Long-Stalled Walnut Creek Outdoor Entertainment Venue Status Still Pending

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Eight years after plans for a food hall and entertainment venue won city approval, reports that The Yard will be built in Walnut Creek have revived speculation about the still empty downtown site.

Plans for the outdoor venue included two entertainment stages, food and drink stalls, games, and a children's area on Locust Street.

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Called The Foundry, the proposed venue would occupy 1250 Locust St. and a portion of the property at 1501 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

But when plans might become a reality is unclear.

No date for construction or opening have been verified. In fact, it's not certain that the project will be built, although the developer has said he is still trying to get The Yard built.

City staff and the developer of the project have not yet responded to a request by Patch for an update.

The developer said in 2025 that he was still committed to the project and working hard to make it happen. The timeline was uncertain and he was redesigning the project to make the Foundry a reality.

Original designs

The 2018 design called for a 24,472-square-foot main food hall with one story and a mezzanine, approximately 23 ground-floor food stalls, and another stall on the mezzanine.

A courtyard would provide outdoor dining, a koi pond, games, and children's activities. Plans also included outdoor seating and alcohol service until 11 p.m., subject to city approval. Across the street is Century Theaters.

The Planning Commission recommended approval of the project in July 2018. The City Council approved project entitlements that August and adopted the site's rezoning ordinance in September that year.

The Design Review Commission unanimously approved The Foundry's design review that December, contingent on additional subcommittee review.

Later city records document design review extensions granted in 2019 and 2021. A January 2022 draft resolution requested a third one-year extension through Dec. 18, 2022.