra Ristorante celebrated the holidays with a Dec. 27 opening of its new San Ramon restaurant, located in Incontro’s old spot on San Ramon Valley Boulevard. “We will serve the same great food in San Ramon that we’ve served in our Lafayette restaurant for the past 10 years,” says owner and chef Jeff Assadi. You can browse these Sicilian dishes at lafinestraristorante.com. 

Divan Indo-Pak Cuisine is set to open in mid January in San Ramon’s Magnolia Square Shopping Center next to Max’s Diner. Qazi Ahmad, who owns Qazis Indian Curry House and Mediterranean Cuisine in Fremont, says his new full-service restaurant will feature Indian and Pakistani dishes, serve beer and wine and provide seasonal patio seating. Divan replaces PG’s Crow Canyon Wine Lounge that closed September 2010 and relocated to Danville.

Also new to Magnolia Square is Mane Square Hair Cuts, a new locally owned hair salon that opened in November next to Fat Maddie’s Grille. The affordable family-friendly salon even entertains patrons with TVs for parents and iPads with games for the kids. See a list of service and events at manesquare.com. 

Finally, take advantage of the dining deals offered by local restaurants during Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week, Jan. 21 - 29. The event features 30 participating restaurants from all five Tri-Valley cities. Examples include multi-course specials at Maria Maria in Danville, the new Yiping Restaurant in San Ramon, Coco Cabana in Dublin, Café Main in Pleasanton and Milano Joe’s Cucina Italiana in Livemore. No tickets or passes are required. For a full list, visit www.trivalleycvb.com/tasteoftrivalley.

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.