Sprouts & Shutters: McCrady Fine Arts Expands, Farmers' Market Closes & More

Wondering what new businesses are opening and changing in your town? Our biweekly “Sprouts & Shutters” column highlights restaurant, retail and other business news in Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Concord.

Orinda’s aMFA (Allison McCrady Fine Arts) expanded, adding 500 square feet to its Theater Square location. Owner Allison McCrady says the expansion allows her to feature exhibits of award-winning California artists plus host wine and cheese receptions. Currently Palo Alto artist Sandy Ostrau’s art is on display and, coming in February, you’ll find an exhibit by the well-known Sacramento artist Micah Crandall-Bear. For more information, visit allisonmccrady.com .

Lafayette’s new farmers’ market at the south BART parking lot has closed for the season. It was originally designed as a year-round farmers’ market, but crowds decreased after the summer so organizers decided to close in November. The market will resume next spring.

Just in time for those New Year’s fitness resolutions: The new 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport opens in Walnut Creek on Jan. 26. The new club will feature a full-sized basketball court, indoor lap pool, whirlpool, TRX suspension training, group exercise, childcare and more. Super Sport opens on North Main Street next to the new Chick-Fil-A. Get details about other amenities and the grand opening event here.

Walnut Creek’s Havana recently opened its new Havana Café, a casual lunch spot and catering kitchen for the popular Cuban restaurant. Havana Café, which opened recently on North Main Street inside Autopia car wash, serves Cuban-style sandwiches and salads. Learn more about Havana at havanarestaurant.net.

Closure: Walnut Creek’s Fresh Choice restaurant on South Main is now closed. The restaurant chain’s parent company filed for bankruptcy and recently closed all its remaining Fresh Choice locations.

Need a little extra cash for the holidays? You can soon take your unwanted gold, platinum or silver jewelry to a new GoldFellow, set to open before Christmas in Pleasant Hill. The national gold exchange company will move into the Contra Costra Plaza shopping center near Starbucks on Contra Costa Boulevard. Learn more at goldfellow.com.

GameStop Kids opened last month in the Sunvalley Shopping Center. The new gaming store has a family-friendly atmosphere with no violent or mature-rated games displayed in the store (games like Halo are available behind the counter). The new GameStop Kids is a seasonal store open through the end of January but the store manager says it may stay year-round if it does well. The new store is on the lower level near JCPenny. 

Bath Fitter opened over Thanksgiving week in the Sunvalley Shopping Center. The Canadian company specializes in one-day bathtub and shower acrylic liners plus offers full bath remodels and accessories. The new storefront is located on the lower level between Macy’s Women’s and JCPenny. Learn more at bathfitter.com.

Want to find out what else is opening in the East Bay? Sprouts & Shutters now covers 21 cities on 18 Patch sites. Read the latest columns for the Tri-Valley, Berkeley/Oakland and Milpitas/Tri-City communities.

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

• Garden Party Company and The Writing Studio in Lamorinda
• Bracchiale and Le Gateau Elegant in Walnut Creek
• Corner Bakery Cafe in Pleasant Hill
• Spice Grill and G by Guess in Concord

Know of a business opening or closing in Lamorinda, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill or Concord? Please tell Patch about it for a future Sprouts & Shutters column. Simply add it to this short form. Or send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.

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About this column: A biweekly roundup of retail, restaurant and other business news in the Central Contra Costa area.