WHERE IS MY BAGUETTE? The Bread Garden, which opened its doors at 2912 Domingo Avenue in November 1973, is shutting up shop. Its owner, David Morris, is finally making good on his threat to move the bakery elsewhere. He plans to open a new bakery in Paso Robles, in an old building that housed another bakery from 1923 to 1973. “One statistic sums it up,” said Morris. “When I opened the bakery in 1973 I was bakery #8 in Berkeley. The last time I counted there were 38 bakeries in Berkeley. The market isn’t any bigger than it was in 1973. There is intense competition for the bakery dollar.” Morris said he plans to close the Claremont neighborhood bakery, home to the 19th-century baguette, cheese rolls, cinnamon swirl bread, and pizza bread, among other things, by July 1.
FURNITURE CLOSE-DOWN After 27 years at 1914 Fifth Street, right behind Spenger’s, the family-owned Zentrum Furniture is shutting down its Berkeley operations. The lease is up and owner Bill Stewart is moving the store to Dublin where he is hoping the business conditions are better. Everything in the store is 20% to 60% off, said Stewart, who plans to close the doors for the final time at the end of July.
NEW IN DECOR GHETTO Rejuvenation, which describes itself as offering “classic American lighting and house parts” is opening at 1717-D Fourth Street, in the space formerly occupied by Fourth Street Studio, which closed at the beginning of the year. Rejuvenation is just the latest decor store to join the home design hub that is Fourth Street. The store intends to open on June 2 and will hold a Grand Opening Party on August 2.
CENTRAL HEALING Shattuck Rose Chiropractic Healing Center is opening at 1400 Shattuck Ave. The center, which is in the Shattuck Commons Building, Suite 10, offers chiropractic treatments and therapeutic massages. The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Shattuck Rose on May 31 at 1 p.m.
BEER WITH A SIDE OF ROAST CHICKEN Kip’s Bar, at 2439 Durant Ave., has been reliably serving Cal students beer and bar food for 48 years. It has been such a hangout that one Yelp reviewer called it “a city-endorsed frat party.” But the restaurant had gone decidedly upscale recently with the hiring of consulting chef Jon Helquist, who has worked at Oliveto, Chez Panisse, and Manzanita, according to Inside Scoop. Kip’s added a dinner menu and brunch in early May. The upstairs interior has been revamped as well. In the coming month, Kip’s will take over the Chinese restaurant downstairs and turn it into Kip’s Eats, a restaurant with a beer bar and a private dining room.
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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