A SLIGHT SHIFT Razan’s Organic Kitchen is on the move, with plans to take over the neighboring space where Great China used to be on Kittredge Street. Great China is renovating the old Looney’s BBQ spot on Bancroft, with a scheduled opening date of next spring. The new restaurant will continue to be run by the Razan’s folks. It doesn’t yet have a name, but it will sell Middle Eastern food and hopes to open next spring as well.
VETERAN CLOSING The venerable, 40-year-old breakfast spot and music venue Chester’s Bayview Café at 1508 Walnut St. in the Gourmet Ghetto is to close and will be replaced by a new restaurant called La Fable, according to Grub Street. Chester’s was originally established in 1972 as the Egg Shop and Apple Press but was subsequently named after the English town of Chester. We will report on what La Fable owners Franck and Isabel Bochaton have planned as soon as we snag the scoop.
MOVING UP Peking Express has popped up to 2516 Durant Ave., across from the Durant Food Court, after moving from its former location of 20 years at 2068 Center St. Restaurant manager Kathy Gia told the Daily Cal that the lease ended on the previous location, prompting the need for a relocation. As reported in Shop Talk on Oct. 23, Eureka! Burger, an upscale burger and craft beer chain, is taking the old Peking Express space.
NO FUTURE Bay Area Professional Psychic at 1749 Solano Ave. has closed up shop. “Completely unforseeable!” quips Ira Serkes who tipped us to the news and took the photo (left).
NEW ON THE BLOCK Mason McDuffie Mortgage office is celebrating the grand opening of its new offices in Berkeley with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony today, 4-7 p.m.. The office is at 1400 Shattuck Ave., Suite 14.
Shop Talk is Berkeleyside’s 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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