Sprouts & Shutters: New Taiwanese Restaurant, Wine Bar and Craft Store

Wonder what’s moving into your neighborhood shopping center? Our biweekly Sprouts & Shutters column highlights the latest Tri-Valley restaurant and retail news.

A new Taiwanese restaurant is set to move into  in Dublin in June. Liang’s Kitchen, which has several other California locations, will open next to Thai Basil Express. The new restaurant joins another new Ulferts eatery, Snowflake, a Taiwanese shaved ice dessert cafe next to Quickly. (Read about  here in an earlier Sprouts.)

Also opening soon in Dublin is , a trampoline park at which kids — and adults — can jump off the walls, leap into a pool of foam cubes, play dodgeball and then relax in the Rockin' Cafe, which serves coffee, soft drinks, snacks, wine and beer. Get the details in Patch's .

If you haven’t been to Dublin’s  recently, you’ll notice some changes the next time you go. The Bay Area “Real Texas BBQ” restaurant chain renovated the interior of its Dublin eatery, with new paint, plates and accessories. The eatery also changed its menu, adding several new dishes.

Opening update: The new Jo-Ann Fabric was set to open May 20 on Amador Plaza next to Sprouts Market, also opening soon. If you missed our earlier coverage, you can read more about these new stores . Cellar 9, covered in our , also opened this month.

Some sweet news in Danville: The owners of Walnut Creek’s A Sweet Affair Bakery selected Danville for its second location. Grab some chocolate fudge brownies or fresh-sliced turkey sandwiches in June, when the bakery opens in Quizno’s old spot on Hartz. Read more in Diablo Dish.

 closed its small eatery on Railroad Avenue after two years in the Danville Square shopping center near Trader Joe’s. Fans still can get the taqueria’s Cajun Chicken Prawn burrito and Spicy Thai Chicken burrito at the local chain’s Clayton and Lafayette locations.

, the wine lounge and restaurant tucked away on Prospect, introduced lunch service this month. Now you can dine on soups, salads, paninis and hamburgers on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Opening update: The wine tasting bar and art gallery Auburn James Winery, covered here in an earlier  column, opened on Hartz on May 10.

San Ramon’s , which opened last year on San Ramon Valley Boulevard, across the street from Crow Canyon Cinema, recently changed its name to Fresh Millions. Owner Sal Deo said he changed the eatery's name because he plans to franchise beginning in July. Fresh Millions serves hand-tossed salads, housemade soups, paninis and hot bowls.

 store in San Ramon is now Berks Patio. The outdoor furnishings chain, with stores in Florida and California, purchased Frellen’s a year ago but held off on the conversion to Berks until last month. Look for new and expanding product lines as older inventory clears out.

 in the Gateway Shopping Center on San Ramon Valley Boulevard closed its pet supply and pet grooming business in May. We’ll keep you updated on what moves into that spot. 

, now San Ramon’s only bookstore, recently added toys to its inventory. You can pick up the latest bestsellers and grab Melissa & Doug puzzles, games, craft sets and other educational toys in one shop.

Opening update: Panera Bread, covered in the last , opened May 15 in Crow Canyon Commons next to Peet’s Coffee & Tea.

In Pleasanton, , which replaced  last year, is now called Play House. Besides getting a new name, the nightclub on Hopyard Road underwent an interior remodel (see accompanying photos) and added big-screen televisions so patrons can watch their favorite sporting events. Play House also plans to roll out a food menu by the end of May.

Specialty’s Café & Bakery will open its first Tri-Valley store this June on Stoneridge Mall Road in the Pleasanton Corporate Commons. The San Francisco based bakery specializes in made-from-scratch baked goods plus sandwiches, soups and other lunch options. 

Looking for festive decorations for a graduation party? Maybe flowers or balloons? opened this month on Main Street, delivering colorful custom balloon bouquets throughout the East Bay. And a new florist, Exotic Flowers of Pleasanton, was set to open May 20 in Little Valley Winery’s old space on Main Street. (Read more about Little Valley Winery's closure in our last  column.) 

A new Mexican eatery opened in Livermore: Tacos Romo Mexican Restaurant opened April 30 on Bluebell Drive inside the Chevron convenience store (with a separate entrance). Tacos Romo, formerly a catering company, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Did you miss Patch’s coverage of the new Walgreens moving to downtown Livermore and the city’s decision to demolish Tire Mart and a vacant Hollywood Video to make room for the new drugstore? Read  and find out what residents think about the decision in the story's 57 reader comments.

Want to learn how to make drinks like a professional bartender or mixologist? The Bay Area School of Bartending opens May 23 in Livermore, teaching its 30-hour course in a local restaurant/bar. 

This month Murrieta’s Well in Livermore launched its new La Luna Fridays, food, wine and music events that fall on the Friday closest to the full moon. Guests dine on Spanish-inspired tapas and drink Murrieta’s Well wines on the winery’s open terrace as a local band performs. The monthly event will continue through the fall and costs $45 ($40 for club members). Find out more and reserve your spot on the Murrieta's Well events page.

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

•  and  in Danville 

•  and  in San Ramon
•  and  in Dublin

• and  in Pleasanton 
•  and  in Livermore