Local Businesses
by John M. Zukoski on January 4, 2012 | 
8 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Businesses · Opinions · Parks · Restaurants · Retail
Dublin, CA and the greater Tri-Valley region had a phenomenal year in 2011, but 2012 is expected to bring many more thrills and surprises for residents. This year should be one marked by the emergence of fantastic shopping centers, restaurants, new parks and paths, and other amenities to be enjoyed by all. While the reasons for optimism are limitless, the Around Dublin Team would like to share our top 10 list of things to look forward to in 2012.
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by John M. Zukoski on January 3, 2012 | 9 Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Opinions · Retail
Sears Holding Company recently announced that it will soon be shuttering up to 120 of its underperforming Sears and Kmart stores. While the Pleasanton Sears at Stoneridge Mall has been left off the initial list of 80 stores, the sputtering store may eventually get the axe as most shoppers simply cut through the store from the parking lot to the rest of the mall. While electronics and appliance sales at the Stoneridge Mall location appear to be brisk, the second and third floors with home goods and apparel see fewer people than Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery in Hayward on a rainy Wednesday afternoon.
Much like rescue boats hurtling passengers from the Titanic, Sears also spun off its interest in the expanding Orchard Supply Hardware chain of stores recently to help retain some value for investors.
Celebrated hedge fund legend Eddie Lampert has led the turnaround attempt at Sears and Kmart for the past few years. Initially, Lampert was able to provide tremendous results by cutting costs to the bone. Lampert’s strategy provided a short term boost to profits, but it also damaged the Sears and Kmart brand. Irritated customers have flooded online forums with complaints about deteriorating stores, poor customer service, and lackluster merchandise.
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by John M. Zukoski on December 27, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Opinions · Retail
The bankruptcy of Borders and the closing of its Pleasanton store was a short-term blessing for the Barnes & Noble at Hacienda Crossings in Dublin, CA; however, the demise of the Borders brand could signal a long-term decline for the storied book superstore, as readers move increasingly faster towards eBooks. According to the company’s own press statement, Barnes & Noble has captured over 25% of the electronic reader market. Barnes & Noble is well-positioned to ditch its brick-and-mortar locations like the Dublin Hacienda Crossings superstore, as its head-on competition with Amazon heats up in 2012.
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by John M. Zukoski on December 6, 2011 | 2 Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Restaurants
Building off the momentum of a successful grand opening celebration, Vito’s Express at Grafton Station in Dublin, CA is launching its happy hour specials. Guests visiting Monday through Friday from 2:00PM to 6:00PM can get 30% off of Vito’s Signature pizzas, draft beers for $3, and bottles of beer for $2. Vito’s Express is also offering all-you-can-drink mimosas on Sundays with the purchase of a medium Breakfast pizza.
Customers of all ages can enjoy $5 root beer floats with Italian vanilla bean gelato floating in a frosted glass of Barqs root beer. “Talk about throw back times,” said Vito’s Express co-owner Scott Bolin.
Bolin has also rolled out four new pizza pies. “Stop dreaming about it,” Bolin said. “They are finally here. You are going to love this stuff!”
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by John M. Zukoski on December 3, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Announcements · Local Businesses
Ambiance Design & Staging, Tri-Valley’s emerging interior design and staging company, announced the grand opening of its new office and design studio in Pleasanton, CA. “Our new office and design studio was opened to fulfill the needs of our growing client base and also serve as a project management and marketing office,” said Partner and Interior Designer Payal Shah. The company offers full range of residential and commercial interior design service along with home staging and home improvement services. The goal of Ambiance Design & Staging is to provide creative design and unique staging solutions at an affordable price that are customized to reflect the customer’s needs, personality, and taste.
“We are really excited to announce opening of our new office and design studio. It helps us to better serve our clients and allow us to grow our product portfolio along with our wide range of services,” said Ambiance Design & Staging Partner and Interior Designer Ira Rajput. “The new office will allow us to grow our team and introduce our long awaited co-op program – which provides a great platform and career jump start for emerging interior designers and architects.”
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by John M. Zukoski on November 28, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Opinions · Retail
In the United States, Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day, which traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping season. It also marks the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit or are “in the black.” With many retailers throughout the country, including those in and around Dublin, CA, opening their doors on Thanksgiving night, what used to be “Black Friday” has now become “Black Thursday” with the early start. According to early estimates by the National Retail Federation, 226 million shoppers visited stores and online during the four-day holiday weekend, up from 212 million last year. The same report also indicated that the average holiday shopper spent $398.62 this weekend, which is up from $365.34 a year ago. In a year of mostly gloomy economic news, these numbers are giving retailers hope for better profits. “A solid Black Friday suggests the rest of the season should be pretty good,” said Ken Perkins, president of Swampscott, Massachusetts-based Retail Metrics. “Those who have jobs have been willing to spend.”
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by John M. Zukoski on November 24, 2011 | 1 Comment | Topics: Development · Local Businesses · Restaurants · Retail
The All-America City of Dublin, CA has much to be thankful for in 2011. A thawing economy, an improving job market, and a thrilling election season ahead provide the backdrop for this year’s Thanksgiving celebrations, as more and more families move to the newer part of town for its highly rated K-8 schools and well-designed parks. Spurred by the influx of new arrivals, the pace of new home construction in East Dublin has picked up significantly over the past year, seemingly bucking the national trend.
Dublin’s historic big-box shopping district has seen a tremendous resurgence with the grand openings of DSW, Half Price Books, Sprouts Farmers Market, REI, and Sports Authority. Billionaire developer Rick Caruso’s $13M purchase of the 14-acre parcel next to Hacienda Crossings and Sybase has captured the imagination of the Tri-Valley, as everyone eagerly awaits the latest high-end retail masterpiece by the renowned shopping center magnate. While details remain scarce about the Caruso project, tilt-up construction has already begun at Paragon Outlets in Livermore, which is kitty corner from the new Target at Fallon Gateway in Dublin. According to some bullish estimates, the new Livermore outlet mall may open as early as November 2012, just in time for next year’s Black Friday extravaganza.
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by John M. Zukoski on November 22, 2011 | 8 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Development · Local Businesses · Restaurants
Dublin City Council recently dipped into its economic development toolkit to give Stanforth Holdings, LLC a $95,000 credit to reduce the estimated $380,000 water and sewer connection fee levied by the Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) for the future BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse building. Stanforth Holdings, LLC is also known as Charter Properties or Lin Family. Stanforth Holdings, LLC will pass the remaining charge along to BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse.
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