THE JINX CONTINUES Origen, the farm-to-fork restaurant that opened with great fanfare last October in the troubled restaurant spot at 2826 Telegraph, has shut its doors. Calls to the owners, Tracy Leighton and Daniel Clayton, went unanswered, but the restaurant’s voicemail stated June 23 that the restaurant would be closed that night because of a family emergency. Now there is just a sign on the door saying “Origen Restaurant is closed.” This brings to seven the number of restaurants that have been at that location, including Casa De Eva, Mazzini’s, Lucio’s, Zax Tavern, Maritime East and Locanda de Eva (which only lasted four months).
FROM COOL TO HOT After three years in business, Creations, the frozen yogurt shop at 2370 Shattuck Avenue, has shut its doors. In line to take its place is Red Buffalo: cheese steaks and buffalo wings. The name says it all. This place, which has a popular outlet in Oakland, serves up hot, hot hot, spicy, smokey chipolte, jalapeño cheddar and many other types of buffalo wings. The restaurant still has to go through design review, so the opening is a few weeks off.
HUNGRY NO MORE Although the gleaming Ed Roberts campus opened its doors 15 months ago, there has not yet been a café at 3075 Adeline Street, right by the Ashby BART station. Many would-be proprietors were put off by Berkeley’s living wage law. But now Nomad, which has operated in a location on Shattuck Avenue in Oakland, has moved in. It has opened a kiosk in the Ramp Lobby that serves coffee, bagels, and sandwiches.
STILL ROARING, BUT FROM A NEW LOCATION Griffin Motorwerke, which has been servicing Porsche, Audi, and Volkswagon automobiles for more than 30 years, opened in June in a new location at 1146 Sixth Street in West Berkeley. The high-performance auto shop, owned by Terry Griffin, takes care of everything from everyday commuter cars to cars ready for the race track. With 16,200 square feet, 10 lifts, two alignment racks, and 10 mechanics, Griffin Motorwerke is now the largest independent auto shop in the city. Griffin said he moved because the newly installed parking meters on San Pablo Avenue were hurting his business.
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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