Sprouts & Shutters: New Yoga Studio, Japanese Bistro and More

Wondering what’s moving into your neighborhood shopping center? Our weekly Sprouts & Shutters column highlights the latest Tri-Valley restaurant, retail and other business news.

Danville’s will soon transform into Martini Sky. The restaurant is waiting on city approval for some minor remodeling and should be ready to unveil Martini Sky early this spring. Diners will find a more casual astmosphere with a small plate focus. And, as the name suggests, martinis are part of the change: You'll find a large a cocktail menu featuring  80-100 martinis made with fresh seasonal fruit, says mixologist Brian McGuirk. Read more in the Diablo Dish's coverage.

Looking to start your weekend celebrating a little early? Danville’s AuburnJames tasting room recently expanded its hours and is now open from noon to 8 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday. See the latest wine flights and small plates menu at www.auburnjames.com/The-Latest/Current-Menu.

The Lil’ Genius Kid, a franchised children’s education center, celebrated its grand opening in San Ramon with an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 23. Located in the Marketplace shopping center next to Orchard Supply Hardware, the new Lil’ Genius Kid provides supplemental education programs designed for kids ages 2 – 12.

Hotel Sierra in San Ramon and Sierra Suites in Pleasanton became Hyatt House in January. The newly re-branded Hyatt House will introduce gradual changes such as evening socials, entertainment areas and apartment style room design to appeal to customers with extended stays (from three to 30 days).

After 16 years selling furniture in Dublin, Furniture Warehouse is going out of business. The furniture store, formerly called Oak Warehouse, sells a variety of furniture lines on Dublin Boulevard next to Sahara Market. The store manager says the closure is "due to rising business costs" and that the store will shut down after it sells its existing inventory.

Zakuro Japanese Bistro & Sushi Bar opens March 5, replacing iPho Vietnamese on Santa Rita Road next to the new La Palapa. Zakuro (the Japanese word for Pomegranate) will serve traditional and fusion style Japanese dishes such as oyster shooters, albacore steak salad and Zakuro Maki plus more than 20 unique sauces made from scratch at the restaurant. The interior has been completely renovated with warm burgundy wall color, upholstered booths and a prominent sushi bar.

Yogis have a new place to practice in Pleasanton. Bikram Yoga Tri-Valley Pleasanton opened its nearly 5,000 square-foot facility a few months ago next to Little Caesars Pizza. It offers heated yoga classes in an environment that incorporates green architecture, energy efficiency and feng shui. Learn more at  http://www.bikramyogapleasanton.com/studio.html.

Erica Nusom, personal trainer and owner of , opened her first indoor fitness facility in early February in the Trader Joe’s shopping center on East Stanley Boulevard in Livermore. Before opening her new gym, Nusom had been providing fitness programs to her clients outside at various city parks. Learn more and view a class schedule at tuffgirl.com.

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

• and in Danville
•  in San Ramon
• in Dublin
• and in Pleasanton 
• in Livermore

Know of a restaurant or shop opening or closing in the Tri-Valley? Please send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.