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April 27, 2010

Downtown retail, restaurant shuffle

--Lane Home Furnishing at South California Boulevard and Botelho Drive is closing, which you probably know if you've driven by. Big signs outside announce a closing sale. An employee said that the items for sale are all the floor models, and that they hope to have the store cleared out in three or four weeks. 


That location is jinxed--or something. It wasn't that long ago that Copeland Sports opened and closed in that same spot. 


--Meanwhile, Broadway Plaza has announced that it will become home to a new Burberry, the luxury British clothing and accessories retailer.


--Finally, no sooner did the owners of Le Bistro on North Main Street announce that they were closing the French eatery than another sign went up, saying a new Italian retaurant will go on. It's called Ottavio, and its chef/owner is Valentino Luchin. I ran into him outside his new restaurant, as he was closing up shop. He says his osteria-style restaurant, named for his father,  will serve food inspired by the cuisine of Venice and California. Luchin, who says he lives in Lafayette, hopes to have the restaurant open in less than two weeks. 


That's pretty quick. After I ran into Luchin,  I looked him up. If we're talking the same Luchin (and the photos in the food feature articles say we are), the chef has also been the executive chef of the venerable, upscale Rose Pistola in North Beach.  According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Luchin "earned a culinary degree in his native Italy, and his experience includes stints at restaurants in Venice and Seattle, as well as opening Becco in New York."

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

The lane store should go back to its, as a bowling alley. Seriously, I bet it would do well.

Anonymous said...

roots, (left out of above)

Anonymous said...

Burberry's? Oh God, another reason to stay out of downtown. Too many suckers around for my taste.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone tell me what is unique about the stores in Broadway Plaza outside of a very few locally owned shops?

This place is just like any other shopping mall and with the addition of Burberry's it is more and more resembling the outlet mall in Vacaville.

Anonymous said...

9:36, head to boutiques in the older part of town, then have a bite at one of the independently operated eateries.

Bowling Alley? Bring it on!

Anonymous said...

Hey does Independent = Dudumb

Anonymous said...

Burberry is a complete ripoff. $325 jeans and $110 polos that cost $30 everywhere else. No thanks.

Elizabeth said...

Big surprise that our goes the French bistro and in comes yet another Italian restaurant! Never anything original :( Walnut Creek seem like a haven for

Italian
Vietnamese
Small plates....

Why can't we have cool places like:
Bakesale Betty's
Flora
Gather

Oh, well, I guess I still have to go through the tunnel for good food.

As far as the Lane store, it is too bad that the linen place didn't stick around. I use to go there all the time.

Anonymous said...

I certainly miss Bake Sale Betty at the Farmer's market. :-(

Anonymous said...

Ottavio has since opened and is awesome - great food, good place for a family meal - if you haven't already, check this one out!