Sprouts & Shutters: What’s Opening Around Town

Wondering what new businesses are opening up in your town? Our new biweekly “Sprouts & Shutters” column highlights the latest restaurant, retail and other business news in the Central Contra Costa cities of Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill and Concord.

It’s confirmed: The popular Zachary’s Chicago Pizza will soon open in downtown Pleasant Hill across from the movie theater on Crescent Drive.  Zachary’s president Kevin Suto says they're in the "build-out process" and shooting to open in early November. The new Zachary’s will occupy a 3,500 square-foot space plus feature an adjacent spacious patio that seats up to 40. This will be the small Bay Area pizza chain’s fourth restaurant: The other eateries are in Berkeley, Oakland and San Ramon. 

La Mordida Mexican Food opened in July on Gregory Lane near to Zio Fraedos in Pleasant Hill. The casual Mexican eatery replaces Pizza City, which closed a few months ago. (So far Yelpers seem to like the new restaurant, giving it a four-star average.) 

What other new businesses will you see in Pleasant Hill? Find out  about the children’s clothing store Carter’s coming to town. Sushi lovers can read about the new Nama in . And get details about the newest barbecue eatery in town in .

Walnut Creek’s new Hamachi Restaurant and Lounge held its grand opening July 28. The new Japanese restaurant, which replaced Shiro on Giammona Drive, added more than just a new menu. Manager Mikey Haderer says the new owner changed the floor plan, remodeled the interior, added a martini bar (featuring more than 25 signature martinis) and even added dueling pianos for weekend entertainment. Learn more at SushiHamachi.com.

Fans of Anthropologie’s bohemian chic garb and decor don’t have much longer to wait for the New Walnut Creek store. According to a customer-service representative at Urban Outfitters, which owns Anthropologie, the store is scheduled to open in mid September. Anthropologie replaces the former Mark Morris Tire store on the corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Locust Street.

Catch up on recent Walnut Creek Patch business stories: Got a craving for gourmet Greek or California cuisine? Read about the new Opa and casual that just opened downtown. Find out all about Walnut Creek's . Do your kids need swim lessons? Read about the new that opened last month. Learn about new alternative workspace businesses, Third Workplace and Laptop Lounge . Get the scoop on when . And read about the city's new opening in September.

SusieCakes is set to open at the end of October on Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette near Yankee Pier and La Boulange. According to the company, SusieCakes is an “all-American bakery offering home-style dessert favorites baked entirely from scratch.” The small California-based chain bakery has locations in Marin, San Francisco, Menlo Park and a few in Southern California. Learn more and browse a menu at susiecakes.com.

Tangelo Premium Frozen Yogurt plans to start serving its cool desserts this week in the Rheem Shopping Center next to Lamorinda Pizza in Moraga. The new self-serve frozen yogurt eatery, owned by Moraga resident May Lo, will feature 10 different yogurt flavors daily plus more than 35 toppings. Learn more at tangelofrozenyogurt.com.

Want to find out about more new Lamorinda businesses? Catch up with Patch's recent story on Moraga’s new Read all about Lafayette’s new cooking school in . Learn about Orinda’s newest Mexican restaurant, Barbacoa, in Patch’s . Get the scoop on the at the Lafayette BART parking lot. Is the Asian “street food” eatery Boo Koo opening in Lafayette? Find out on Patch. Need to lose a few pounds? Read about the that just opened in Lafayette.

Concord’s new Walgreens opened June 28 on the corner of Oak Grove Road Monument Boulevard. According to the City, the 15,184 square-foot Walgreens is a new concept store for the company, one of just two in California. Highlights include a new “wellness” area and a fresh food section.

G by Guess, a division of GUESS, will be opening in the Sunvalley Shopping Center in October. G by Guess, moving in on the upper level across from Gap, markets “fashion for the next generation of men and women.” Sunvalley Shopping Center is entering the final stages of its multi-million dollar renovation. Kim Trupiano, marketing sponsorship director for the center, says that the majority of the renovations should be finished by mid-November and fully completed by early next year.

Get more business news in past coverage on Concord Patch. Dream about the new Nordstrom Rack in a . Find out what’s cooking at the new Veggie Today restaurant in Patch’s . Get details about the new used fitness equipment store in . Read about the new My Dawg House . And learn about the new garage and storage showroom in .

Know of a restaurant or shop opening or closing in Central Contra Costa? Please send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.