BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse Considering a New Location in Dublin, CA
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse is eager to open a new location in the Tri-Valley. Early indications point to Dublin as BJ’s preferred location for its new restaurant. BJ’s will most likely construct a new building roughly 9,000 square feet in size instead of leasing space from an existing building. The Shops at Waterford would have been an option for BJ’s, if the property owner could relocate the nail salon and reconfigure the space formerly occupied by Stacey’s and Blockbuster. Unfortunately, The Shops at Waterford simply does not have nearly the parking spaces to meet BJ’s minimum parking requirement.
BJ’s is considering at least two sites in Dublin. The first is a parcel that sits between Dublin Toyota and Hacienda Crossings. This location is close to where BJ’s target market lives, near a thriving retail and entertainment hub, and highly visible from I-580. The second is the parking lot next to the vacant Mervyn’s building and Toys “R” Us in Downtown Dublin. This site is appealing to BJ’s, because the new restaurant will be next to the West Dublin BART station, easily accessible from both I-680 and I-580, and well positioned to take advantage of the emerging Downtown Dublin District. Simon Malls took a similar approach at Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton when it built The Cheesecake Factory and PF Chang’s on top of land previously used for parking.
If BJ’s decides to open in Dublin, it will be eligible for at least three economic development incentives offered by the City of Dublin. For preferred businesses like BJ’s, the City of Dublin provides a streamlined permit review and approval process to help minimize start-up time. BJ’s can also claim a 25% credit on water/sewer hookup fees and save roughly $200,000 on new construction cost. In addition, 75% of the water/sewer hookup AND development fees can be financed and repaid over an extended period of time, thus reducing the upfront cash requirements for this project.
BJ’s is rapidly expanding throughout the United States. Some of its current Bay Area locations include San Jose, Cupertino, San Bruno, and Concord. BJ’s offers a wide variety of appetizers, entrees, lunch specials, handcrafted beers, and a full bar. In addition to the food and drinks, BJ’s offers a lively and family friendly atmosphere with plenty of big-screen television sets.
BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse is considering coming to Dublin because of Dublin’s demographics, proximity to I-580/I-680, and alluring incentives for new restaurants. Where in Dublin should BJ’s should pick to establish its presence in the Tri-Valley?
12:05 AM on August 11th, 2010
The most obvious location would be for BJs to move by Hooters….
http://instantrimshot.com/
7:32 PM on August 11th, 2010
hahahahahaha
7:59 AM on August 11th, 2010
The Mervyns/Toys R Us area desperately needs a facelift and some fresh retailers so that is my vote.
11:54 AM on January 22nd, 2011
I agree. I prefer the location near Mervyn’s. Having BJs there would also make the empty Mervyn’s a more attractive location for a new renter. BJ’s would also save a great amount of expense having the parking lots already paved and in place by Mervyn’s.
8:02 AM on August 11th, 2010
Love this restaurant! I vote off of Hacienda.
8:54 AM on August 11th, 2010
BEST CHOICE NEAR TOYOTA AND MOVIES,NO SPORTS BAR THERE.. BJ’S IS WAY BETTER THAN HOOTERS.. BETTER THAN BUFFALO WINGS PLACE TOO…
9:12 AM on August 11th, 2010
Hi Tom – I’m a huge fan of BJ’s, too. The one in Cupertino is terrific.
Thx, John Z.
11:51 PM on February 4th, 2011
Actually Cupertino’s location is the worst in terms of service, beer quality and overcrowdness. The best one in San Mateo. BTW, you missed the biggest location in Bay Area in the list. San Bruno’s is second. I tired them all.
12:12 PM on August 11th, 2010
I hope they decide to go with a location near Mervyns. There is already a lot of places of similar type across in Hacienda. It makes more sense to go with the much more accessible area. You will find me there if they put it in at that location lol.
1:18 PM on August 11th, 2010
Excellent, been to one in SoCA many times, and am a fan. Would much prefer it on the east side near Hacienda Crossings, as I’d frequent it more often, especially with co-workers.
4:53 PM on August 11th, 2010
I prefer the location next to Dublin Toyota…hands down…it’s the best!!
When will we know if they plan on coming to Dublin? And when would we know which location they opt for??
5:38 PM on August 11th, 2010
Hi Kat – I’m sure that all the media sources will publish articles once BJ’s makes their decision. The commercial brokers do a great job of spreading PR.
Thx, John Z.
6:13 PM on August 11th, 2010
I prefer the location near Dublin Toyota and movie theater. Fry’s electronics should open a store in the former Mervyn’s location.
7:49 PM on August 11th, 2010
I couldn’t agree more with this last comment. Put it near Dublin Toyota and please let’s get a Fry’s out here – the former Mervyn’s location makes a lot of sense and will likely attract more stores to that area.
9:11 PM on August 11th, 2010
Next to Toyota is good. There’s already a Fry’s in Mountain View (~35 miles away). As far as new stores: I’d strongly prefer to have a new Trader Joe’s in Dublin. The Trader Joe’s in Pleasanton is a major headache (bad parking and too small). REI would be nice too, although the nearest one is also in Mountain View…
10:47 PM on August 11th, 2010
Hi Rachel, I have some great news for you! Both REI and Fry’s have a store in Fremont which is 13 miles away. The are both off 680 @ Automall. Cheers!
11:23 AM on August 12th, 2010
Maybe the economic development director of Dublin can contact TJ to convince them to move the Pleasanton store to Dublin for a newer and bigger one.
10:19 AM on August 12th, 2010
I think it’s an excellent idea to put a Fry’s in the old Dublin Mervyn’s building. West Dublin needs something to replace The Good Guys, Anderson’s and Circuit City. I’m not a fan of Fry’s, but that big empty retail building needs a tenant that will generate a lot of sales tax for Dublin and I think Best Buy needs some competition in the Tri-Valley. I would think that Fry’s would want a presence on this side of the hills in the East Bay. It’s an obvious untapped market.
However, I’m not sure the Mervyn’s building is big enough for a Fry’s. Their stores in the Silicon Valley are HUGE. Another concern would be parking. I’m not sure the Mervyn’s lot is sufficient for a Fry’s. Have you seen how big (and packed) the Fry’s parking lots are! I think they’d have to use the old Montgomery Wards lot facing Dublin Blvd as well. Also, I think Fry’s would put Video Only out of business, which is too bad because V/O is an excellent place to get a great buy on TVs.
3:20 PM on August 12th, 2010
Stop dreaming. No retailer will enter a market like dublin where 1 out of 109 homes is in forclosure process. It will take a long time.
9:20 PM on August 12th, 2010
Downtown needs a rehab, a new BJ’s facing Dublin Blvd. near Mervyn’s could be a start. Hey anyone know of what may be coming into the Anderson’s Electronics building? I see an application or notice on the front window for future sale of alcohol. Maybe a coveted restaurant? Hopefully not a liquor store though.
10:42 AM on August 13th, 2010
Grocery Outlet took an existing Anderson’s TV site that closed some time ago during the economic downturn. The grocer is renting 15,000 square feet at 7590 Amador Plaza Road in Dublin.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_15262208?source=most_emailed
12:40 PM on August 13th, 2010
Thanks a lot for the information. Dublin needs a Fry’s electronics store in the former Mervyn’s location.
8:36 AM on August 15th, 2010
You don’t want a Grocery Outlet to come to Dublin. This is as low rent as you can get. Grocery Outlet makes Food 4 Less look like Whole Foods.
10:42 AM on August 15th, 2010
Grocery Outlet is a perfect fit for West Dublin! It’ll go great with the Big Lots, Dollar Tree, and Goodwill stores a couple blocks up the same street!
7:05 PM on August 15th, 2010
I would rather have a vacant store. No Grocery Outlet in Dublin, please. We don’t want to downgrade Dublin to like Concord and Gilroy. We are already having a new Outlet Factory moving forward. This is going to position Dublin as a secondary market. I would not spend a dim in those store to support them. Hope they will fail in Dublin.
10:34 PM on August 13th, 2010
seems a bit small for a Grocery Outlet location, the ones they have in other cities like Fremont are at least 25-30K sqft, like a typical Nob Hill. Thanks for the info though, I wonder what the format will be like at that size!
12:16 AM on August 15th, 2010
BJ’S will be great for Dublin, and will be sure to get my $$.
It would be a great destination to kick start the downtown around the new West Dublin Bart Station.
And someone really needs to build a 24-hour Fitness or similar workout place adjacent to the new BART station. It’s a natural fit to workout before or after riding BART to work.
Oh, and a quick stop into Trader Joe’s before or after BART would also be a perfect fit. Also be good to serve future downtown residents.
REI, Fry’s, and Olive Garden would also be welcome additions.
8:28 PM on October 11th, 2010
All excellent options!!
2:48 PM on August 16th, 2010
I don’t care where they locate as long as it is in Dublin….I am so excited that the new program we instituted at DSRSD has it’s first customer. I am also proud to say that a decade or so ago when I was on the DSRSD Board last time, the “sewer connection fee financing program” was my brain child. It has helped many new restaurants locate in Dublin.
4:14 PM on August 16th, 2010
I think BJ’s will be a great addition to Dublin! They have good food, good beer and a great atmosphere. The food is SO much better than Wild Wings. I think either location could be good but I think the Mervyn’s area really needs it more than Hacienda.
I agree with the other posts that Grocery Outlet is bad for Dublin and that Fry’s would be a great addition. There is a Fry’s in both Concord and Fremont, however the traffic getting to either of those locations can be tough.
10:10 PM on August 16th, 2010
what a dissappointment, grocery outlet? I was hoping for a nice restaurant like Buci di Beppo or something.
11:34 PM on August 16th, 2010
BJ’s at the Mervyn’s store makes complete sense! Hacienda already has plenty of restuarants in that area. Let’s spread the wealth!
4:42 PM on August 23rd, 2010
Check this out. We are definitely lagging behind.
Dublin Officials need to catch on that.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_15870121
9:06 PM on August 23rd, 2010
It seems Pleasanton is getting all the nice businesses and we are getting Grocery Outlet. Way to go, Dublin! Of course, you know I am being sarcastic.
1:26 PM on April 25th, 2011
Grocery Outlet goes along with all the crappy Section 8 units Dublin seems to like. Give it a little more time and Dublin will be the new Hayward. As it is, Dublin is like an ugly step-sister to it’s neighbors Pleasanton, San Ramon, Danville, etc. The only thing worse than Dublin is Livermore.
5:02 PM on August 23rd, 2010
OMG YYYEESSS. Best restaurant ever, and Dublin needs more good restaurants. East Dublin would be nice, we don’t have many restaurants over here!
8:10 AM on October 3rd, 2010
We need a good mexican restaurant in east dublin (Waterford). Casa Orozco is overpriced and the servers care nothing more than getting you out of your seat as soon as you sit. La Pinata should come!!
11:05 AM on October 4th, 2010
I am happy with a Chipotle in East Dublin
11:16 PM on September 3rd, 2010
Sprouts Farmers Market and Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores coming to old circuit city location.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_15985561
2:20 PM on September 9th, 2010
If it were up to me that whole area around Mervyn’s, including the old ExpoCenter would be demolished and rebuilt.
Toy’s-r-us and Burlington coat temporarily or permanently relocated and that entire area re-built to form the main street of a real downtown. A real Dublin downtown – hey I can always dream.
5:49 PM on September 9th, 2010
Hi Anonymous – I think that you’re right. We’d pretty much need to tear down everything north of the Mervyn’s building and rebuild using the new Downtown Specific Plan guidelines if we want to have a true downtown feel. I recall that a lot of folks – including a Dublin Planning Commissioner – at the study session a few years ago suggested the same thing.
Thx, John Z.
3:19 PM on September 13th, 2010
yeah with vacant building filling up I have mixed feelings about them. On the one side occupied buildings are better than empty ones but while we wait another 10 years before the downtown specific plan (moving at a snail pace) gets implemented with enough incentives for landlords to act on, building will fill up with new tenants. Many like 99 Ranch won’t do much to the exterior of the old buildings other than maybe a coat of paint and slurry sealing the parking lot. Dublin downtown will look the same in 10-20 years from now, which means a sea parking lots and mostly car oriented. Only changes are the names on those building (Mervyn’s, Good Guys, EXPO, Circuit City, Andersons, Breuners. The City needs to be more agressive during this downturn and make it a golden moment and cease the opportunity to work with landlords and their vacant buildings. Redevelop into higher density use and more pedestrian friendly like a downtown suppose to be. Building fronting the streets with parking underground or behind it and not the other way around as it is now with parking lots facing the streets. As these buildings fill up, landlords are less likely to care about redeveloping their parcels or buildings. All it takes is one property owner to redevelop, draw nearby retailers to their new center, it will force the rest to do the same or risk losing their tenants to the new center. It could create a chain reaction. Concentrate on one center, likely Mervyn’s and the CVS parcels.
2:48 PM on October 25th, 2010
Still a ways until completion but the site off Fallon and Dublin Blvd would be a great location for a BJ’s or similar establishment. It a great start with Club Sport, keep the ball rolling in the right direction and line up Business/Establishments that attract cliental that will better Dublin.
Grocery Outlet – BAD IDEA
Wal-Mart – BAD IDEA
Keep Dublin Moving in the Right Direction
2:06 PM on October 26th, 2010
I will never spend a dime in Walmart.
Evil management group that only takes advantages of the employee and cheap labor from China. I will move out of Dublin, if Walmart is moving in.
10:05 AM on October 27th, 2010
I can’t stand how slow the Walmart cashiers are. Stop hiring these old, slow people. Hire the high schoolers like Target, they get you through the checkout so much quicker.
7:06 PM on October 27th, 2010
Stop going to Walmart…period.
11:26 PM on November 7th, 2010
We need an Olive Garden and Red Lobster in Dublin! I’m tired of going to Fremont, Tracy and Modesto. Also, we have no good furniture stores in Dublin. Maybe a Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn like the ones in Walnut Creek would be nice! Dublin needs a downtown just as nice as Walnut Creek, then we can have more things to do for nightlife instead of having to always go out of town!
11:55 PM on February 4th, 2011
Olive Garden and Red Lobster for downton? Hm… Let me guess, you’re from Midwest originally?
Thanks, but I would rather not have a fake Italian and even faker seafood chain.
1:29 PM on April 25th, 2011
If you look at the Olive Garden in Hayward and the Red Lobster in Fremont, both attract some of the most ghetto, low-life people. Why would we want to attract any more of that to Dublin? It’s already getting trashy enough out here as it is.
12:00 PM on January 22nd, 2011
I like the idea of Fry’s in the old Mervyn’s.
I’d like to see Trader Joe’s in the old Ralph’s on Alcosta. It’s an ideal location for them based on their current locations in Danville and Pleasanton, esp since parking in Pleasanton is so limited.
3:22 PM on January 22nd, 2011
Hi Anonymous – that sounds like an excellent idea! That plaza is probably relatively affordable, there is definitely plenty of parking, and it is easily accessible by thousands of higher income households.
Cheers, John Z.
6:03 PM on March 7th, 2011
I believe that BJ’s should open a restaurant on East Dublin. We have many roads and land that has tone of space for the nice looks and size of the BJ’s restaurant. Lets not overcrowd and overbuild West Dublin when there is so much space on East Dublin. Also, West Dublin already has many restaurants while East Dublin doesn’t. Let’s continue to develop this side of Dublin, and add more delicious restaurants to our side.
8:16 PM on March 11th, 2011
Going to BJ’s tomorrow for the first time ever. It’s in San Jose and I hear it’s a lively place. Drooling over the pictures of the pizookie.
5:16 AM on March 12th, 2011
Hi Anonymous – I think that you’re going to love it. I haven’t been to the BJ’s in San Jose, but I have frequented the one in Cupertino. Huge televisions everywhere, friendly service, great beer, and delicious food. The pizookie is the stuff that dreams are made of.
Cheers, John Z.
11:24 PM on March 12th, 2011
Stuff that dreams are made of is correct. DAMN THAT PIZOOKIE WAS AWESOME. We only had time for dessert, and since there was a 40 minute wait, we did the take-out and only waited 10 minutes. The pizookie is not deep dish like I thought, but damn it was so F’n good. Soft, chewy, and spectacular. If they come here, I’ll be getting more of those for sure.
The place was packed. Huge, tons of people waiting, and great energy. A welcome addition to Dublin… if it ever happens.
6:10 PM on July 4th, 2011
Dear John & Around Dublin team,
Any update from BJ’s?
Or for that matter _real_ input from the city about the new specific downtown plan versus the ugly reality of that area (ex Mervyns north…)
4:34 AM on July 5th, 2011
Hi Anonymous – I haven’t heard any updates regarding BJ’s. From what I understand, they are still contemplating different locations in Dublin.
Thx, John Z.
10:44 AM on July 5th, 2011
What Dublin needs is a Cafe Rio or Zabba’s. The food is much better than Chipotle and Baja
9:18 PM on July 21st, 2011
They say on Patch.com that it is applying to locate next to the future Target !