Sprouts & Shutters: Expanded Jenny K, New Spa & More

Wondering what new businesses are opening up in your town? Our new monthly “Sprouts & Shutters” column highlights restaurant, retail and other business news in El Cerrito, Kensington, Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont area and Rockridge.

Just in time for holiday shopping: El Cerrito’s gift store Jenny K moved into a much larger space just two doors down from its original location on Stockton Avenue. The new space is four times larger, allowing owner Jen Komaromi to expand inventory and add product lines, such as educational toys and more gifts. Komaromi says she’ll also start hosting events in the new store, including school fundraisers, knitting classes and toddler reading times. Learn more about the new Jenny K, winner of this year's Patch’s “Readers’ Choice” for favorite gift shop, at jennyk.com. 

Hibiscus Wellness Spa opened Oct. 23 a few doors down from the new Jenny K. The new spa offers massages, scrubs, rose petal foot baths and—coming soon—facials and other skin care treatments. Hibiscus uses natural products including massage oils made in house with organic herbs. The new spa celebrates its grand opening Nov. 18 with free mini-massages, refreshments and goodie bags. Browse a list of spa services at hibiscuswellness.com. 

Shopping for a new mattress? Albany’s new Nest Bedding sells organic, non-toxic mattresses, adjustable beds, pillows and other eco-friendly bedding. The new store features American-made products, such as blankets and bedding from Minnesota’s Faribault Woolen Mills, Washington’s Holy Lamb Organics and New Jersey’s White Lotus Home. Nest Bedding opened in September on Solano Avenue across from Subway. Learn more at nestbedding.com. 

Soon you’ll be able to grab a bite to eat after mailing a package: A new quick-serve eatery called Cantina Verde is set to open up early next year on Solano Avenue in Albany One Hour Cleaner's old space next to the post office. The new owner could not be reached for comment but we’ll follow up with details in an upcoming column. 

Berkeley’s new Bartavelle Coffee & Wine Bar caters both to gourmet coffee drinkers and wine connoisseurs. You’ll find Sightglass drip coffee and rotating wines by the half-glass, glass or bottle from neighbor Kermit Lynch. Pair your coffee or wine with savory or sweet whole-grain porridge, Acme toast with homemade jam, crostini and “savory boards” arrayed with cheese, salami, housemade pickles, smoked trout, hard-cooked eggs and other nibbles. Bartavelle opened Oct. 23 in Café Fanny’s old space on San Pablo. Learn more on Bartavelle’s facebook page. 

Fans of Berkeley’s award-winning La Rose Bistro will have to travel to Concord to dine on the restaurant’s duck confit, salmon in saffron sauce and other popular dishes. La Rose moved last week to Concord’s Todos Santos and is now called La Sen Bistro. 

Opening Update: Belli Osteria, previewed in the last column, opened Oct. 16 on Shattuck in Green Papaya’s old space.

Earlier this fall Pimlico Place created a new “lifestyle” store, consolidating its two stores into one on Piedmont Avenue next to Barney’s. Owner Annette Benyamin says she’s expanded the store’s square footage and inventory, adding more fashion and home accessories and creating a small section for men (such as vintage cufflinks and barware). For more information about Pimlico Place, which sells vintage and contemporary accessories from around the world, visit pimlico-place.com.

After 12 years in business, L’Amyx Tea Bar closed its tea house last month on Piedmont Avenue.

The Piedmont area’s Namaste Yoga & Wellness and Berkeley’s 7th Heaven Yoga recently merged to form the largest yoga and wellness resource in the East Bay. The three centers in Grand Lakes, Rockridge and Berkeley will all run under the Namaste name and offer more than 100 yoga and movement classes each week. Facilities will include more than six yoga and movement studios, two wellness centers and retail boutiques in each location. Learn more at namasteoakland.com.

Fans of European-style brew will soon get a new hangout in Rockridge: Trappist Provisions is set to open the week after Thanksgiving a couple doors down from Wood Tavern on College Avenue. The new tap room and beer store, brought to you by the owners of Old Oakland’s popular The Trappist, will seat about 20 and feature nine beers on tap and 200 bottles for sale.

Did you miss the news Patch shared about San Francisco’s A16 opening in Rockridge? Read more about the new restaurant in the Inside Scoop via Rockridge Patch.

What’s happening at Rockridge CVS Pharmacy? Will it stay open or close as part of the Safeway construction project? Get the details in Patch’s recent story.

Several food awards were handed out last month and many local Berkeley and Oakland-area restaurants came out on top. Berkeley’s Corso, FIVE, Gather and eVe and Rockridge’s Wood Tavern are just a few that made the Michelin Bib Gourmand list of restaurants that offer “excellence on a budget. The 2013 Zagat features Berkeley’s Chez Panisse, Comal and Cheese Board and the Piedmont area’s Commis was the East Bay’s sole representative in the Michelin Guide. Finally, Rockridge’s Oliveto and Berkeley’s Comal were featured in the 2012 Diablo Food Awards. See the full lists at See the full lists at michelintravel.com/michelin-selection/san-francisco-2012, zagat.com/sanfrancisco, diablomag.com/Diablo-Magazine/November-2012.

Want to find out what else is opening the East Bay? Sprouts & Shutters now covers 21 cities. Read the latest columns covering the Walnut Creek area, Tri-Valley and Fremont/Tri-Cities communities.

Did you miss Patch's last retail and restaurant roundup? Read about these and more in our last Sprouts & Shutters column:  

• Belli and Pasta-In-A-Box in Berkeley
• Suzette Crepe Cafe in Albany
• Scene wine bar in El Cerrito
• Oak Common in Piedmont area
• Ramen Shop and The Flower & The B in Rockridge

Know of a business opening or closing in Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont, Rockridge or El Cerrito? Please tell Patch about it for a future Sprouts & Shutters column. Simply add it to this short form. Or send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.

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