TRIPLE ROCK Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley is planning to expand. Triple Rock and its engineering firm neighbors are teaming up to put a “new full service restaurant” in the empty space next to the existing beer joint, at 1920 Shattuck. The engineers will have the top floor and Triple Rock will have the 3,080-square-foot bottom, at 1912 Shattuck. Plans and layouts are subject to change, but there’s talk of a brewery and kitchen expansion and some upgrades, we hear from East Bay Beer. Plans include seating for about 95 guests and capacity for 118. Upon completion of the new space, the owner will “likely replace the kitchen of the existing Triple Rock … with increased bar space, increased brewing capacity or a combination of both” according to the application before the city. Proposed hours of operation are from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Expect completion in 2014. Triple Rock, 1920 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, 510-843-2749.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON THE MOVE Seven months after threats from the federal government forced it to close down, Berkeley Patients Group has done a soft opening at its new location at 2366 San Pablo Ave. near Channing Way. The dispensary, the largest in Berkeley, opened its doors on Dec. 19 but still has to paint its exterior, add a sign, and do some more computer wiring, according to BPG spokesman Brad Senesac. There will be a grand opening celebration in a few weeks, he said. Patients will visit a 1,200 square foot building originally erected in 1964 as an A & W drive-in, but now completely renovated. BPG has installed a trailer to house administrative functions, an 8-foot-high fence in front, and a new wooded fence on the property’s southern perimeter.
CLAY STUDIO HEADING SOUTH Kids’ pottery studio Kids ‘N’ Clay, which has been located on Fifth Street for the past 15 years, has an application in to the city to relocate three blocks south, to 809A Allston St. The studio offers workshops, for children and young adults, in wheel throwing, hand building, sculpting and glazing. According to the application, the property owner is selling the home in which the studio is located, which necessitated the move. The city’s Zoning Adjustments Board is set to consider the application in January. (Worth noting, the proposed new location is just a couple blocks away from the new location of soft-serve sensation Sketch. Perfect for a post-studio snack!)
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.
One of this week’s Shop Talk items was first published on Berkeleyside NOSH, our online East Bay food magazine. Follow Berkeleyside NOSH on Twitter, and on Facebook.
