WHERE’S MY PIZZA PIE? After 20 months of serving up thin-crust pizza, salad, and frozen custard, Addie’s Pizza Pie at 3290 Adeline has shut its doors. A sign posted in the window reads “Folks, Thank you for all your past support. We have had to close nonetheless. Who knows what will happen next.” Co-owners Jennifer Millar and Tom Schnetz will still offer up their culinary talents, however. Millar owns the nearby, always busy, Sweet Adeline Bakshop and Schnetz co-owns Tacubaya on Fourth, as well as three other restaurants in Oakland.
CHEESY CHEW Grilled cheese sandwich chain The Melt will open a new spot at 2400 Telegraph Avenue near the Cal campus soon, according to Grub Street SF. The Melt is the brainchild of Flip cam founder Jonathan Kaplan whose plan is to expand nationally. So far, the company has three locations in downtown S.F. and one at Stanford.
LA DOLCE VITA Caffe Venezia on University has had a makeover to celebrate 20 years in Berkeley. Extensive interior and exterior renovations have led to an updated façade “to really bring out the exposed brick and show what a stunning building it really is,” according to the restaurant’s owners, Roger Feuer and Jeff Wizig. The bar has been rebuilt and expanded with reclaimed wood and Carrara marble and the pair have put in a pizza oven. “Everyone from our staff to our customers are loving everything,” they say. Caffe Venezia is at 1799 University Avenue. Tel: 510-849-4681.
PHARMACY FOR THE ‘HOOD The new Sal’s Pharmacy is now open at 1831 Solano Avenue. As reported on April 17, the pharmacy took over the space next to the new Verizon store earlier this year. Owner Sadalla Nassar says he will run the place as an independent neighborhood pharmacy.
EXTINGUISHED Ring of Fire Imports at 1732 University Avenue is going out of business. Founded in 1994 by Jerry P. Alcorn and Ni Ketut Trima the store specialized in the art and culture of Southeast Asia.
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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