BYE BYE BBQ Despite rave reviews on Yelp, Ironwood BBQ at 2130 Oxford Street has closed its doors. If your cravings for one of its pulled-pork Memphis-style sandwiches with coleslaw gets the better of you, rush to Golden Gate Park Golf Course where, according to Ironwood’s website, the restaurant is still serving up its southern treats. [Hat tip: Ryan Christensen-Schwarz.]
FOOD FLIP Another restaurant casualty, and another example of glowing reviews on Yelp not necessarily being enough to sustain a business, Chick o-Peas at 1926 Shattuck is no more. In its place is the newly opened Sol y Luna Taqueria. According to an early reviewer, the Luna Burrito with embedded French fries was “super interesting”. [Hat tip: Elizabeth Hensley.]
UNREELING Tipster Arturo Snuze sends in a photo of the old Reel Video space at 2655 Shattuck Avenue (left), which, according to a planning proposal notice, looks like it’s on the way to being made over into a medical facility. As Snuze points out, Berkeley’s stock of video stores is rapidly being depleted with the Blockbuster at 2390 Shattuck soon to morph into a Chase bank.
TEA TIME Coming soon: Asha Tea House which will open in about two months at 2086 University (at Shattuck). Owner David Lau, who has been blogging about tea and the run-up to the launch, hopes the store will create a community centered on quality teas. “We source all our own teas, mainly from Taiwan, and we hope to introduce that culture to Berkeley,” he says. There will be something for everybody, from straightforward brews to tea lattes and flavored, iced teas. You can follow Asha Tea House on its Facebook page. Look for a soft opening around March.
ADIOS TACOS Viva Taqueria, at 2984 Russell Street at the intersection of Ashby and Domingo, has gone out of business. The restaurant, with its outdoor seating and distinctive red-tiled roof, has been at that location for what feels like decades. No word on what caused it to close.
Shop Talk is our regular column in which we post updates on Berkeley businesses — openings, closings, new directions, relaunches, relocations. If you’re a Berkeley business with news, or a Berkeleysider who has spotted a change in your neighborhood or on your travels, shoot us an email with the details. Read previous Shop Talk columns here.
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